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Middle Eastern Studies

Undergraduate

One of four interdisciplinary majors within the Asian Studies program, the major in Middle Eastern studies allows you to specialize in the history, languages, cultures, and politics of the Middle East. The Five College Certificate in Middle Eastern Studies allows you to complement any disciplinary major with multidisciplinary studies and linguistic attainments.

Program Overview

Language study is the core component of the major. As a student, you are expected to incorporate the humanities and the social sciences fully into your studies with classes at ɬ and the other colleges in the Five College Consortium.

Complementing course work at ɬ are extracurricular activities and study abroad programs that broaden and deepen your understanding of this region.

On campus, you will experience regional culture at many levels, including language tables and clubs, guest lectures, performing and visual arts, film, festivals, and regional cuisine. These activities are often initiated by and benefit greatly from the diverse student population of ɬ.

Most of our students spend a semester or a summer in study abroad programs to gain a deeper understanding of this region. We offer many approved Middle Eastern study abroad programs.

Middle Eastern studies majors graduate to pursue graduate studies and careers in fields as varied as education, business, NGOs, journalism, the arts, and government service.

Community Voices

Spotlight on Middle Eastern Studies students and alums

Megan Brookman with her supervisor holding a “Be the Change” sign. Image courtesy of Megan Brookman ‘14.

Be the Change: Combining Social Work and Arabic

Megan Brookman ’14 Graduate Student

Olivia Griffin ’13

Moho in the Middle East

Olivia Griffin ’13 Program Coordinator

Explore more stories

Courses and Requirements

Learning Goals

By majoring in Middle Eastern Studies, students should:

  • Develop proficiency in Arabic, Hebrew, or another language widely spoken in the Middle East. By "proficiency" we mean: 
    • Ability to read newspapers, magazines, and popular literature.
    • Ability to converse with a native speaker on non-technical subjects.
    • Ability to write coherent paragraphs on non-technical subjects. 
  • Develop knowledge of the history of the premodern and modern Middle East. 
  • Develop knowledge of the arts, literature, religions, and philosophies of the Middle East. 
  • Develop knowledge of the geography, politics, economics, and societies of the Middle East.

Requirements for the Major

A minimum of 40 credits:

Four courses (16 credits), equivalent to two years of college-level study of a Middle Eastern language, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Persian, and Armenian 116
Two introductory courses (8 credits) providing an overview of Middle Eastern history: 28
One course (4 credits) must be in the premodern period (pre-1500 CE). The following course(s) fulfill the premodern history requirement:
RELIG-102
Introduction to Islam
One course (4 credits) must be in the modern period (1500–present).
Four elective courses (16 credits): 216
Two (8 credits) must be from Group One: Humanities (language, literature, the arts, history, philosophy, and religion and interdisciplinary courses in these areas) 3
Two (8 credits) must be from Group Two: Social Science (anthropology, economics, geography, international relations, linguistics, politics, sociology, and interdisciplinary courses in these areas)
At least three courses (12 credits) must be at the 300 level. One of the three 300-level courses must be a non-language and non-independent study course. 4
Total Credits40
1

Classes in Arabic and Modern Hebrew are currently taught in the Five Colleges. Additional courses in Arabic and in other languages are offered through the Five College Mentored Language Program. Students may count up to 4 credits toward the major for studying a Middle Eastern language through the Five College Mentored Language Program.

2

A full list of the approved courses for the major appears at the end of the Middle Eastern Studies Courses section.

3

In order to count toward the major, studio art or performance courses must be supplemented with analytical written work.

4

A course that is taught outside of ɬ must be approved by the chair of the Asian Studies program to count as a 300-level course.

Additional Specifications

  • Any course that devotes 50 percent or more of its substance to Middle Eastern countries, peoples, or issues may be counted toward the major. One course on Middle Eastern diasporas may count toward the major.

  • A maximum of 16 lower-level language credits and a total of 24 language credits can be counted toward the major.

  • Students who declare a Middle Eastern studies major automatically fulfill the College's "outside the major" requirement.

Requirements for the Certificate

Because of the wide range of courses available through the Five Colleges, students must design a program that will meet their intellectual, academic, and prospective professional needs in conjunction with a Middle Eastern Studies advisor from ɬ. Students are encouraged to declare intentions and begin work with an advisor during the sophomore year.

A minimum of seven courses:

Knowledge equivalent to at least two years of college-level study of a Middle Eastern language, such as Arabic, Hebrew, Turkish, Persian, and Armenian 10-4
Two introductory courses providing an overview of Middle Eastern history:2
One course must be in the pre-modern period (600-1500 CE)
One course must be in the modern period (1500-present)
Five courses from the following groups, including at least one course in each of the following three groups:5
Group one: Religion and Philosophy
Group two: Literature, Art, and Language study beyond what is required to satisfy the language requirement above
Group three: History and Social Sciences