The Middle East Studies (MES) minor provides students with the skills necessary to understand the complex issues of the Middle East, and prepares them for careers in which a deep understanding of the region is essential. The Middle East Studies minor is designed to provide a broad knowledge of the region’s culture, history, religion, politics, and society, and is complimented with the introductory study of any of its four major languages (namely, Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, and Turkish).
Given the Middle East’s historic geostrategic position as a crossroads for states and empires, networks of trade and intellectual discourse, we define it beyond traditional geographic parameters, which tend to focus on the Arab world, North Africa, Iran and Turkey. The concentration approaches the study of the Middle East of the 21st century as a global phenomenon, one that has generated diasporic communities throughout the world as well as transnational Islamic and other religion-based movements. The Middle East is integral to the making of global socio-economic networks, political discourses and the histories of colonialism and empire. As an interdisciplinary program, Middle East Studies integrates diverse methodological approaches drawn from a variety of disciplines.
The minor is housed in the History Department (CLA), however, given its interdisciplinary nature, the minor draws from a variety of departments in the humanities and social sciences, including History, Fine Arts (Art History), Religion, Political Science, Global Studies, Economics and Modern Languages and Literature.
The Middle East Studies minor is therefore particularly well suited for students preparing for graduate work or professional careers in the government, business and finance, or with international and non-governmental organizations.
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