Undergraduate Minors

Middle East Studies – Minor

The undergraduate curriculum in Middle East studies provides a grounding in the modern Middle East and a view of how this region fits into the world community politically, historically, and economically. To achieve this understanding, students take courses in the social sciences and the humanities, and are strongly encouraged to study a Middle Eastern language.

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Minor in Middle East Studies

28-30 credits, to include the following:

  1. Two courses chosen from JSIS A 210/NEAR E 229 (5), JSIS A 215/NEAR E 232 (5), ANTH 318 (3), HSTAFM 161 (5), or HSTAFM 163 (5)
  2. 20 credits of electives chosen from the approved list (see below)
  3. Study of a Middle East language is encouraged, but not required.  A maximum of 5 credits in Arabic, Modern Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish language beyond the first-year level may be applied toward the 20 credits of approved electives.  No credits from any first-year language course may be counted.
  4. No more than 12 credits counted in the minor may also be counted toward requirements of a major
  5. Minimum of 15 credits of 300/400 level courses
  6. Minimum of 15 credits completed in residence at the UW Seattle campus
  7. Minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA required in courses applied to the minor

Please schedule an appointment with an advisor if you have any questions.

Middle East Studies Courses

Quarterly Course Lists

Middle East Studies Minor Electives

Area Courses

JSIS A 101/NEAR E 315 Israel in Global Context (5)
*JSIS A 210/NEAR E 229 Introduction to Islamic Civilization (5)
*JSIS A 215/NEAR E 232 Introduction to the Modern Middle East (5)
JSIS A 402 Middle East in the Modern World (5)
JSIS A 457 Current Issues in the Arab Media (5)
JSIS A 465 International Humanitarian Law (5)
JSIS B 406/POL S 432 Political Islam (5)
JSIS B 407 Islamist Movements (5)
RELIG 145 Introduction to Judaism (5)
RELIG 205/NEAR E 285 Religion, Violence, and Peace (5)
RELIG 211/NEAR E 230 Introduction to Muslim Beliefs and Practices (5)
RELIG 212/NEAR E 231 Introduction to the Quran (5)
JSIS 478 Special Topics: Global (1-5) (when topic is Middle East)
JSIS 487 Special Topics: Middle East (1-5)
*ANTH 318 Islam and Middle East Culture (3)
*HSTAFM 161 Survey of the Muslim Near East (5)
*HSTAFM 163 The Modern Middle East (5)
HSTAFM 261 The Crusades: Middle East Perspective (5)
HSTAFM 268 War in the Modern Middle East (5)
HSTAFM 361 Middle East History, 1453-1800 (5)
HSTAFM 461 History of Middle East Since 1789 (5)
NEAR E 242 Cultural History of Turkey (5)
NEAR E 310 Modern Near East Literature in Translation (3)
NEAR E 326 Israeli Identities (5)
NEAR E 402 Classical Arabic Literature in Translation (3)
NEAR E 403 Modern Arabic Novel (3)
NEAR E 410 Middle East Through Cinema (3)
NEAR E 425 Current Trends in Modern Near East Literature (3)
POL S 321 American Foreign Policy (5)
POL S 325 Arab Israeli Conflict (5)
POL S 368/LSJ 320 International Human Rights (5)
POL S 407 International Conflict (5)

*if not taken for requirement #1

Language Courses (a maximum of 5 credits may be counted)

ARAB  All courses numbered 421 or above
HEBREW  All courses in Modern Hebrew numbered 421 or above
PERSAN  All courses numbered 421 or above
TKISH  All courses numbered 421 or above