Middle East Studies Minor
Why study the "MIddle East"? The countries within and neighboring what is commonly referred to as the Middle East continue to play an important role in global affairs and dynamics. The economic and business elements of the region along with its political, cultural and social realities factor heavily into contemporary world developments. Within such a context, for intrinsic and extrinsic reasons, there are strong reasons to focus one's study on this area of the world. KU combines education in Arabic, Persian, Turkish and Hebrew with a rich selection of courses on or related to the region, including courses in Islamic studies, language, culture and art, history, and contemporary social and political dynamics. The minor also complements many majors within the College as well as other degrees across the University. The area's languages and knowledge of cultures, society and politics in the region can prepare students for careers in business and the private sector, foreign or civil service, or jobs with non-profit organizations.
Requirements for the Minor
| Core Courses (6) | ||
| REL 350/AAAS 349 | Islam | 3 |
| and | ||
| POLS 661 | Politics of the Middle East | 3 |
| or HIST 328 | The Modern Middle East | |
| Electives (12) | 12 | |
| These courses allow students to deepen their knowledge of the countries and issues in the region. Students must take at least one course from each emphasis—i.e. social science and humanities, as listed below--but can choose to take three courses from one emphasis and one from the other or take two from each. | ||
| Regularly offered and upcoming elective options are: | ||
| Social science emphasis: (minimum 3 credit hours) | ||
| Peoples and Cultures of North Africa and the Middle East | ||
| Religion, Power, and Sexuality in Arab Societies | ||
| Nationalism(s) in Turkey | ||
| Politics and Society in the Contemporary Persianate World | ||
| Social Movements in the Middle East | ||
| Iran, Turkey, and the Kurds | ||
| Politics of the Middle East | ||
| Islam and Politics | ||
| United States Foreign Policy | ||
| Sociology of the Middle East | ||
| Humanities emphasis: (minimum 3 credit hours) | ||
| Arabic and Islamic Studies | ||
| Women and Islam | ||
| Islamic Literature | ||
| Language and Culture in Arabic-Speaking Communities | ||
| Unveiling the Veil | ||
| Literature and Society in the Contemporary Middle East | ||
| The Premodern Middle East | ||
| The Modern Middle East | ||
| Travelers' Tales of the Middle East | ||
| From Harem to the Streets: Gender in the Middle East, 1900-Present | ||
| The Middle East After World War II | ||
| Religion of Ancient Israel | ||
| Muslim Societies | ||
| Islamic Law in the Digital Age | ||
| Shari'a, Democracy, and Society | ||
| Modern Islamic Reform Movements | ||
| Language Option: A student pursuing a Middle East Studies minor may also use one 300-level or above ARAB, PERS, TURK, or HEBR language course as an elective that counts toward three credit hours of “Humanities emphasis.” | ||
Middle East Studies Minor Hours & GPA
While completing all required courses, minors must also meet each of the following hour and grade point average minimum standards:
Minor Hours
Satisfied by 18 hours of minor courses.
Minor Hours in Residence
Satisfied by a minimum of 9 hours of junior/senior (300+) hours of KU resident credit in the minor.
Minor Junior/Senior (300+) Hours
Satisfied by a minimum of 12 hours from junior/senior courses (300+) in the minor.
Minor Graduation GPA
Satisfied by a minimum of a 2.0 GPA in all departmental courses in the Minor. GPA calculations include all departmental courses in the field of study including Fs and repeated courses. See the Semester/Cumulative GPA Calculator.