Middle East Studies
The Middle East Studies Program offers students an interdisciplinary minor aimed at a comparative study of the Middle East (including North Africa). The minor curriculum's allows for the study of the Middle East since the emergence of Islam, the study of the ancient, medieval, or modern Middle East, or a three-quarter sequence of a Middle Eastern language.
Middle East Studies students are encouraged to Study Abroad. Approved courses taken at other universities or through participation in the Education Abroad Program can be included as part of the minor by petition.
UC San Diego undergraduate students: Please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions. Use the "Meet with Advisor" page to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.
For all others, or undergraduate students who need to submit petitions: caesar@ucsd.edu
People
Program Director
Babak Rahimi
Associate Professor, Literature
Academic Advising
UC San Diego undergraduate students: Please use the Virtual Advising Center (VAC) for all advising questions. Use the "Meet with Advisor" page to schedule an appointment with an academic advisor.
Faculty
Guillermo Algaze
Anthropology
Amanda Batarseh
Literature
Eli Berman
Economics
Suzanne Brenner
Anthropology
Zachary Dunseth
Anthropology
Gary Fields
Communication
Thomas Gallant
History
Michael Provence
History
Babak Rahimi
Literature
Nir Shafir
History
Oumelbanine Zhiri
Literature
Minor
Middle East Studies Minor
Requirements effective February 3, 2025:
- The minor consists of 7 courses (minimum 28 units).
- At least 5 courses (20 units) must be upper division.
- There is no language requirement. Students may choose to take a three-quarter (minimum 12 units) sequence of a Middle Eastern language (in which case only 4 of the 7 courses need to be upper division).
- All courses must be taken for a letter grade.
Requirements before February 3, 2025:
The minor consists of 5-7 upper division courses, or 4 upper division courses and a 3 course sequence of a Middle Eastern language. 3 of the upper division courses have to deal with the Middle East since the emergence of Islam and are considered "core courses" while other courses are considered "supporting courses." All courses used to meet requirements for a minor in Middle East Studies must be taken for a letter grade and be passed with a grade of C- or better.
Students who declared the minor prior to February 3, 2025 may contact Middle East Studies via VAC to request a switch to the current requirements; however, students may also elect to complete the requirements at the time of their minor declaration.
Resources:
Course Offerings
Course Offerings
Refer to the official UC San Diego General Catalog for a complete list of approved courses that will count toward a minor in Middle East Studies.
Course offerings are constantly changing. Please refer to the Schedule of Classes for the most up-to-date listing.
(*) Indicates course may be petitioned for credit. Instructions on How to Petition Courses.
Summer Session I 2026
- ANAR 144. Pharaohs, Mummies, and Pyramids: Introduction to Egyptology
- HINE 116. The Middle East in the Age of European Empires
- HINE 129. History of the Middle East: The Late Medieval Period, 1000–1500
- HINE 118. The Middle East in the Twentieth Century
- POLI 138D. Special Topics/Comparative Polities: The Arab-Israeli Conflict
- ECON-168. Economics of Modern Israel
- ETHN-166/LTEN-179. Arab/Muslim American Identity and Culture
- HINE-118. The Middle East in the Twentieth Century
- HINE-137. History of Two Peoples in Palestine/Israel
- HINE-145. Islam and Science: The History of Science in the Middle East (600–1950)
- JWSP-001. Beginning Hebrew
- JWSP-104. Practicum in Advanced Hebrew
- LIAB-001A/001AX. Arabic Conversation/Analysis of Arabic
- LIAB-001D/001DX. Arabic Conversation/Analysis of Arabic
- LTEN-179/ETHN-166. Topics: Arab/Muslim American Identity and Culture
- LTWL-101. Death and Life in Ancient Egypt
- *LTWL-110B. Folk and Fairy Tales: The Palestinian Hikaya (Folktale)
- *RELI-100. Race and Religion in America
- ANAR-143. Biblical Archaeology
- GSS-025. History, Culture, and Politics of the Middle East
- JWSP-002. Intermediate Hebrew
- HIEU-149. Land of Three Faiths: Jews, Muslims, and Christians in Medieval Spain and Portugal
- HINE-109R. History of the Ottoman Empire
- HINE-119. United States Mid-East Policy Post-WWII
- HINE-128R. History of the Middle East: The Early Medieval Period, 500–1000
- LIAB-001B/001BX. Arabic Conversation/Analysis of Arabic
- LIAB-001E. Arabic Conversation/Analysis of Arabic
- LTWL-143. Arab Literatures and Cultures
- SOCI-158. Islam in the Modern World
- ANAR-138. Mesopotamia: The Emergence of Civilization
- JWSP-003. Intermediate Hebrew Continued
- HINE-109. History of the Ottoman Empire
- HINE-120. The Middle East in the New Century
- HINE-128. History of the Middle East: The Early Medieval Period, 500–1000
- LIAB-001C/001CX. Arabic Conversation/Analysis of Arabic
Events
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Please see below for responses to commonly asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact the Middle East Studies program through the Virtual Advising Center (VAC).
Can I take courses P/NP for the Middle East Studies minor?
No, courses must be taken for a letter grade.
I've taken lower division courses at my community college. Can they count toward my minor?
You will need to petition the course to see if it will apply toward the minor.
Instructions on How to Petition Courses
I found a UC San Diego course I want to use for the Middle East Studies minor. Can I take it?
You will need to petition the course to see if it will apply toward the minor.
Instructions on How to Petition Courses
How can I study abroad?
For study abroad inquiries, visit the Study Abroad office. Once you return, if you would like to apply your study abroad courses to your minor, submit a petition: Instructions on How to Petition Courses