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Major / Minor Requirements

Major & Minor Requirements
for Middle East Studies

In order to declare a major or minor in Middle East Studies, students are required to meet with an advisor. Middle East Studies is an open major, meaning that you don't have to apply or take any prerequisites to declare.

Transfer students: to discuss any questions about major or minor requirements, make an appointment with one of our advisors.

VIEW THE MIDDLE EAST STUDIES MAJOR MAP

Major Overview

International and Area Studies Major: Middle East Studies Emphasis

First Experience 

  • HUM 1010 Exploring Humanities Recommended 

IAS Preliminary Core I 

  • HIST 1510 World History Since 1500 

IAS Preliminary Core II | Choose from: 

  • HIST 1310 Latin American History Since 1820s 
  • HIST 1220 Asian History Since 1500 
  • HIST 1460 Middle East History, 1800-Now (recommended) 
  • MID E 1546 Middle East History, 1800-Now (recommended) 
  • POLS 2100 Intro to International Relations 

IAS Core Curriculum 

  • INTL 3000 Foundations INTL 
  • INTL 5000 International Studies Capstone 

Signature Experience 

  • Complete 3 credits through a relevant study abroad program, internship, research course, community engaged learning course, or an honors thesis. The selection must be pre-approved by an advisor.

Emphasis Requirements

History 

  • HIST 1450 Mid-East History, 600-1500 or MID E 1545 Mid-East History, 600-1500 

Language and/or Methods 

  • 16 credits of Arabic or Persian courses 1010, 1020, 2010, and 2020 
  • 6 credits of upper-division Arabic or Persian language courses, taught in the target language 

or

  • 6 credits of methods courses; choose from: 
  • COMM 3700 Qualitative Communication Research 
  • COMM 3710 Intro to Quantitative Communication Research 
  • ECON 2010 Principles of Microeconomics 
  • ECON 2020 Principles of Macroeconomics 
  • ETHNC 5900 Interdisciplinary Research in Ethnic Studies 
  • ETHNC 3910 Capstone: Advanced Explorations in Ethnic Studies 
  • GEOG 3020 Geographical Analysis 
  • GEOG 3100 Intro to GIS and Science 
  • HIST 3100 The Historian’s Craft 
  • HIST 4990 Senior Seminar 
  • LING 5810 L2 Methodology 
  • LING 5900 Senior Capstone 
  • POLS 3001 Political Analysis 
  • POLS 5001 Quantitative Analysis 
  • PSY 3000 Statistical Methods in Psychology 
  • PSY 3010 Research Methods in Psychology 
  • SOC 3111 Research Methods 
  • SOC 3112 Social Statistics 

 Middle East Focus 

  • 6 credits from: 
  • HIST 2300 America & the Mid East 
  • POLS 3440 Comp Pol-Mid East 
  • HEBR 3880 Special Topics 
  • MID E  3644 Comp Pol-Mid East 
  • MID E 3880 Special Topics 
  • POLS 5480 Intl. Rel. East Asia 
  • HIST 4400 Intro to Islam 
  • MID E 4510 Intro to Islam 

Middle East Electives 

  • 6 credits of approved Middle East Electives on the program website 
  • Courses used elsewhere in the major cannot be used again. 
MIDDLE EAST STUDIES MAJOR WORKSHEET 2025-2026 IAS: Middle East Studies Major Worksheet (Fall 2026 and Later)
MIDDLE EAST STUDIES BA 4-YEAR PLAN 2025-2026  


Minors

Middle East Studies Minor

Minor Requirements: 20 Credits

  • Area Electives
    •  Complete 12 credits of upper-division area studies electives
  • Language Emphasis: Arabic or Persian
    • Complete 8 credits of language
    • ARAB/PERS 1010 and 1020

Notes: No more than 3 credits from a Hinckley internship may count toward your major.

Grade Requirements: All major courses must be taken for a minimum letter grade of C  or better.

MIDDLE EAST STUDIES MINOR WORKSHEET 2025-2026


Arabic or Persian Minor

Minor Requirements: 22 Credits

  • Language Emphasis: Arabic or Persian
    • Complete 16 credits of language
    • ARAB/PERS 1010 and 1020, 2010 and 2020
  • Area Electives
    • Complete 6 credits of upper-division area studies electives

Notes: No more than 3 credits from a Hinckley internship may count toward your major.

Grade Requirements: All major courses must be taken for a minimum letter grade of C  or better.

ARABIC / PERSIAN MINOR WORKSHEET 2025-2026

Transfer Students

Minimum Requirements: 52 Credits

Middle East Studies courses totaling 52 credit hours must be completed successfully.


SLCC Transfer Students

A portion of these courses may be completed through transfer credit from Salt Lake Community College. See the below major worksheet.

SLCC WORKSHEET


Transfer Students from Utah Institutions

A portion of courses may be completed through transfer credit from another university within the state of Utah. See the transfer guide below.

Utah Transfer Guide


Transfer Students from Out-of-State

A portion of courses may be completed through transfer credit from another university. You will want to speak with an academic advisor to review your transfer coursework and discuss how these apply to the major requirements.

Meet With an Academic Advisor

Last Updated: 7/30/26