Middle East studies at Dickinson draws upon a broad-based curriculum to enable a sophisticated exploration of the region's history, diverse cultures and complex politics.
Our program offers a wide range of courses that explore the Middle East's historical and cultural roots and its role in global affairs today. Through the study of Arabic, Hebrew, history, political science, religion and sociology, students acquire a robust understandingof the forces that shape the Middle East.
Our majors frequently study in the region during the junior year to further language proficiency and develop research projects. The program also includes a minor inArabic, one of the six official languages of the United Nations—one spoken by more than 300 million people worldwide—and the official language of the 22 countries of the Arab League.
Contact Info
Chair
Mireille RebeizAssociate Professor of French and Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studiesrebeizm@dickinson.edu
U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Service Institute
Drexel University
Johns Hopkins University
London School of Economics
University of Maryland Law School
Boston University
University of Maine
Where Our Students Have Interned
Advantus Strategies
National Endowment for Democracy
Naval History and Heritage Command
U.S. Army War College, Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute
U.S. Army War College, Center for Strategic Studies
U.S. Army War College, L2KM Division
United Nations Association of Rochester
Student Perspective
"I love Middle Eastern and North African cultures, and everything from the language to the history of the region captivates me. I love how interconnected the Middle East studies curriculum is. Whether you are taking a class on modern Egyptian culture, Hebrew texts, public diplomacy in the Arab world, or an Arabic class on Islamic art, all of the classes overlap in some way and together, they provide a thorough understanding of the Middle East. "
Xenia Makosky '24 has participated in research through the Writing Center, completed an internship at the Smithsonian’s National Gallery of Asian Art, and studied abroad in Jordan and Morocco.
As a philosophy major, Alexander Rojek ’25 revels in life’s big questions. He puts what he's learning into action as a Community Engagement Fellow and tutor.
Studio art major Caitlyn Longest ’23 has interned in NYC and Italy, and she's created art in Jordan. "I've learned to adapt to different places quickly and make the most of my time," she says.