Interdisciplinary Minor

The Near Eastern Studies minor provides students with an opportunity to complement their major with a concentration of courses that explore the Near East and North Africa region in its historical, political, social, and cultural complexity. The minor in Near Eastern Studies requires students to study in the Middle East and North Africa at one of our partner institutions as a way to complement their coursework at Washington College, deepen their facility in language, and immerse themselves in the cultures of the region. Current Washington College study abroad programs are offered in Morocco, Turkey, Egypt, and Israel.

Near Eastern Studies Minor Requirements

The minor requires six courses focusing on the Near East and North Africa in at least three different subjects across two divisions. Since language is essential to understanding any culture, students are also required to take French at Washington College or Arabic, Turkish, or Hebrew at a partner institution. Students  must submit a research paper on the region (ordinarily as part of the required coursework for the minor).

Of the six courses required for the minor, two must be introductory courses (listed below; preferably taken during the freshman and sophomore years), and four must be upper-level courses, taken both at Washington College and in the region itself.¹

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Introductory courses		8
Select 2 Courses From Below
ANT 105	Introduction to Anthropology
ECN 111	Principles of Macroeconomics
HIS 203	Modern World History I
or HIS 204	Modern World History II
or HIS 205	Early Origins of Western Civilization I
or HIS 206	Early Origins of Western Civilization II
POL 104	Introduction to World Politics
Select 2 Courses From Below Taken at Washington College		8
HIS 357	Early Islamic Civilization
POL 388	U.S. Foreign Policy in the Middle East
FRS 312	The Contemporary Francophone World
Other special topics courses as approved by the program chair
Select 2 Courses Taken Abroad 1		8
Course 300-, 400- level
Course 300-, 400- level
Total Credits		24

¹

Alternatively, participation in a Washington College summer program plus one additional course at Washington College may substitute for two courses abroad.

Dr. Tahir Shad, Director