The Minor
Requirements
Six semester courses are required for the minor in Middle East studies:
- One language course in college–level Arabic or modern Hebrew
- One course on classical Islam or pre–modern (prior to 1800) Middle Eastern history
- One course on modern history, contemporary politics, economics, sociology, anthropology, or modern/contemporary Islamic thought
- Three electives in religion, literature, arts, and/or history and the social sciences (all under consulation with academic adviser)
Only the second semester of the beginner's language sequence counts as one of the six courses required for the minor, though students may earn course credit toward her overall Smith degree requirements for the full year.
Additional language study of Arabic and Hebrew at the intermediate and advanced levels at Smith or within the Five College Consortium is strongly encouraged. Students may apply to the Middle East Studies Committee for funding of summer language study (e,g., Arabic, Farsi, Hebrew, Turkish, Urdu).
Apart from language classes, no more than two courses may be taken from the same department or program, and normally no more than three courses can be taken away from Smith.
Courses taken at area institutions or abroad may count towards the minor; please consult an adviser from the program.
Students who wish to conduct independent research may approach her adviser for permission to enroll in MES 400 (Special Studies). MES 400 is a research intensive course, available only to qualified juniors and seniors, and would serve as one of the electives.
