The Middle Eastern Studies minor enables students to understand and analyze the wide range of cultures of the Near and Middle East, including Central Eurasia. Students examine the diversity and unity of these cultures through time and across geographies. An exciting selection of courses allows students to customize the minor to their interests, whether in advanced linguistics, literature, art, archaeology, history or modern cultures.
By pairing the minor with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences or a professional field, students find an advantage after graduation by applying their knowledge of these growing global cultures to their work in business and nonprofits, public service, graduate programs, and more.
For questions, please contact Prof. Naomi Sokoloff (naosok@uw.edu) and/or UW Humanities Academic Services.
Declaring a Minor in Middle Eastern Studies
Students in good academic standing may declare the minor at any time by contacting their major adviser. Please see the Undergraduate Advising minors page for additional considerations about earning a minor.
Minor Requirements
30 credits
- MELC 101: Gateway to the Middle East (5 credits).
- Two introductory courses (200-level) on the Middle East (10 credits).
- 15 additional credits from Middle Eastern culture or advanced language courses (These may NOT include language courses at the elementary or intermediate level).
*Please note: If a student pursues both a major and a minor in the MELC Department, 60% of the coursework applied to the minor is taken outside of the student's major requirements. This means these classes may not
apply both to satisfying major requirements and to satisfying the requirements for the minor.