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:
FLG 101
Beginning Foreign Language I (must be in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or Modern Hebrew)
FLG 102
Beginning Foreign Language II (must be in Arabic, Turkish, Persian, or Modern Hebrew)
RELS 100
Introduction to the Religions of the World
RELS 307
Judaism
RELS 309
Islam
HIST 292
Origins of Current World Conflicts
HIST 302
Ancient Near Eastern Civilizations
HIST 382
Imperialism Since 1800
POLS 334
International Political Economy
The Middle East.
Minimum three courses from the following:
GEOG 319
Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
POLS 321
Politics of the Middle East
POLS 336
Arab-Israeli Conflict
SOC 304
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.