Minor in Persian Studies: San Francisco State University

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Minor in Persian Studies: San Francisco State University
by darougar
05-Jun-2012
 

Hello dear Iranian.com readers,

It is with great enthusiasm that Persian Studies of San Francisco State University (as featured in this story by Dr. Zohre Ghahremani on this site a few months back) announces the first Minor in Persian Studies in the entire California State University system. Classes commence this fall, and we are delighted to share this wonderful news with the community.

Thank you kindly,

Sanam Darougar, M.A.
Communications Specialist

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Minor in Persian Studies at San Francisco State University

Persian Studies of San Francisco State University (SF State) is pleased to announce the Interdisciplinary Minor in Persian Studies to begin fall 2012. Persian Studies and the minor were made possible through the financial support of the U.S. Department of Education, the California State University Strategic Language Initiative, the PARSA Community Foundation, as well as individual donations, and student support. Professor Mitra Ara, founding director of Persian Studies, acknowledged this historical breakthrough by adding, “My aspiration for developing the Interdisciplinary Minor in Persian Studies as an academic program in terms of multiple traditional disciplines has been to foster the preservation of Persian cultural heritage as the heritage of humanity”.

The Minor in Persian Studies at San Francisco State University marks the first and only such program in the entire California State University system. The minor will attract an academically diverse student body, many of whom will come from a wide spectrum of majors and interests and it will provide a unique opportunity to create an ideal environment that combines academic coursework for a highly diverse student body and cultural outreach programs. The minor serves as an educational resource and emissary between Persian-speaking cultures and American society.

Dr. Ara first introduced the proposal for the Interdisciplinary Minor in Persian Studies in 2007 and the first language and culture courses in Persian Studies commenced in spring 2008. The program, as a comprehensive Persian Cultural Heritage Studies program, is the first and only program of its kind in all of the California State University system. In addition to the above accomplishments, Persian Studies has implemented new models of culture and language learning to produce college graduates and instructors who will benefit the field.

Persian Studies of San Francisco State University is also pleased to have founded the Annual Summer Immersion Persian Language and Culture Program, and to have established a Persian Library Reading Room and Persian Language Lab at San Francisco State University, and to have housed the California State University Consortium in Persian Studies sponsored by the Strategic Language Initiative.
Through the efforts of Persian Studies at San Francisco State University, several events and conferences have been held in order to give tribute to the unsung heroes and heroines of the Persianate societies, and an international student organization was established to encourage leadership and community service. Furthermore, Persian Studies of San Francisco State University was recently awarded a STARTALK grant by the National Security Language Initiative through the National Foreign Language Center at the University of Maryland to expand and improve the teaching and learning of the Persian language.

Dr. Ara aspires to expand Persian Studies by creating a Department of Persian Studies and Major in Persian Studies, which will serve to be the first of its kind in the California State University system. Through generous endowment and financial support, Persian Studies of San Francisco State University hopes to sustain and expand the Persian Studies Program, establish the West Coast Endowed Chair in Persian Studies to encourage academic learning and teaching. She holds firm belief that there is exigent urge and significant impetus to showcase the many achievements of Persian women and artists, and hopes to build the only space of its kind in a California State University campus in where the work of Persian artists can be exhibited for others to enjoy.

Dr. Ara believes there is great potential for the Persian Studies Program at San Francisco State University to grow and flourish. However, it must be noted that none of the above goals can be made possible without necessary further funding. When asked what she would like to see the Program accomplish in the next year, Dr. Ara expresses, “I would like for the Program to solidify its rightful place in the University so that Persian cultural heritage may be preserved and future generations of students can participate in the pedagogy of related curricula”.

Sanam Darougar, M.A.
Communications Specialist

For an additional read on this breaking story continue reading HERE

To contribute and ensure the survival of Persian Studies make donations HERE

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Mohammad Ala

Wonderful

by Mohammad Ala on

Although I am not in the USA, I can offer some help.  It is okay to contact me.


Rebecca

Congratulations!

by Rebecca on

Thank you for posting this. Wishing you success and hoping to see more Persian Studies classes in the future.