• Academic Minor Program
• Advisory Council Members
• Courses
• Friends of Middle Eastern Understanding
• Fulbright Visiting Scholars
• Oral History Project
• Student Organizations
• Study Abroad Opportunities

Middle Eastern Studies Minor

The interdisciplinary minor is designed to provide students with an introductory understanding of and appreciation for the cultural diversity, global influence, and contemporary conflicts of the Middle East. In addition, the minor will provide a 3 hour service-learning course on issues related to the Middle Eastern American experience in general and to Middle Eastern Americans in the Chicago area in particular.

The minor has two Tracks of study. Track I has a language requirement, and Track II does not. The only required course is MES 150: Middle Eastern American Issues.

Students from a variety of majors and programs will find the minor to be particularly useful, including those in business, nursing, and education whose future clients, patients and students who may be of Middle Eastern descent. Middle Eastern Americans students may also find this coursework beneficial in learning more about their cultural heritage and immigrant experience.

Distribution Requirements for the Minor

Students fulfill the distribution requirements outlined below through courses selected in consultation with their primary academic advisors and the Middle Eastern Studies Program Director. Cross-listed courses will also be noted in class schedules.

Track I Distribution Requirements (21 hours)

1. History and Cultures of the Middle East (3) - One course on the history or cultural anthropology of the region
2. Political Issues in the Middle East (3) - One political science course on special regional topics, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, human rights, the Islamic revolution in Iran, or the Gulf Wars and their aftermath
3. Arts and Literatures of the Middle East (3) - One course on arts and literatures of the region
4. Middle Eastern Religions (3) - One course on one or more of the religious traditions of the region
5. Middle Eastern American Issues (3) - This required course is an introductory research course with service-learning requirements on a variety of issues related to Middle Eastern Americans, such as immigration, cultural diversity and civil rights. Depending upon instructional staffing and with prior approval this course may fulfill the requirements of English 102: Research and Writing
6. Middle Eastern Languages (6) - Introductory courses in Middle Eastern languages, including Arabic, Turkish, Persian, Kurdish, Azeri and Hebrew; SXU will offer placement exams and introductory coursework in Arabic, but will accept transfer credit for other Middle Eastern languages. Students interested in Persian, Hebrew or Turkish may wish to investigate self-managed language study through the National Association of Self-Instructional Language Programs (NASILP)

Track II Distribution Requirements (21 hours)

1. History and Cultures of the Middle East (3-6) - At least one course on the history and cultural anthropology of the region, specific sub-regions (e.g. Persia) or countries (e.g. Turkey), or specific areas (e.g. Ottoman Empire).
2. Political Issues in the Middle East (3-6) - At least one Political Science course on special regional topics, such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, human rights, the Islamic revolution in Iran, or the Gulf Wars and their aftermath
3. Arts and Literature of the Middle East (3-6) - At least one course on the arts or literatures of the region
4. Middle Eastern Religions (3-6) - At least one course on the religious traditions of the region
5. Middle Eastern American Issues (3) - A course on issues related to Middle Eastern Americans, this course will include service-learning opportunities.

For more information on this minor, contact Dr. Iman Saca at saca@sxu.edu or (773) 298-3554.