Modern Middle Eastern Studies
专业详情
There has rarely been a time in which an in-depth understanding of the languages, cultures, history, and politics of the contemporary Middle East has been more important. This interdisciplinary degree is designed to allow students to specialize in the Middle East as a region of the world and human experience by combining course work using both social scientific and humanistic approaches, underpinned by relevant language skills. Students will work with faculty committed to supporting interdisciplinary, applied, research-oriented advanced study. The major gives students opportunities to work on problems of politics, policy, history, ideology, social thought, economic development, and international relations.
Note: We currently do not offer graduate degree programs.
MMES Pre-Approved Course List
MMES Major/Minor Declaration Form.
The Major
The major will consist of at least twelve course units to be distributed as follows:
- Disciplinary distribution: A selection of three courses that must include both the Social Sciences and the Humanities – three course units.
- Language: Four course units in one Middle Eastern language (for example, Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish), including at least two course units at the intermediate (second year) level or above.
- Regional coverage: Three course units. Students must take at least one of the list of foundational courses in Modern Middle Eastern Studies approved by the associated faculty (here). At least one course should be centered on a culture other than that associated with the language selected in (2). One or two of these may also be courses about the Middle East region in general.
- Two seminar courses requiring significant research papers. [Must be approved in advance in consultation with the Middle East Center]
The Honors Program
Honors in Modern Middle Eastern Studies requires a thesis in addition to the basic requirements listed above. The honors thesis will be written over the course of the senior year under the supervision of an advisor selected from the Modern Middle Eastern Studies standing faculty. At the end of the first semester, S (satisfactory) or U (unsatisfactory) grade will be given, which will be replaced upon the completion of the thesis at the end of the senior year. Depending on the student’s focus, this may involve the application of language skills acquired in the first three years. The thesis must receive a grade no lower than “A-” for the student to receive honors.
Students must have at least a 3.7 GPA in the major and a 3.3 GPA overall to be eligible for honors.
