Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MENA)
The program in Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MENA) offers students an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Middle East and North Africa. This is an area studies approach to non-western cultures and peoples. Drawing on courses in Art History, English, Government, History, Religion, and other disciplines, the program encourages students to learn about the history, culture, politics and languages of the Middle East and North Africa.
The program in Middle Eastern and North African Studies is not a major. With the exception of MENA 354 Middle Eastern & North African Studies: Culture, History, Politics, courses applied toward requirements for this program may also be counted toward requirements that will satisfy other programs, majors, or minors.
Program Requirements
Students are required to take MENA 354 Middle Eastern & North African Studies: Culture, History, Politics and four additional courses. Within the electives, a maximum of 6 credit hours (or two courses) may be taken in any one discipline.
| Course | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | 3 | |
| Middle Eastern & North African Studies: Culture, History, Politics | ||
| Electives 1 | 12 to 16 | |
| Select four courses from the following: | ||
| Beginning Active Arabic | ||
| Beginning Active Arabic | ||
| Intermediate Active Arabic | ||
| Intermediate Active Arabic | ||
| Advanced Arabic | ||
| Advanced Arabic | ||
| Islamic Art | ||
| Economics of Immigration | ||
| Race, Gender, and Empire | ||
| Global Digital Cultures | ||
| The Ancient Middle East | ||
| Modern Middle East | ||
| Iran: Its History, Culture & Politics | ||
| Pyramids and Power: Ancient Egypt to 1500 BCE | ||
| Warriors, Queens, & Heretics: Ancient Egypt 1500-30 BCE | ||
| Middle East Politics | ||
| African Politics | ||
| Revolutions & Regime Change | ||
| Peace & Conflict | ||
| Middle Eastern Film | ||
| Special Topics in Middle Eastern & North African Studies | ||
| Middle Eastern & North African Studies Senior Capstone | ||
| The Hebrew Bible | ||
| Introduction to Islam | ||
| Ethnography of Religion in the Middle East & North Africa | ||
| Gods of the Biblical World: Polytheism, Magic, and Israelite Religion | ||
| Angels & Demons: Intermediary Celestial Beings in Historical Perspective | ||
| The Bible & Human Migration | ||
| Sex & Bodies in the Hebrew Bible | ||
| Christian & Islamic Theology in Comparative Perspective | ||
| Political Islam | ||
| Premodern Islam | ||
| Contemporary Islam | ||
| Ritualized Space in the Middle East | ||
| Islam in the Media | ||
| Total Hours | 15-19 | |
- 1
A maximum of two courses may be taken in any one discipline. Students may also take special or advanced topics courses in other disciplines as approved by the Program Coordinator.
MENA 260. Peace & Conflict. 3 Hours.
Analyze the peace and conflict resolution in the Middle East. Approaching this topic from a variety of disciplinary perspectives such as interreligious peacebuilding, political science, history, or others, instructors will help students apply a comprehensive approach to understanding conflict and constructing peace through combing the central concepts and findings of modern peace building/conflict management research.
MENA 280. Selected Topics in Middle Eastern & North African Studies. 1 to 4 Hours.
Selected topics in Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the introductory or intermediate level.
MENA 301. Middle Eastern Film. 3 Hours.
An introduction to the diverse cultures of the Middle East through the viewing a series of films that portray aspects such as ideas, customs, and social behaviors of various countries within the Arab world.
MENA 354. Middle Eastern & North African Studies: Culture, History, Politics. 3 Hours.
An interdisciplinary approach to the exploration of the Middle East/North African region utilizing analytical tools from academic disciplines such as anthropology, history, political science and religion. The influence of aspects such as geography, culture, politics, history, and religion will be examined in the context of their similarities and differences within the region.
MENA 380. Special Topics in Middle Eastern & North African Studies. 1 to 4 Hours.
Seminars on selected topics in Middle Eastern and/or North African Studies offered on an occasional basis.
MENA 448. Middle Eastern & North African Studies Senior Capstone. 3 Hours.
The Senior Capstone is designed to help students focus and integrate their knowledge of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region. Each student will complete an independent research project focusing on a specific problem or region from an interdisciplinary perspective.
Prerequisite: MENA 354 with a minimum grade of C.