At a Glance
I鈥檓 interested in this field of study. Can you tell me more about it?
Middle East and North Africa (MENA) studies is a fundamentally cross-disciplinary program, with courses from anthropology, history, politics, art history, literature, and religious studies departments taught at all The Claremont Colleges.
We鈥檒l help you develop an understanding of the complex and dynamic historical, cultural, political, economic, linguistic, and religious issues in the region as well as their inherent interconnections. Our students have gone on to careers in public policy, politics, education, social work, law, business, diplomacy, journalism, and scholarly research.
Faculty regularly offer classes on gender and Islam; social movements and democratization in the Arab world; North African literature; France in Algeria; Jerusalem as a holy city; Islamic art; international relations of the Middle East; environmental histories; religion and politics; and the histories of colonialism and nationalism in the region. Our students take classes with core and affiliated faculty, and we coordinate with colleagues at all The Claremont Colleges for curriculum planning, events, and thesis advising. Many students study abroad in countries like Morocco and Jordan, and courses taken abroad also count for the major.
What are some courses appropriate for first-year students interested in exploring this field of study?
We have several core courses designed to introduce you to the region. Contemporary Middle East, People and Power in the Modern Middle East, and The Middle East from the Ottomans to the Present are great course options for first-year students.
If I decide to major or minor in this field, are there certain courses that need to be taken in a specific sequence?
There is no specific sequence required, but if you intend to major in MENA studies, you will need intermediate (fourth semester) competence in Arabic. We strongly recommend that you start studying Arabic in your first year if you are considering the major.
Can students who major or minor in this field complete a second major or minor (as a double major or a major/minor combination)? If so, what are some common pairings?
Yes, this is very common. Frequent dual major pairings with MENA studies include anthropology, politics, history, and French.
What other useful information should I know about this field of study?
You will find MENA studies classes in unexpected places: You might take French and English literature classes with MENA topics, learn about Iran and Indian Ocean worlds, explore the histories of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, and study the medieval or ancient Mediterranean!