Middle Eastern and North African Studies

Develop an in-depth perspective on a key region of the world that affects the daily lives of Americans. You will study both language—at least two terms of Arabic—and culture by selecting from courses in history, art, conflict resolution, French, gender/women’s studies, music, political science, religious studies and sociology/anthropology. Your related activities will include opportunities to visit and work in the Chicago region and to study abroad in Morocco, Jordan and Turkey. Graduates with MENA minors will fill the growing need for employers to hire applicants with a strong knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa.

Middle Eastern and North African Studies Minor

The Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) Studies minor is an interdisciplinary area studies minor that equips students to analyze the MENA region through the lens of several disciplines such as history, literature, art, conflict resolution, gender and sexuality studies, music, political science, religious studies and sociology/anthropology. Co-curricular activities will include opportunities to visit and work in the Chicago region and to study abroad in Morocco, Jordan or Turkey. Graduates with MENA minors will not only fill the growing need for employers to hire applicants with a strong knowledge of the Middle East and North Africa, but also be able to choose from a wide variety of sectors to work/study in: Academia, international corporations, non-profit organizations, government organizations and NGOS.

For additional information about this program, see Middle Eastern and North African Studies.

A minimum of 24 credit hours, including:

Elective

Twelve credit hours from the following:

Note:

A May Term study away seminar and travel experience may apply if focused on the Middle East or North Africa.

Advanced Elective

Four credit hours from the following:

NOTE: The courses listed herein have been approved by the faculty as authorized by the Board of Trustees. Prerequisites (if any) and the General Education Requirement(s) which each course fulfills (if any) are noted following each course description.

Current course offerings are available in Merlin.

MENA 130 Introduction to the Middle East & North Africa (4.00)
An interdisciplinary introduction to the diverse philosophical, religious and historical concepts and values of the peoples and cultures of the Middle East and North Africa.

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Social Science, Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Experiencing Place, Thinking Globally.

MENA 310 Literary Landscapes of the Middle East and North Africa (4.00)
This interdisciplinary course focuses on works of fiction by authors from the Middle East and North Africa and contextualizes them in Modern Middle Eastern history, aiming to acquire a more intimate understanding of the cultural and intellectual history of the region.

Cardinal Directions Designation(s): Humanities, Global Understanding.
iCon(s): Thinking Globally.

  • Choose your MENA courses to match your major and personal interests.
  • Fulfill the B.A. requirement for foreign language with two terms of Arabic.
  • Explore Arab-American neighborhoods in Chicagoland.
  • Study abroad in North Africa or the Middle East.
  • Participate in interfaith dialogue workshops among Christian, Muslim and Jewish people.