Students must complete fifty-two semester hours with an adjusted GPA of 2.0 on all University coursework and have completed at least half the required liberal studies hours or an AA degree.

Students majoring in Middle Eastern studies are to construct their study program, in consultation with an adviser, around three components in addition to the University requirement for liberal studies and electives. A total of fifty-four semester hours beyond the liberal studies requirement is required. A list of approved courses is available with the program advisers.

Major Components for a BA in Middle Eastern Studies

1. Major requirement. Students are to take a minimum of thirty-six semester hours from among those area-specific upper level courses listed for their major track. The hours should be distributed among at least 3 departments participating in the program.
2. Middle East Survey requirement. Students are required to take Middle East Survey (ASH 3230), a three semester hour course.
3. Language requirement. Fifteen semester hours of course work are required in a relevant area language (Arabic, Hebrew, or any other Middle Eastern language that might be offered on campus in the future). The hours must be focused upon one specific language.

Students are encouraged to bring their chosen language up to an effective level of proficiency in both reading and speaking by either taking additional course work on the FSU campus or by participating in a semester or summer abroad program in their relevant cultural area as such programs are available. To encourage the achievement of language proficiency, language course work hours taken beyond the fourth semester of foreign language requirement may be counted toward the required thirty-six hours for the major. A separate minor is not currently required for the Middle Eastern studies major, as a secondary area of major course work constitutes a collateral minor.

The State of Florida has not identified common program prerequisites for this University degree program. However, students are encouraged to take lower level introductory courses in some of the related disciplines (e.g., culture/history courses relating to the Middle East) and to begin study in Arabic or Hebrew earlier so that they might be able to leave the program with the highest level of proficiency possible in their chosen language.

All undergraduates at Florida State University must demonstrate basic computer skills competency prior to graduation. As necessary computer competency skills vary from discipline to discipline, each major determines the courses needed to satisfy this requirement. Undergraduate majors in Middle Eastern studies satisfy this requirement by earning a grade of "C–" or higher in CGS 2060, CGS 2064, CGS 2100, or EME 2040.

Coordinating Committee: Peter Garretson (History; Committee Chair), Zeina Schlenoff (Modern Languages), David Levenson (Religion)

The Middle Eastern studies minor is concerned with the cultures of the Middle East from ancient times to the present. Utilizing the resources of a number of departments and programs, it allows the student to study the region from an interdisciplinary perspective. The minor can provide a Middle East focus for work in another discipline, can build a foundation necessary for advanced degrees in Middle Eastern studies, and can enable those planning to work in the region to gain a fuller understanding of its cultures.

The minor will consist of fifteen semester hours and must include intermediate-level (2200 level) competence in Hebrew (biblical or modern), Arabic, or another Middle Eastern language approved by the committee. No more than eight semester hours of language courses may be counted toward the minor. No course taken for the minor may be used to fulfill any University language requirement. The remaining required hours must come either from the courses listed below or be approved by the coordinating committee.

Note: Course descriptions can be found in the chapter corresponding to the department in which each course is taught.

Anthropology

ANT 4175 Archaeology of the Islamic World (3)

Art History

ARH 3800 Methods of Art Criticism: Islamic Art (3)

ARH 4118 Archaeology of Ancient Egypt (3)

ARH 4173 Studies in Classical Art and Archaeology (3)

Economics

ECS 4504 Economics of the Middle East (3)

Geography

GEO 4930 Special Topics in Geography [Middle East] (3)

History

AFH 4302 Northern African History: A Survey (3)

ASH 1044 Middle Eastern History and Civilization (3)

ASH 3200 History of the Ancient Near East (3)

ASH 3230 Middle East Survey (3)

ASH 4223 Modern Middle East (3)

ASH 4261 Central Asia Since the Mongols (3)

EUH 3420 Rise and Fall of Classical Civilization (3)

Note: ASH 3230 is a required course for all students majoring in Middle Eastern studies.

Modern Languages

ARA 1120 Elementary Arabic I (4)

ARA 1121 Elementary Arabic II (4)

ARA 2220 Intermediate Arabic (4)

ARA 2240 Conversational Arabic (3)

FOL 3930 Experiments in Modern Language [Topics in Arabic] (3)

FRE  4930 Special Topics [Postcolonialism and Francophone Literatures] (3)

HBR 1102 Beginning Hebrew I (4)

HBR 1103 Beginning Hebrew II (4)

HBR 1120 Elementary Modern Hebrew I (4)

HBR 1121 Elementary Modern Hebrew II (4)

HBR 2202 Intermediate Hebrew (4)

HBR 2220 Intermediate Modern Hebrew (4)

Political Science

CPO 3403 Comparative Government and Politics: The Middle East (3)

INR 4274 Studies in International Politics: The Middle East (3)

Religion

REL 2210 Introduction to the Old Testament (3)

REL 3363 The Islamic Tradition (3)

REL 3600 The Jewish Tradition (3)

REL 3936 Special Topics in Religion: Islam in the Modern World (3)

REL 4203r Readings in Classical Hebrew Texts (1–3)

REL 4323 Religions of the Ancient Near East (3)

REL 4613 Modern Judaism (3)

REL 4617 Judaism in the Graeco-Roman World (3)

Urban and Regional Planning

URP 4936 Special Topics in Urban and Regional Planning [Gender and Development] (3)

Note: The following courses require an adviser's approval.

Anthropology

ANT 4930 Special Topics in Anthropology (3)

Art History

ARH 3800r Methods of Art Criticism (3)

ARH  4151 Art and Archaeology of the Early Roman Empire (3)

ARH 4210 Early Christian and Byzantine Art (3)

English

ENG 3310 Film Genres (3)

ENG 4905 Directed Individual Study [Critical Theory of Globalization] (1–3)

LIT 4205 Literature of Human Rights (3)

LIT 4233 Anglophone Postcolonial Literature (3)

History

HIS 4930r Special Topics in History(3)

Humanities

HUM 2937 Humanities Honors Seminar [Music of the Middle East] (3)

HUM 3324 Cultural Imperialism (3)

Political Science

INR 3004 Geography, History and International Relations (3)

INR 4075 International Human Rights (3)

INR 4078 Confronting Human Rights Violations (3)

INR 4083 International Conflict (3)

Religion

REL 3145 Gender and Religion (3)

REL 3146 Gender and the Bible (3)

REL 3293 Topics in Biblical Studies: Prophets (3)

REL 3293r Topics in Biblical Studies (3)

REL 4290r Undergraduate Biblical Studies Seminar (3)

REL 4671 Gender and Judaism (3)

Women's Studies

WST 4930 Topics in Women's Studies: Women and Gender in Africa (3)