The Middle East at this time of transition offers complex challenges and promise.

The study of the Middle East includes history, politics, culture, religion, language and literature, all of which interact and make for an exciting learning experience and a perspective that is in-demand in many professions. In these courses, you will explore contemporary issues such as the Palestinian-Israeli dispute, the interactions of the Gulf Region, and the Syrian-Lebanese-Israeli triangle and themes such as political reform, human rights, the roles and rights of women, and U.S. policy in the Middle East.

The Curriculum

View the 2023-2024 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for a Minor in Middle East Studies

  1. HIST2140 History of Modern Middle East
  2. POLSC2411 The Contemporary Middle East: Challenges and Promise
  3. THRS2211 Islam (R) (RI)

4-5. Electives: Choose two, with one at the 3000-level required

  • LANG2664 The Arab World Through Its Literature (AI-L)
  • POLSC3405 Negotiating Peace
  • POLSC3407 People and Politics of the Middle East