About
Program Overview
The International Program in Applied Middle Eastern Studies (MAMES) is rooted in an applied historical approach to the contemporary Middle East. The program emphasizes the interplay between historical processes and their practical implications in today’s Middle East.
The curriculum explores the historical roots of political, economic, social, and strategic developments, highlighting how past dynamics inform present realities and shape future trajectories. By applying rigorous scholarly research to real-world contexts, the program bridges history and practice, challenging students to develop independent, critical, and informed understandings of the Middle East through the lenses of both continuity and change.
This program will focus on approaching the region “from the inside out,” meaning we will focus on the lived experiences of the peoples of the region: their cultural frameworks, languages, and internal debates. It situates these issues within the region’s internal realities. This approach allows us to analyze the region’s contemporary politics; historical memory; social change; economic transformation; and cultural production as part of an interconnected whole.
As part of the program, students will have opportunities to participate in structured internships and engage with policymakers, practitioners, and professionals closely involved in the Middle East, providing exposure to real-world perspectives and professional networks. This engagement is intended to encourage and better prepare graduates to pursue professional careers involving the Middle East, including roles in policy, diplomacy, security, media, international organizations, and related fields. Outstanding students may also pursue an academic career by continuing to advanced research degrees.
MAMES students will benefit from the resources available at Israel’s premier research center for the Middle East: The Moshe Dayan Center (MDC) for Middle Eastern and African Studies. Our students have full access to MDC’s unprecedented collection of books, periodicals, and multi-media resources that enrich the study of the Middle East. To learn more about the MDC, please visit >
