Middle Eastern Studies Minor
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. By 2025, 20% to 25% of the world’s population will be Muslim. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict has affected decades of politics and public policy in both Western nations as well as regions of the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The tragic events associated with September 11, 2001, and the subsequent war on terrorism, which has reached global proportions, are signatures of the dramatic shift in global economy/politics/society that have altered perhaps permanently American perspectives of itself and the world. The deployment of the U.S. military to Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq, and what now appears to be a prolonged U.S. commitment to establishing a democracy not only in Iraq but in countries throughout the region are all indicators of the complex interlocking of American and Middle Eastern interests for generations to come.
A well-balanced minor in Middle Eastern Studies (MES) will enrich the undergraduate experience for students and should prove beneficial for graduate study and professional careers.
Interdisciplinary Minor
The Middle Eastern Studies minor is interdisciplinary and requires a total of 18 credits of coursework in a foreign language, history, political science, and religious studies.
Required Courses
Track I
There are two possible tracks of study to complete the MES minor. The first track consists of the following required courses:
| AB 101/102 | Beginning Arabic I and II | 3 CR each |
| HI 236 | History of the Arab World I: From Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire | 3 |
| HI 238 | The Modern Arab World | 3 |
| PO 314 | Middle East Politics | 3 |
| TRS 261 | Islam | 3 |
Whichever course is taken last is to be considered the ‘capstone’ course for the minor. Students electing this track should discuss the final and ‘capstone’ course requirements with the director of the program at least one semester prior to the actual scheduling of the final course.
Track II
The second track consists of the following required courses:
| AB 101/102 | Beginning Arabic I and II | 3 CR each |
| | |
| HI 236 | History of the Arab World I: From Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire | 3 |
| or | |
| HI 238 | The Modern Arab World | 3 |
| | |
| PO 314 | Middle East Politics | 3 |
| TRS 261 | Islam | 3 |
Capstone in MES (usually listed as an Independent Study in the chosen discipline)
The capstone is the culmination of the MES minor and is developed as an independent study upon consultation with the director of the MES program. The student is expected to study a specific interdisciplinary MES topic with an identified mentor in any one of the several disciplines integrated into the MES minor. The completion of the capstone is usually a formal research paper, written under the supervision of the course mentor.
The University normally offers Arabic in alternate years. Students interested in the minor should schedule accordingly. In the event of late declaration of the minors, substitutions may be approved by the minor program director. Special topics involving the Middle East, if and when offered under History, Political Science, or Theology & Religious Studies, can be used as substitutes for a required course only if the required course is not available within the student’s four-year course of study. The study of Arabic cannot be substituted by any course other than Middle Eastern language courses. The application of such courses to the Middle Eastern Studies minor requires the approval of the minor program’s director.
Suggested Courses Beyond the Minor Requirements