Middle East and North Africa Studies Major

Requirements for the Major

A Middle East and North Africa Studies major requires a minimum of eight courses, two years of language study (or equivalent), plus a senior thesis.

Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad in the Middle East or North Africa. Up to three courses taken abroad may be submitted with major advisor approval for credit towards the major. To complete the major, students must take the following:

1. Seven courses with significant Middle East and North Africa Studies content. Courses should be chosen in consultation with a MENA Studies faculty member. At least three of the following five disciplinary areas must be represented: Anthropology, History, Literature and the Arts, Politics, Religious Studies.
2. Two years of study in Modern Standard Arabic, or the equivalent are required; that is, competency in Arabic 44.
3. A Senior Seminar (190) must be taken during fall semester senior year in a discipline chosen in consultation with the major advisor (e.g., Anthropology, History, Politics, Religious Studies).
4. For the Senior Thesis (191), completed during spring semester senior year, students will select at least one reader of the two required from among Middle Eastern Studies faculty.

Refer to the MENA Thesis Guide  for detailed information from the department.

Honors Requirements

A student who wishes to graduate with honors in MENA Studies must:

• Achieve a minimum grade point average of 11.0 (A-) in the major;
• Earn a grade of A on the thesis; and
• Present the thesis publicly at a venue to be determined with their first reader.

The student will be expected to produce a more substantial thesis than those not working on honors. A student may elect to attempt honors in MENA Studies by the end of fall semester of the senior year in consultation with the first reader. Honors theses must have two readers, at least one of whom must be a faculty member at Scripps.