Major Requirements

The interdisciplinary major in Middle Eastern studies consists of 34 credits. A core curriculum of 22 credits that is composed of 16 credits in one of the Middle Eastern languages (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish) and 6 credits in the two core Middle Eastern studies courses, 01:685:350 Introduction to the Modern Middle East and 01:685:499 Senior Seminar in Middle Eastern Studies, is required. In lieu of the Senior Seminar in Middle Eastern Studies, students, with the approval of the Academic Director, may substitute an equivalent Senior Seminar in a related discipline (e.g. Art History, History, Jewish Studies, Political Science, Religion or Sociology) that has the Middle East as its focus. The remaining 12 elective credits are taken from other center courses, or from approved courses relevant to the Middle East offered in other departments. Approval of the latter courses is at the discretion of the Academic Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. Language courses may not be taken to fulfill elective requirements. Students with prior knowledge of Middle Eastern languages must choose their courses for the language requirement in consultation with, and with the approval of, the Academic Director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies. The major may include no more than 6 credits of independent study or internships or a combination of these. Students must complete all courses counting towards the major in Middle Eastern Studies with a grade of "C" or better.