At which campus can I study this program?
Program Description
This interdisciplinary program is designed for students having special interest in the Middle East broadly defined. In addition to the requirements for the minor, students may select other courses dealing with the Middle East, including courses studied abroad, subject to the approval of the Middle East Studies director. A certificate is awarded to students who complete the requirements of the minor.
What is Middle East Studies?
Middle Eastern Studies intends to instill an understanding of the history and culture of the multiple countries that make up the Middle East, from ancient through modern times. It is an interdisciplinary area of study that encompasses various aspects of the Middle East such as history, politics, religion, language, literature, art history, and more. Middle Eastern Studies offers a way to investigate a region of the world from multiple perspectives engaging a variety of methods of study.
You Might Like This Program If...
- You want to pursue a career or engage in graduate studies in fields such as archaeology, philosophy, literature, religious studies, political sciences, and more.
- You are interested in gaining further insight into the societies and cultures of ancient civilizations.
- You have a desire to do in depth research on the Middle East, and hope to spend time abroad to immerse yourself in the cultures and languages.
Program Requirements
| Requirement | Credits |
|---|---|
| Requirements for the Minor | 18 |
Requirements for the Minor
A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the minor, as specified by Senate Policy 59-10. In addition, at least six credits of the minor must be unique from the prescribed courses required by a student's major(s).
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Additional Courses | ||
| Additional Courses: Require a grade C or better | ||
| Select 3 credits from the following: | 3 | |
Introduction to Middle Eastern Literatures  | ||
| Islamic States, Societies and Cultures c. 600-1500 | ||
| Introduction to the Middle East | ||
| The Middle East Today | ||
| Government and Politics of the Middle East | ||
| Introduction to Islam | ||
| Select 15 credits from the following (at least 6 credits at the 400-level and no more than 6 credits from language study): 1 | 15 | |
| Society and Cultures in Modern Israel | ||
| Elementary Modern Standard Arabic I | ||
| Elementary Modern Standard Arabic II | ||
| Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic | ||
| Arab Language, Cultures, and Current Topics | ||
| Introduction to the Qur'an | ||
| Islamic States, Societies and Cultures c. 600-1500 | ||
| Advanced Language & Cultures I | ||
| Advanced Language & Cultures II | ||
| Islamic Architecture and Art | ||
| The Silk Roads | ||
| Technology & Society in Modern Asia | ||
| Mesopotamian Civilization | ||
| MESOPOTAMIAN CIVILIZATION | ||
| Egyptian Civilization | ||
| Myth in Egypt and the Near East | ||
| Jerusalem: Past, Present, and Future | ||
| Ancient Israel | ||
| Ancient Egypt | ||
| Literature of the Ancient Near East | ||
| Law & Economy in the Ancient Near East | ||
| Languages and Cultures of the Ancient Near East | ||
| Introduction to Middle Eastern Literatures | ||
| Literary Cultures of Islam | ||
| Basic Modern Hebrew I | ||
| Basic Modern Hebrew II | ||
| Intermediate Modern Hebrew | ||
| Advanced Hebrew--Conversation Emphasis | ||
| Advanced Hebrew--Reading Emphasis | ||
| The Byzantine Empire | ||
| Early Modern Empires of Islam: The Ottomans, Safavids, and Mughals | ||
| Crusades: Holy War in the Middle Ages | ||
| The History of the Israel-Palestine Conflict (1917-Present) | ||
| The Indian Ocean World | ||
| Introduction to the Middle East | ||
| The Middle East Today | ||
| Modern Iran | ||
| Society and Culture in Palestine/Israel | ||
| Middle Eastern Cities | ||
| Revolutions in the Middle East | ||
| The Middle East in Film | ||
| Middle East Studies Research Workshop | ||
| Zionism | ||
HIST/RLST 423 | ||
| Jewish Histories of the Middle East | ||
| Classical Islamic Civilization, 600-1258 | ||
| The Ottoman Empire | ||
| The Contemporary Middle East | ||
| Government and Politics of the Middle East | ||
| International Relations of the Middle East | ||
| Introduction to Islam | ||
- 1
Courses with Middle East content not listed below may count toward the minor in consultation with the director of Middle East Studies.
Some courses may require other course work as some courses have prerequisites.
Academic Advising
The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.
Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.
READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY
University Park
Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program
Career Paths
A minor in Middle Eastern Studies offers students the opportunity to take part in enriching experiences that can lead to exciting careers in fields such as archaeology, politics, religious studies, and more. Students who achieve a minor in Middle Eastern Studies offer knowledge and understanding of complex histories that employers and graduate programs find appealing.
Careers
- Secondary and College Teaching
- Archaeology
- Philosophy
- Politics
Contact
University Park
MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
108 Weaver Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-865-1367
bdw150@psu.edu