Middle East Studies and the Arabic language were first introduced into the SAIS curriculum in 1946, but the Program as it stands today was created in 1950 as the country's first graduate program on the modern Middle East. Under the distinguished direction of Professor Majid Khadduri, it would remain throughout the 1950s the largest area studies program and home to some of the first Ph.D. students at SAIS. In 1980, Khadduri was succeeded by Lebanese-born Professor Fouad Ajami, who for 31-years oversaw a small but thriving program while amassing prestigious academic honors and guiding policy as a prominent public intellectual. In 2011, Camille Pecastaing was appointed acting director and devoted himself to continue the already-long scholarly tradition and bring it into an era of profound regional change. The region is a fascinating case study for a student of international relations: failed-states, oil-rich states, labor-rich states, marginal environments, political transitions, state-to-state conflict, nuclear proliferation… the Middle East offers an abundance of challenges that are examined in the different courses offered by the Middle East Studies Program. Courses combine the historical and the theoretical, cultural and social studies, along with political and diplomatic history. The geographic range runs from Morocco to Iran, from Turkey to Somalia. The program in Middle East Studies has had a consistent vision of mixing the classic study of the culture and history of the region with the analysis contemporary issues. Religions, ethnicity, tribalism are scrutinized in the context of the region, as are issues of economic development. The Middle East Studies Program at SAIS is also distinctive for its emphasis on scholarship over polemics. Issues are examined in relation to actual policies, but not from a partisan point of view. Students from diverse backgrounds and opinions very naturally come together in a common quest for knowledge and understanding of real life phenomena. This neutrality is particularly befitting those seeking a career in government or in international institutions. Graduates of the program will enter careers in public affairs and the private sector with a firm grounding in the social and historical context and traditions of the Middle East, a working knowledge of Arabic, and a broad understanding of the politics and life of the region. Present from prestigious NGOs to energy conglomerates, from consulting to banking, and in many governments, intelligence agencies and international institutions, graduates of the SAIS Middle East Studies Program form a cosmopolitan community of successful professionals. Campus Options Students at the Bologna Center may concentrate in Middle East Studies. A maximum of 3 (three) Middle East Studies courses taken in Bologna will count towards program requirement of the concentration requirement, which is 6 (six) Middle East courses. Students in Bologna should achieve over the course of 2 (two) semesters an Intermediate-Low level proficiency in Arabic. Co-curricular Activities Course work is complemented by a guest-speaker series, generally focused on current events in the region. Student-led activities (trip to the Gulf region during winter break, movie nights, Middle East themed parties, and other social events) offer additional opportunities to discover other aspects of the region. Click here for more information on program activities. Funding Opportunities Scholarships are available to assist qualified Middle East concentrators who wish to spend their summer break in the region studying Arabic and conducting primary research for their thesis. Other merit and need based scholarships are also available. Click here for more information on program scholarships. Ph.D. Program The Middle East Studies Program does not accept Ph.D. applications. Typical Middle East Studies Courses Click here to view full course listing. - Arab Political Thought and Practice
- The Arab-Israeli Peace Process
- Behavioral Sociology of Conflict
- Economic Issues in the Middle East
- Global Jihad and Islamist Terrorism
- History of the Modern Middle East
- Major Powers in the Middle East: Egypt and Iran
- Modern Iran
- States and Societies of the Middle East and Muslim Africa
- States, Revolutionaries and Terrorism
- Turkey: Politics and Foreign Relations
Suggested Electives Offered by Other Programs - Europe and Islam (European Studies)
- Turkey and its Strategic Environment (European Studies)
- Comparative Law: The Islamic Legal System (International Law)
- Legal Problems in the Arab-Israeli Conflict (International Law and Organizations)
- Northeast Asia and the Islamic World (Japan Studies)
- Energy, Environment, and Development in Developing Countries (Energy, Resources, Environment studies)
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