Middle Eastern Studies

What Will I Learn?

In this track, you will learn about the history, politics, societies, cultures and religions of the Middle East and North Africa in a way that befits the region’s mosaic-like character, as well as its unifying cultural, social, and religious foundations. A broad array of electives and seminars includes topical themes and country-specific courses. This wide variety of academic courses is complemented with the opportunity to study Hebrew or Arabic. Sample course offerings include: Social and Cultural History of the Middle East, Modern Iran: From Monarchy to the Islamic Republic, Arab society in Israel, The Rise and Fall of the Ottoman Empire, Global heating: A View from the Middle East, and Spoken Arabic.

Is It for Me?

This track is suitable for you if you are interested in getting behind the superficial, headline chasing reporting of events, and discovering the rich, multiple sources of identities and cultures in this important region, from ancient to modern times.

What stands out about this track among other things, is the added value provided by the opportunity to study the Middle East while actually living in the region, under the guidance of leading scholars in the field.  Field trips to different religious and ethnic communities in Israel further enhance the experience.

Skills that you will gain or improve in this track include basic proficiency in Arabic and/or Hebrew; the ability to analyze complex and highly-charged topics in an objective and dispassionate fashion; and a solid grounding in the region’s politics and culture.