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Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies |
The Middle East and North Africa is certainly an area worth studying. With a tremendous diversity of cultures, religions, languages, and economic resources in a relatively small geographical space, the Middle East is not only rich with history, but is also tremendously relevant to current global issues. A hotbed of political and cultural activity and conflict, the Middle East is constantly in the international media, and due to the complex nature of these matters, it is important to have a strong understanding of the underlying issues and how they arose.
Additionally, with more and more college graduates entering the job pool each year, it is becoming increasingly important to demonstrate specialized skills in order to stand out to prospective employers. An area specialty such as the Middle East can be an important asset in standing apart from other candidates.
While it has been a topic of debate, the Middle East is conventionally considered to include the countries of Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Although each country is certainly made up of several different cultural and ethnic groups, the region shares a common history as well as common religions and languages.
The Middle East and North Africa is extremely relevant to almost every area of interest. Here are just a few examples of how the region is an integral part of many international concerns.
Graduates of the program have gone on to pursue a variety of successful careers. Our graduates now include Ambassadors, Foreign Services Officers, Lawyers, Journalists, and Professors. While many of these careers may require further education and training, an interdisciplinary area concentration such as Modern Middle East and North African Studies can provide a sturdy base from which to pursue future goals. Below are just a few ideas to consider:
| Research/Education | Government/Public Administration | Business | Communication |
| Academics Scholar Professor Librarian K-12 Teacher Anthropology Archaeology Medical Services |
Governmental Service State Department Military Service Central Intelligence Agency International Organizations United Nations Red Cross International Public Health worker |
Business Market Analyst International Consultant Lawyer |
Journalism Foreign Correspondent Translator |
The Modern Middle East and North African Studies Bachelor of Arts Concentration Program is an interdisciplinary program designed to give students a broad background of the region including history, language, and culture. The faculty and courses are from several different departments within the College of Literature, Science and the Arts, and it is the combination and coordination between them that provides a wide base of knowledge of past and present issues involving the region.
Advising: Prospective concentrators are encouraged to work closely with the Center's area concentration advisor. The advisor is an important guide, not only in ensuring that students complete their program requirements but also in providing additional support in planning for future opportunities.
Prerequisites: One of the following first year language sequences or the equivalent:
Some introductory classes are also strongly recommended, although not required:
Program Requirements: A minimum of 30 credits chosen in consultation with and approved by the undergraduate concentration advisor. The courses chosen must include:
Honors Concentration
Special arrangements are made for qualified students to elect an Honors concentration. Honors candidates undertake independent research project for a senior Honors thesis. Prospective Honors concentrators should consult with the Honors concentration advisor before the end of the junior year and should enroll in one of the senior Honors thesis courses approved by the advisor.
Students are welcome and encouraged to spend some time studying abroad. The Center maintains updated information on several schools and accredited institutions, and other University resources such as the Office of International Programs, the International Center and the International Institute are also well informed about study abroad opportunities. The student should meet with the concentration advisor prior to their departure in order to ensure that the credits are transferable and will meet necessary concentration requirements.
The Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies was established as an interdisciplinary program to coordinate training and research between various departments within the University. Faculty members specializing in the Middle East represent the following disciplines:
| Anthropology Ancient Civilization and Biblical Studies Arabic, Armenian, Persian, Turkish, and Islamic Studies Comparative Literature |
Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies History History of Art Judaic Studies |
Near Eastern Studies Political Science Religion Sociology Women's Studies |
The Center provides a variety of services to our students. Such services include academic and Honors advising, catalogued information on study abroad programs, and notification of University events related to the Middle East. The Center also brings in internationally renowned speakers for special lectures during the academic year.
The Center also offers a Master
of Arts program in Modern Middle Eastern and North African Studies
and dual degree programs with the Law School, the Business School
and the School of Public Health.
The Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies' interdisciplinary program is closely associated with the Department of Near Eastern Studies (NES), which provides several courses (including all relevant language instruction), faculty members, and resources to the Center and its concentration program. NES offers instruction with a more disciplinary focus in the languages, literatures, histories, and cultures of the ancient Near East and the medieval and modern Middle East. Language training serves as the foundation of NES undergraduate programs, which are designed to initiate academic study of the region, enhance the student's critical skills, and increase understanding of the historical processes behind the transmission and transformation of cultures.
The Hatcher Graduate Library contains more than 350,000 volumes in the field of Middle Eastern Studies, including an estimated 205,000 volumes in Arabic, Armenian, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. In addition, other on-campus library collections have specialized materials on the Middle East and include: the Law Library (which houses an extensive collection on Islamic Law as well as civil and criminal law of the Middle East), Kresge Business Library (an excellent collection on economics and business in the Middle East), Music (printed music and recordings), Shapiro Undergraduate Library (photographs, negatives, slides and microfilms), and Public Health. In addition, the University has major collections of artifacts from the Middle East in the Kelsey Museum and the Museum of Anthropology.
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