About the Certificate
The Kurds, often referred to as the “world’s largest stateless nation,” are the fourth largest ethnic group in the Middle East, following the Arabs, Turks, and Persians. They are spread across four Middle Eastern countries: Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria. The Kurdish struggle for rights and recognition over the past century has transformed the Kurdish question into a regional issue.
The University of Central Florida is home to the nation’s first and only academic program dedicated to studying Kurdish issues. The Certificate in Kurdish Political Studies is designed to provide a unique insight into Kurdish politics, the struggle for rights and recognition of the Kurdish people, and their roles in secularizing and democratizing the broader region.
This interdisciplinary certificate offers you a distinctive perspective for analyzing the intricate socio-political landscape of the broader Middle East, stimulating your intellect and challenging your perspectives.
Earning a Certificate in Kurdish Studies is not just an academic achievement but a direct engagement with the complex regional and global competition over the future of the Middle East. It’s an excellent investment in your future, as the Kurds are increasingly part of the shifting political landscape in the wider region.
This certificate will give you a competitive advantage when pursuing a career in government, academia, non-profit organizations, or private companies working on security and humanitarian issues.
Review the Certificate Requirements and Course list below, and you will see how this certificate can equip you with a unique understanding of the broader Middle Eastern politics and society through a Kurdish lens.
Certificate Requirements
Commit 12 Credit hours – an equivalent of four 3 credit courses – towards earning the certificate.
Take one of the two required courses:
CPO 4400 – Kurdish Politics: Identity, Violence, and Democracy
ASH 3244 – History of the Kurds in the Middle East
Take three of the restricted electives listed below:
At least one of the restricted electives must be at the 3000 level or higher. Also, at least one of these courses must come from courses taken with SPSA (INR, CPO, POS prefixes).
ANT 3275 – Anthropological Perspectives on Refugees
ARA 1120C – Elementary Arabic Language and Civilization I
ARA 1121C – Elementary Arabic Language and Civilization II
ARA 2200 – Intermediate Arabic Language and Civilization I
ARA 2201 – Intermediate Arabic II
ASH 3224 – History of Mesopotamia
ASH 3225 – Islam and Its Empires
ASH 3337 – Women in the Middle East
ASH 3431 – History of Iraq
CPO 3043 – Politics of Developing Areas
CPO 3403 – Politics of the Middle East
CPO 3403H – Honors Politics of the Middle East
CPO 4406 – Minorities and Majorities in the Middle East
FOL 1930 – Elementary Kurdish Language and Civilization I
FOL 2931 – Elementary Kurdish Language & Civilization II
INR 4075 – Human Rights Policy
INR 4084 – Politics of International Terrorism
INR 4084H – Honors Politics of International Terrorism
INR 4102 – American Foreign Policy
INR 4724 – International Politics of the Middle East
REL 3320 – Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad
REL 3363 – Islam
Complete the courses with a grade of “C” (2.00) or better for a course to be counted towards the certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Q: Can I use credits from another institution towards the certificate?
A: Yes, you may use up to 3 credit hours of relevant courses earned outside of UCF. - Q: Can I use an internship or my thesis towards the certificate?
A: Yes, internships, honors in the Major Thesis, independent study and substitute courses/new courses are allowed with the approval from the certificate advisor (up to 3 credit hours). - Q: Are there any admissions requirements?
A: No, but make sure you complete prerequisites for the courses you take as part of this certificate
Contact Information:
College of Sciences
School of Politics, Security, and International Affairs
Howard Phillips Hall (HPH), 302
407-823-2040
Kurdish@ucf.edu