Middle Eastern Studies (Minor)

Program Description

The Department of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (MEIS) focuses on the past and present of a vast and culturally diverse region of the world that extends from North Africa to Central Asia and from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean. It adopts interdisciplinary and comparative approaches to Middle Eastern societies from antiquity to the present, with particular focus on the period after the emergence of Islam. The department offers students the opportunity to master one of the regional languages, including Arabic, Hindi, Persian, Turkish, and Urdu. Students also acquire an interdisciplinary understanding of this pivotal area of the world by studying with the department’s specialists in history, anthropology, political science, literature, law, religious studies, and language.

Awards

The department offers the following awards for excellence:

  • The Baba-e-Urdu Prize, for excellence in Urdu studies
  • The Rumi-Biruni Prize, for excellence in Persian studies
  • The Evliya Chelebi Prize, for excellence in Turkish studies
  • The Ibn Khaldun Prize, for excellence in Arabic studies
  • The Premchand Prize, for excellence in Hindi studies
  • The Jordan Curley Memorial Writing Prize

Minor Declaration

To request declaration of a minor, CAS students should visit the host department. To request declaration of a cross-school minor, CAS students should complete the online Minor Application available in their Albert Student Center. Students may also use the Minor Application in Albert to request cancellation of a CAS or cross-school minor.