Middle East Studies, Minor

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

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.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select 3 credits of the following:		3
HIST/ARAB/RLST 165	Islamic States, Societies and Cultures c. 600-1500
HIST/JST 181	Introduction to the Middle East
HIST/RLST 471Y	Classical Islamic Civilization, 600-1258
HIST/JST 473	The Contemporary Middle East
RLST 107	Introduction to Islam
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 15 credits (at least 6 at the 400-level and no more than 6 credits from language study) from approved program list in consultation with the professor in charge of the minor		15

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 Majors and Minors 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

https://medieval.la.psu.edu/