Middle East Studies, Minor

Liberal Arts (Code 355-400)

Advisor: S. Fink (Philosophy and Religious Studies).

This minor examines issues in the Middle East from a variety of disciplinary perspectives and includes study of a Middle East language as an option.

Twenty-four semester credits of which students can take no more than three courses with a single prefix, and a minimum of nine credits at the 300- or 400-level.
The Background.
Minimum two courses from the following:
Beginning Foreign Language I (must be in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or Modern Hebrew)
Beginning Foreign Language II (must be in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or Modern Hebrew)
Introduction to the Religions of the World
Judaism
Islam
Origins of Current World Conflicts
Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations
Imperialism Since 1800
International Political Economy
The Middle East.
Minimum three courses from the following:
Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
Politics of the Middle East
Arab-Israeli Conflict
Sociology of the Middle East
Students may substitute an independent study, special topics, or directed studies course with a focus on the Middle East for a course from either category with consent of the minor advisor.

NOTE 1: ENGL 330 may be substituted for any course in The Middle East category if the topic is Middle Eastern.

NOTE 2: Students are encouraged to complete a study abroad program in a Middle Eastern country and will be able to transfer credits from that program into the minor.

Program Learning Outcomes 

Students completing this program will be expected to meet the following learning outcomes:

  • Demonstrate basic knowledge of Middle Eastern history, politics, religion, and culture.
  • Speak, write, and read at an elementary level in a Middle Eastern language.
  • Apply a variety of methodological approaches in carrying out research in Middle Eastern studies.
  • Deconstruct uniform conceptions of the Middle East through familiarity with the diversity of Middle Eastern culture and society.