Middle East Studies Minor

Middle East Studies Minor

Academic Program Minor (16 credits)

The minor in Middle East Studies provides students with the opportunity of gaining fundamental knowledge of Middle East civilizations, through courses focused on an area (e.g. Arabic Studies, Armenian Studies, Biblical Studies, Egyptology, Hebrew and Judaic Studies, Iranian Studies, Mesopotamian Studies, or Turkish Studies) or a discipline (e.g. Middle East literature, visual culture, history, religion, linguistics, and cultural studies) taught within the Department of Middle East Studies. Students have the option of using intermediate-level and above language courses towards program requirements.

Prerequisites: MIDEAST 200: Introduction to the Middle East

Minor Requirements: 

Middle East Studies (MIDEAST) Requirement: at least three courses (each worth 3 or more credits) offered through the Department of Middle East Studies.

Courses within this requirement must be focused on one of two categories:

A) Within one area (e.g. Arabic Studies, Armenian Studies, Biblical Studies, Egyptology, Hebrew and Judaic Studies, Iranian Studies, Islamic Studies, Mesopotamian Studies, or Turkish Studies); or

B) A discipline or lines of inquiry not necessarily defined by area (e.g. Middle Eastliterature, visual culture, history, religion, etc.).

At least two of the three courses taken must be at the 300-level or above. All courses taken must have a MIDEAST subject code.

Additional Coursework Requirement: additional courses to reach a minimum total of 16 credits for the minor.

As part of this requirement, students may count up to two semesters of either:

A) A modern Middle East language (e.g. Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Persian, Turkish) at the fourth semester or above; or

B) An ancient Middle East language (e.g. Aramaic, Classical Hebrew, Middle Egyptian, Coptic, Hittite, Akkadian, Sumerian, Syriac) at the second semester or above.

Students may count a maximum of 2 credits from mini-courses must be attowards the Additional Coursework Requirement.

Because of the great variety of areas of study possible in the program, and the diversity of the department's curriculum, there is no pre-set sequence of courses required. Each student determines their focus in consultation with a department advisor at the beginning of the program. Throughout their study, students should plan to meet regularly with an advisor and to consult provided course lists for their chosen area of focus so that a cohesive plan of study may be pursued.

For detailed information, please make sure to refer to the Middle East Studies Minor Worksheet here.