Middle East and North African Studies is an interdisciplinary minor examining the history, politics, religion, culture, and economics of the Middle East and North Africa (“MENA”). Through this minor, students gain an in-depth understanding of the region and the contexts through which we understand it. In order to provide students a comprehensive view of the region, the required course work is distributed between religious, linguistic, cultural, and social scientific approaches.
Students who minor in Middle East and North African studies will be able to:
- Recognize the historical, cultural, social, and political traditions that influence the Middle East and North Africa
- Understand how to counteract reductionist and ethnocentric estimations of the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa
- Locate, critically analyze, interpret, and discuss cultural and religious texts and political and social forces
- Express and apply concepts and knowledge to engage in informed conversations about important issues related to the region
- Apply skills, knowledge, and nuanced perspectives that are necessary for effective global citizens actively engaging in an increasingly interconnected world
Requirements (24 credits). Courses marked with an asterisk (*) have prerequisites.
- Introductory Survey (4 credits). Take one of the following:
- ARAB 130 Introduction to Arab Cultures
- HIST 123 A History of the Ottoman Empire, 1300-1918
- HIST 124 A History of the Modern Middle East, 1839-present
- POLSC 232 Government and Politics of the Middle East
- RELST 144 Modern Islamic Movements
- Language requirement (12 credits).
Students must demonstrate proficiency in Arabic equivalent to three semesters of college-level study as demonstrated by the successful completion of at least one Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) language course numbered 215 or above. With the approval of the minor coordinator, transfer credit or demonstrated proficiency in a regional language (e.g., Arabic, Hebrew, Kurdish, Turkic languages, Persianate languages) may also be used to satisfy this requirement. If a student completes fewer than 12 credits of language they should select additional electives from the list below to bring the total number of credits presented for the minor to 24.
- Electives. Take additional courses from among those listed above to bring the total credits for the minor to at least 24.
- ARAB 130 Introduction to Arab Cultures
- ARAB 290 Levantine Colloquial Arabic
- ARAB 350 Modern Arabic Novel in Translation
- ARAB 370 Arab and Muslim Voices Post-9/11
- ENGL 415* Topics in Literature of the Middle Ages
- FRNCH 330* “The Empire Writes Back”
- HIST 123 A History of the Ottoman Empire, 1300-1918
- HIST 124 A History of the Modern Middle East, 1839-present
- HIST 280 Bodies, Bloodletting, and Bile
- HIST 358 Migrants and Refugees in the 20th Century
- HIST 360 Middle East Nationalisms
- POLSC 232 Government and Politics of the Middle East
- POLSC 330 Megacities
- POLSC 354* War and Peace in the Middle East
- POLSC 355* The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- POLSC 459* Civil Wars
- POLSC 587* Seminar in Comparative Politics
- RELST 120 The Faith of Ancient Israel
- RELST 140 Islam: Faith, History, and Culture
- RELST 144 Modern Islamic Movements
- RELST 147 Judaism
- RELST 215 Marriage and Sexuality in Islam
- RELST 222 The Qur’an
- RELST 225 Global Religious Education
NOTES:
- Students should take an introductory survey and start the Arabic language sequence as soon as possible (ideally, in their first 3 semesters)
- RS 140 cannot be substituted for the survey requirement.