Area, Ethnic, Cultural, and Group Studies > Near and Middle Eastern Studies

Near and Middle Eastern Studies

Those interested in the history, culture, politics, economy, and geography of the region commonly known as the Middle East (Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Yemen and the Gulf Countries) may want to enroll in a program called Near and Middle Eastern Studies. The Near and Middle Eastern Studies major is intended for students interested in pursuing comparative research in the following areas: Near and Middle Eastern literature, culture, and languages (including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian [or Dari or Tajik], and Turkish and [Central Asian Turkic]); Islamic topics, including Islamic law, history, institutions, theology, and mysticism; Comparative religion of the Near and Middle East; Interdisciplinary investigation of the Near and Middle Eastern regions. Students who major in the study of the Middle East find rewarding careers in fields as diverse as international trade and finance, banking and investment, consulting, journalism, law, insurance, diplomacy, national security, humanitarian aid, and academia after completing additional post-secondary education.