MIDDLE EAST STUDIES
Program Committee: N.J. Brown (Director), D.R. Khoury, L. Riddle, W. Reich
Master of Arts in the field of Middle East studies—The Elliott School of International Affairs offers a multidisciplinary program to provide a greater understanding of the Middle East. The curriculum emphasizes both analytical skills and practical, professional skills, encouraging a broad perspective of the region.
Prerequisite: the admission requirements stated under the Elliott School of International Affairs and a bachelor's degree in a related field with at least two years of study of an appropriate language of the region.
Required: the general requirements stated under the Elliott School of International Affairs. The program requires a minimum of 40 credit hours of course work, with a thesis option.
All students take three major fields, electives, professional skills-based classes, and a capstone course. Major fields must include course work on more than one Middle East country and courses in a minimum of three of the following disciplines: economics, history, international relations, and political science. Students may choose one non-regional field (e.g., international business) after approval by the program director. The program provides lists of approved courses, drawn from departments and schools across the University, that fulfill these requirements. All students must pass a capstone policy course during their final semester in residence. More details on the curriculum are provided on the Elliott School website.
Students electing the thesis option will complete 34 hours of course work plus 6 hours of thesis research. See Thesis Option under the Elliott School section of this Bulletin.
Oral and reading knowledge of a language of the Middle East must be demonstrated by passing a proficiency examination during the final 20 hours in residence. Up to six hours of language course credit may be counted toward degree requirements. | 
