Middle Eastern Studies Minor
Islam is the fastest growing religion in the world. By 2025, 20% to 25% of the world’s population will be Muslim. The Israeli/Palestinian conflict has affected decades of politics and public policy in both Western nations as well as regions of the Middle East and Southeast Asia. The tragic events associated with September 11, 2001, and the subsequent war on terrorism, which has reached global proportions, are signatures of the dramatic shift in global economy/politics/society that have altered perhaps permanently American perspectives of itself and the world. The deployment of the U.S. military to Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq, and what now appears to be a prolonged U.S. commitment to establishing a democracy not only in Iraq but in countries throughout the region are all indicators of the complex interlocking of American and Middle Eastern interests for generations to come.
A well-balanced minor in Middle Eastern Studies (MES) will enrich the undergraduate experience for students and should prove beneficial for graduate study and professional careers.
Interdisciplinary Minor
The Middle Eastern Studies minor is interdisciplinary and requires a total of 18 credits of coursework in history, political science, and theology/religious studies.
Minor Requirements
| HI 236 | History of the Arab World I: From Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire | 3 |
| | or | |
| HI 238 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
| | | |
| PO 314 | Middle East Politics | 3 |
| TRS 161 | Islam | 3 |
| | Capstone Course for Student's Major | 2-3 |
The student's major capstone/thesis course will be counted for the minor. Students will need to discuss the Middle Eastern focus topic with the director of the minor.
Two additional from the following suggested courses:
| AB 101 | Beginning Arabic I | 3 |
| AB 102 | Beginning Arabic II | 3 |
| | | |
| HI 236 | History of the Arab World I: From Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire | 3 |
| | or | |
| HI 238 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
| | | |
| HI 239 | Women in the Middle East | 3 |
| PO 243 | Terrorism and Political Violence | 3 |
| PO 317 | African Politics | 3 |
| PO 324 | Islamic Political Movements | |
| TRS 162 | Judaism | 3 |
| TRS 164 | Ancient Religions & Cults | 3 |
| TRS 174 | Women in World Religions | 3 |
Students interested in the minor should schedule accordingly. Courses in Arabic are offered occasionally. Substitutions may be approved by the minor program director. Special topics involving the Middle East, if and when offered under History, Political Science, or Theology & Religious Studies, can be used as substitutes for a required course only if the required course is not available within the student’s four-year course of study.
Study abroad is encouraged. Sacred Heart University has its own study aboard programs and is also affiliated with American institutions that offer study abroad opportunities in Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the UAE. For more information, visit the Office of Global Affairs website.
Track I
| HI 236 | History of the Arab World I: From Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire | 3 |
| | or | |
| HI 238 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
| PO 314 | Middle East Politics | 3 |
| TRS 161 | Islam | 3 |
Track II
The second track consists of the following required courses:
| AB 101 | Beginning Arabic I | 3 |
| | | |
| HI 236 | History of the Arab World I: From Muhammad to the Ottoman Empire | 3 |
| | or | |
| HI 238 | The Modern Middle East | 3 |
| | | |
| PO 314 | Middle East Politics | 3 |
| TRS 161 | Islam | 3 |
The capstone is the culmination of the MES minor and is developed as an independent study upon consultation with the director of the MES program. The student is expected to study a specific interdisciplinary MES topic with an identified mentor in any one of the several disciplines integrated into the MES minor. The completion of the capstone is usually a formal research paper, written under the supervision of the course mentor.