Minor in Middle East Studies

Catalog Year: 2023-2024

Banner Code: LA-MINOR-LA-MES

Today, more than ever before, Middle East politics have become intertwined with American politics and the lives of many Americans. This minor is designed to equip undergraduates with a firm multidisciplinary grounding in the region, its history, and its international relations.

Faculty

Amireh, Bakhash, Bryant, Dakake, Gopin, Haddad, Hamdani, Katz, Lukacs, Mandaville, Paczynska, Rouhana, Salawdeh

The University Catalog is the authoritative source for information on program requirements and courses. The Schedule of Classes is the authoritative source for information on classes scheduled for this semester. See the Schedule for the most up-to-date information and see Patriot web to register for classes. Requirements may be different for earlier catalog years. See the University Catalog archives.

Minor Requirements

Total credits: 18

Students should be aware of the specific policies associated with this program, located on the Admissions & Policies tab.

In partial fulfillment of coursework for the minor, students are strongly encouraged to participate in a study abroad program in the Middle East. 

Core Courses

HIST 282 Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core) 3
GOVT 332 Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa 3
Total Credits 6

Electives

Select four electives from the following: 1 12
Major Arab Writers/Stories (Mason Core)  
Reading and Conversation I  
Reading and Conversation II  
Peoples and Cultures of Selected Regions: Non-Western (if region studied is relevant to Middle East studies)  
Art and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East (Mason Core)  
Art of the Islamic World (Mason Core)  
Global Conflict Analysis and Resolution (Mason Core)  
Global Voices (Mason Core) (if literatures studied are relevant to Middle East studies)  
Geography of North Africa and the Middle East  
Islam and Politics  
Human Rights  
Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization (Mason Core)  
Topics in Global History (Mason Core) (if region studied is relevant to Middle East studies)  
Arab-Israeli Conflict  
Women in Islamic Society (Mason Core)  
The Middle East in the 20th Century  
Introduction to Religions of the "West" (Mason Core)  
Islam  
Qur'an and Hadith  
Islamic Thought (Mason Core)  
Total Credits 12
1

One course in a relevant language may be used as an elective. Other courses including ANTH 399 Issues in Anthropology or CONF 399 Special Topics in Conflict Analysis and Resolution, when topic is relevant to the Middle East, may be used as electives with the prior written approval of the director.