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Middle East Studies Advising Guide


 

Introduction

The interdisciplinary Middle East Studies major contributes to Dickinson’s coverage of global affairs. The major combines language study with courses in the humanities and social sciences, including a capstone senior research course. Majors may choose to study for one or two semesters in the Arab world or Israel. 

 

Courses appropriate for prospective majors 

HIST 121, Middle East to 1750 

HIST 122,  Middle East since 1750  

MEST 200, Topics in Middle East Studies 

Introductory courses that fulfill distribution requirements 

Division II:      

MEST 121/HIST 121, Middle East to 1750 

MEST 122/HIST 122, Middle East since 1750 

Comparative Civilization:       

 MEST 121/History 121, Middle East to 1750 

MEST 122/History 122, Middle East since 1750 

 

Courses in the major 

12 courses consisting of the following:
Two years of Arabic or modern Hebrew (4 courses)
MEST 121/HIST 121, Middle East to 1750
MEST 122/HIST 122, Middle East since 1750One social science course in another discipline (3 courses)
Three humanities courses (3 courses)
One additional elective
(NOTE: one of these electives to be in a country that is not the focus of the language study.)
Senior Research (1 course)

The following courses will count toward the major. Relevant courses under the rubric of "topics" in various departments will also meet major requirements: 

AMST 301-01, The Middle East, Islam and the American Imagination 

ARBI 101, Elementary Arabic 

ARBI 102, Elementary Arabic 

ARBI 211, Intermediate Arabic 

ARBI 212, Intermediate Arabic 

ARBI 360, Topics in Arabic Language and Culture 

HEBR 103, Elementary Modern Hebrew 

HEBR 104, Elementary Modern Hebrew 

HEBR 116, Intermediate Modern Hebrew 

HEBR 200, Advanced Modern Hebrew  

HEBR 231, Hebrew Conversation and Composition

HEBR 232, Topics in Hebrew Literature 

HEBR 331, Topics in Hebrew Literature and Israeli Culture 

HIST 213, The Age of the Crusades 

HIST 315, Modern Iran 

HIST 404, US-Middle East Relations 

JDST 104, Introduction to Judaic Studies 

JDST 216/RELG 241, Love, Sex and Hebrew Texts 

JDST 216, Jews and Judaism in the Medieval World 

JDST 316, Israeli Cinema 

MEST 121/HIST 121, Middle East to 1750 

MEST 122/HIST 122, Middle East since 1750 

MEST 200, Topics in Middle East Studies 

MEST 231/HIST 371, The Arab-Israeli Conflict 

MEST 241/ENGL 370, Romantic Orientalism and its Critics 

MEST 250/RELG 247, Saints and Demons: Jewish & Muslim Vernacular Religion in the Middle East  

MEST 259/HIST 372/RELG 259, Islam 

MEST 262, Zionism: Ideology, Institutions, Cultures and Contestations 

MEST 264/POSC 264, Politics, Society and Culture in Israel 

MEST 266/POSC 277, International Politics of the Middle East 

MEST 280/ECON 214, Political Economy of the Middle East 

RELG 312, Eastern Orthodox Christianity 

RELG 312, Christian-Muslim Relations 

POSC 290, Authoritarianism and Democratization in the Middle East and North Africa 

POSC 290, Mass Media, Communications, and Political Identities in the Middle East and North Africa 

Suggested four-year program 

First Year and Second Year: Students should begin to work on the language requirement in either Arabic or Modern Hebrew, and take at least three area studies courses. During the fall semester of the second year, students should explore study abroad options.

Third Year: Majors are urged to spend at least one semester in a study abroad program to deepen their language expertise and to broaden the range of subject area courses. 

FourthYear: At the start of the fourth year, majors should consult with their advisor and with the program coordinator for guidance about designing the senior thesis and agreeing on a plan to complete it on time and to the required standard.  

Forcourse descriptions, and requirements for the major, please refer to the College Bulletin: Middle East Studies.   

 

Opportunities for off-campus study

Students should consult with the program coordinator and the Office of Global Education to determine suitable opportunities for off-campus study. For students taking Arabic, Dickinson has Partner Programs with AMIDEAST in Rabat, Morocco and Amman, Jordan, and with the American University in Cairo.  For students taking Modern Hebrew, Dickinson has Partner Programs with Ben-Gurion University in Beer-Sheva, and Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel, and with the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. 

 

Additional remarks

Related activities: When appropriate, Middle East Studies offers films and lectures that are coordinated with the core courses, but which are open to the entire community, often in cooperation with the participating departments. 

Further information: Information on the major and minor as well as on the particular courses being offered each semester are available from the Middle East Studies Program Coordinator.