Central Asian Studies

About | People | Academics | Events | Supporting | Internet Resources

About Central Asian Studies at the University of Michigan

From the early 1990s, the Center for Russian and East European Studies (CREES) and Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies (CMENAS) have collaborated on activities to build the University of Michigan's profile in Central Asian studies. In recognition of the region's enhanced geopolitical importance as well as greater student interest, CREES and CMENAS have mounted annual Central Asia-focused lecture series and symposia since 1993 and piloted instruction in Kazak (2004-05) and Uzbek (1994-96, 2007-present).

In 2002-03, CREES and CMENAS joined U-M's Department of History, Department of Near Eastern Studies, and International Institute to secure approval from the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts for a tenure-track faculty position in Modern Central Asian Studies. With this position filled through a tenured joint appointment in history and NES that began in Fall 2004, U-M has begun to offer regular instruction in Uzbek language.

For more information about Central Asian studies at the University of Michigan, contact:

Douglas Northrop
Director
Center for Russian and East European Studies
University of Michigan
1080 South University Ave., Suite 3668
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106
Phone: 734.764.0351
Fax: 734.763.4765
Email: northrop@umich.edu

People

The following faculty, research associates, and staff contribute to the University of Michigan's training, research, and outreach activities in Central Asian studies. For more information, see CREES People and CMENAS People.

University of Michigan Faculty

Aghaei, Behrad:  Near Eastern Studies
Branch, John:  Business
Er, Mehmet Sureyya:  Near Eastern Studies
Gocek, Fatma Muge:  Sociology, Women's Studies
Hagen, Gottfried:  Near Eastern Studies
Knysh, Alexander:  Near Eastern Studies
Lawrence, Janet:  Education
Northrop, Douglas:  History, Near Eastern Studies

CREES Research Associates

Benson, Linda:  History, Oakland University
McMann, Kelly:  Political Science, Case Western Reserve University

Library Staff: Slavic and East European Division

Slater, Walter

Academics

Students can specialize on all or part of Central Asia within interdisciplinary bachelor's, master's, and graduate certificate programs in Russian and East European studies. They may also emphasize the region in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in anthropology, business, comparative literature, economics, history, law, natural resources, Near Eastern studies, political science, public policy, and sociology.

Courses

The University of Michigan offers an array of courses addressing Central Asian culture, history, language, politics, and society (see below). For offerings in specific terms, see CREES courses. 

Elementary and Intermediate Kazak Language
Elementary and Intermediate Persian Language
Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Turkish Language
Elementary, Intermediate, and Advanced Uzbek Language
AAPTIS/Asian/History/MENAS/REES 340 - From Genghis Khan to the Taliban: Modern Central Asia
AAPTIS 491 - Topics in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Islamic Studies (e.g., Contemporary Central Asia, Travel Literature in Central Asia, Russia and its 'Easts')
History 396 - History Colloquium (e.g., Central Asia)
History 698 - Topics in History (e.g., Central Asian History)

Events

For complete information about Central Asian studies events, please visit the CREES Events Calendar. You may also sign up for our email or U.S. mail notifications.

Selected Major Central Asian Studies Events

• Afghanistan--The Once and Future War (March 12, 2009) (iTunes)
• Nauryz with Roksonaki - Lecture/Demonstration and Performance (March 18 and 20, 2008) (PDF)
• Focus on Central Eurasia - A Series of Lectures, Films, and Performances (Fall 2007) (PDF)
• Central Eurasian Studies Society Seventh Annual Conference (September 28-October 1, 2006) (PDF)
  
• The Spatial Politics of Central Asian Oil and Gas (November 8, 2002)
  
• Boundaries and Social Movements: Islamist Political Organization in Tajikistan and Their Influence on Regional Politics and Policies (March 11, 2002)
  
• Art Treasures and Social Transitions: Cultural Preservation and Economic Imperatives (January 11, 2001)

Supporting Central Asian Studies at the University of Michigan

Gifts earmarked for "Central Asian studies" may be made to the CREES Endowment to support Central Asia-focused courses, lectures, conferences, film screenings, and other programs, as well as student awards for research and internships in the region. Please review the various options for making a gift.

For more information, contact Marysia Ostafin by email (mostafin@umich.edu) or phone (734.647.2237).

Internet Resources

The following websites offer a starting place for information on Central Asia and Central Asian studies.

University of Michigan Resources

• Resources on Central Asia and the countries of Central Asia (University Library Slavic and East European Division)

Curriculum Resources

• Why Not Kyrgyzstan? - an elementary-level curricular unit developed for CREES by Jennifer L. Zunk (PDF)
• Outreach World - an online source for instructional materials prepared by U.S Department of Education-funded National Resource Centers
  

Other Resources

• Center for the Languages of the Central Asian Region, Indiana University
  
• Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, Indiana University
  
• Central Asia Listservs (Ellison Center for Russian, East European and Central Asian Studies, University of Washington)
• Central Eurasian Studies Society
  
• Erik Herron's Guide to Politics in East Central Europe and Eurasia (Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Kansas)
  
• REESWeb (Center for Russian and East European Studies, University of Pittsburgh)
• Webliographies (Slavic and East European Language Research Center, Duke University)