Introduction to Academic Persian: How to Read Scholarly Literature in Persian
October 9 - November 27, 2026
Instructor: Ruben S. Nikoghosyan
Instruction Language: Persian, English
Duration: 8 weeks (16 hours of instruction)
Frequency: 1 class per week (Friday)
Duration of a Session: 2 hours (6pm Yerevan Time)
Deadline for Applications: Octorber 1
Course Duration: October 9 – November 27
Location: Online (Zoom)
Required level of Persian: Intermediate
Participation Fee: 320 USD
Payment Method: Bank Transfer, Paypal (+5%)
Registration: To apply, please click the “Apply” button above. Fill in all required fields and submit. Accepted applicants will receive further instructions on participation.
Note: All materials will be provided by the instructor
A page from the introduction of S.K. Hāj Seyyed-Javādī's critical edition of Hāfiz-i Abru's Zubdat al-tavārīx
Introduction to Academic Persian is an eight-week course designed as an introduction to the language of academic publications in Persian, with a particular focus on historical, philological, and literary studies.
The course is structured to introduce participants simultaneously to the language and terminology commonly encountered in Persian academic publications and to the scholarly literature in which this language is used. Through readings from the works of prominent Iranian scholars — particularly scholars who have published critical editions of important texts and whose research has made significant contributions to Iranian studies — participants will become familiar with a body of scholarship that is highly valuable for anyone working in the field.
Aims of the course
An important goal of the course is to help bridge the gap between Western and Iranian academia. Western students of Iranian studies are often unfamiliar with the scholarship being produced in Iran, despite the fact that Iranian scholars have published a substantial body of important research, including critical editions, studies, and other works that are essential for research in the field.
Through guided and practical reading of academic texts, the course will help participants become more comfortable with Persian scholarly prose, expand their academic vocabulary, and develop the skills necessary to read Persian-language research more independently. At the same time, the course will introduce participants to some of the major scholarly figures and publications of contemporary Iranian academia.
Assignments and Practice
An important part of the course will consist of practical assignments based on a variety of Persian academic texts. These will include scholarly articles, introductions to critical editions, and other forms of academic writing, as well as readings introducing participants to the biographies and scholarly contributions of important figures in Persian literary and Iranian studies. The course will also introduce participants to important digital resources for locating and accessing Persian scholarly publications and editions.
All of the materials covered during the course will be provided to participants. In particular, a substantial number of digital copies of scholarly editions of Classical Persian texts will be made available for further reading and study. The aim is not only to help participants develop the ability to read Persian academic prose, but also to provide them with a practical collection of resources that they can continue to use in their own research.
Testimonials
