Middle East Studies (Graduate Diploma)

The diploma program in Middle East Studies is designed to fill the need for familiarity with modern Middle Eastern culture and society, particularly for students who have not been exposed to an intensive study of the Middle East at the undergraduate level.

Students are expected to finish the program in two semesters, though they may take up to four semesters to complete their requirements.

Admission

An applicant should have an undergraduate degree of high standing (a GPA of 3.0 or above). Prerequisites may be assigned depending on the applicant’s academic background.

Language

To obtain the diploma each candidate must demonstrate, in addition to the normal university requirements in English, proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic up to the completion of ALNG 1101-1102-1103.

Courses

Five courses are required for the Diploma, from at least three departments. Students can take a maximum of two courses at the 400 level. Students must take three of the following courses:

ARIC 451/5133 - Islamic Institutions (3 cr.)  
ARIC 543/5232 - Seminar on the Twentieth-Century Middle East (3 cr.)  
or
HIST 5223  
ECON 511/5252 - Economic Development in Middle East Countries (3 cr.)  
MEST 569/5201 - A Critical Introduction to Middle East Studies (3 cr.)  
POLS 535/5235 - Middle East Politics (3 cr.)  
SOC/ANTH 503/5290 - Middle Eastern Societies and Cultures (3 cr.)  

The remaining two courses must be related to the Middle East, from Arab & Islamic Civilizations, Economics, Gender and Women’s Studies, History, Law, Middle East Studies, Political Science, Anthropology/Sociology, Migration & Refugee Studies or Public Policy & Administration.