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A program of study focused on the worlds most volatile and controversial region, this degree addresses the political, religious, military, economic, and social/cultural issues of the Middle East. From a wide variety of courses ranging from holy wars to a city-study on Jerusalem, students have the opportunity to choose areas and topics of the Middle East of most interest to them.

Degree Program Objectives

In addition to the institutional and general education level learning objectives, the Bachelor of Arts in Middle Eastern Studies also seeks the following specific learning outcomes of its graduates.  Graduates in this degree program will be able to:

General Knowledge of Comparative Politics

• Understand the concepts and theories of comparative analysis of different political regimes and economic markets.
• Understand the role of international and transnational organizations in both a global and regional setting.
• Compare and contrast the political, economic, social and military components of national and regional power.
• Evaluate the role of civilization in relationships among nations.

Knowledge of the Middle East

• Evaluate the historical conquests of the region and analyze the colonized peoples’ experiences and world views.
• Determine how conflict and shifting alliances shaped the development of the region.
• Understand the political, economic, security, diplomatic, and social challenges facing Middle Eastern countries individually and as a region.

Middle Eastern Culture

• Compare and contrast the history, essential tenets, and central practices of different cultures within the Middle East.
• Evaluate how the Islamic faith impacts all aspects of the lives of Muslims.
• Understand the sociological, political and religious ideologies that influence the literature of the region.
• Distinguish between Islam as a religion and Islamic culture and history.
• Arab-Israeli Relations
• Evaluate the motivations of competing Arab-Israeli forces in defense of their respective positions in the ongoing dialogue and confrontation.
• Assess the arguments on both sides of the foundational issues.
• Consider other issues in the context of the wider regional influences that bear upon the future of the Israelis and Arabs in Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.

Degree Program Requirements

RQ295 / COL 100 Foundations of Online Learning (fomerly Academic and Career Planning) (3 semester hours) - Required as the first course in all undergraduate programs.

General Education Requirements (34 semester hours)
English Composition - 6 semester hours
EN101 / ENG 101 - Proficiency in Writing (Required)
EN102 / ENG 102 - Effectiveness in Writing or
EN202 / ENG 200 - English Composition and Literature

Social Sciences - 6 semester hours
SS101 / ECO 101 - Microeconomics
SS102 / ECO 102 - Macroeconomics
SS111 / GEO 101 - Introduction to Geography
SS133 / SOC 111 - Introduction to Sociology
SS134 / PSY 101 - Introduction to Psychology 
SS190 / ANT 100 - Introduction to Anthropology
SS210 / CFD 220 - Human Sexuality  
SO220 / SOC 220 - American Popular Culture

Science - 4 semester hours including required 1 hour labs
SC100 / SCI 100 - Introduction to Biology
SC198 / SCI 100 L - Introduction to Biology Lab
SC101 / SCI 110 - Introduction to Chemistry
SC199 / SCI 110 L - Introduction to Chemistry Lab   
SC102 / SCI 102 - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology 
SC122 / SCI 102 L - Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology Lab
SC103 / SCI 103 - Introduction to Physics 
SC123 / SCI 103 L - Introduction to Physics Lab
SC104 / SCI 104 - Introduction to Astronomy
SC124 / SCI 104 L - Introduction to Astronomy Lab
SC106 / SCI 106 - Introduction to Oceanography 
SC126 / SCI 106 L - Introduction to Oceanography Lab
SC107 / SCI 107 - Introduction to Meteorology
SC127 / SCI 107 L - Introduction to Meteorology Lab

Mathematics - 3 semester hours
MA110 / MA112 / MAT 110 - Introduction to College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Algebra, or
MA111 / MA113 / MAT 111 College Algebra and Trigonometry / College Trigonometry, or
MA125 / MAT 125 - Math for Liberal Arts Majors, or
MA225 / MAT 225 - Calculus

History - 6 semester hours
HS101 / HIS101 - American History to 1877
HS102 / HIS 102 - American History since 1877
HS111 / HIS 111 - World Civilization I
HS112 / HIS 112 - World Civilization II
HS121 / HIS 121 - Western Civilization Before The Thirty Years War
HS122 / HIS 122 - Western Civilization Since Thirty Years War
HS215 / HIS 223 - History of the American Indian
HS217 / HIS 221 - African-American History before 1877
HS218 / HIS 222 - African-American History since 1877

Humanities - 3 semester hours
HM101 / SPA 100 - Spanish I 
HM102 / SPA 101 - Spanish II (Prerequisite: HM101) - or other foreign language
HM200 / MUS 200 - Music Appreciation
HM230 / REL 201 - Introduction to World Religions  
HM240 / ART 200 - Art Appreciation  
HM277 / PHI 200 - Introduction to Ethics
PH101 / PHI 101 - Introduction to Philosophy

Literature - 3 semester hours
HM201 / LIT 220 - American Literature before the Civil War
HM202 / LIT 221 - American Literature from Civil War to Present
HM221 / LIT 210 - English Literature: Beowulf to 18th Century
HM222 / LIT 211 - English Literature: 18th Century to Present
HM211 / LIT 201 - World Lit through the Renaissance
HM212 / LIT 202 - World Lit since the Renaissance

Political Science - 3 semester hours
SS121 / POL 210 - American Government I
SS131 / INR 210 - International Relations
 

Core Courses (21 Semester hours)
IR359 / INR 460 - Government & Security in the Middle East
SS300 / INR 213 - Political Geography
SS401 / INR 412 - Comparative Foreign Policy
SS403 / INR 302 - International Development
SS411 / INR 311 - Comparative Political Systems
SS450 / INR 392 –Globalization and the Market Economy
HM230 / REL 201- Introduction to World Religions  

Major Courses (21 Semester hours)
Select 7 of the following courses:
EN323 / LIT 365 - Middle Eastern Literature 
IR353 / INR 260 - Middle Eastern Culture
IR354 / REL 353 - Islam 
IR396 / INR 462 - The Contemporary Persian Gulf
MH355 / MLH 452 - Modern Middle East Military History
IR350 / INR 463 - Arab-Israeli Conflict: Contemporary Politics and Diplomacy
HM105 / ARA 100- Arabic I
HM106 / ARA 101 -Arabic II

Electives (42 semester hours)
Select any courses that have not been used to fulfill core or major requirements. Credits applied toward a minor or certificate in an unrelated field may be used to fulfill elective credit for the major.

Total = 121 semester hours

AMU is a member institution of the American Public University System (APUS), which is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) of the North Central Association and nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission, Distance Education and Training Council.
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