Overview
Three undergraduate degrees are offered through the Center for and Department of Middle Eastern Studies:
The Islamic Studies and MELC degrees are administered through the Department; the Middle Eastern Studies degree is offered through the Center.
The MELC degree replaces the individual Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish degree plans effective as of the fall 2012 semester; students who wish to declare one of these majors need to do so prior to the conclusion of the spring 2012 semester. Please contact the undergraduate advisor for more information.
What is the difference between the MELC and MES majors?
The Middle Eastern studies major is an interdisciplinary degree with a regional concentration on the Middle East, combining study of a Middle Eastern language with a survey of courses in history, social sciences, and the arts. The degree is intended primarily for those preparing for a career in business, communication, government, information studies, law, the military, or community college teaching.
The new MELC major allows students to pursue range of interests in the languages and cultures of the Middle East, including study of Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. It emphasizes the acquisition of a Middle Eastern language as well as cultural studies, with particular strengths in literature, material culture, art history, and music. This model encourages us all to look beyond the boundaries of language and nation that sometimes obscure our view of the Middle East as a region with a shared past, present, and future.
