MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES
College: Arts and Sciences
Degree: B.A.
Limited Access: No
Contact: Dr. Peter Garretson (History)
             Dr. Zeina Schlenoff (Modern Languages)
Address: 442 Bellamy, 324 Diffenbaugh
             Tallahassee, FL 32306-2200
Phone: (850) 644-9516, (850) 644-3012
E-Mail: pgarretson@fsu.edu; zschlenoff@fsu.edu

The participating departments (Anthropology, Art History, Classics, Economics, English, Geography, History, Humanities, Modern Languages, Music, Political Science, Religion and Urban and Regional Planning) offer an interdisciplinary undergraduate program in Middle Eastern Studies designated for: (1) general liberal arts students who wish to learn more about the Middle East; (2) students who wish to pursue graduate work in this field; and (3) students who seek employment in or relating to the Middle East. The major is administered by Florida State University's Middle East Center. A BA degree in Middle Eastern Studies responds directly to a national as well as a regional demand for resources and information to educate students, professionals, and the surrounding community about this important region of the world.  A grade of C- or better is required in all major courses for Middle Eastern Studies. 

Prerequisite Coursework:
There is no prerequisite coursework for the major but students are encouraged to take lower level introductory courses in some of the related disciplines. Such courses serve as background for the major and may meet prerequisites for more advanced courses in the major. Students are encouraged to begin study in Arabic or Hebrew early, and to take any culture and history courses that relate to the Middle East.

Requirements for graduation in the College of Arts and Sciences include:
The College of Arts and Sciences requires a minimum of six hours each in written communication, humanities, and natural science, and three hours each in history and mathematics. These should be completed as part of the general education/Liberal Studies program. In addition, Middle Eastern Studies students must complete 15 credit hours of either Arabic or Hebrew.  This will satisfy the college foreign language requirement.

Admission Requirements to Major Program of Studies:
Students must complete at least 52 hours of credit with a minimum grade point average of 2.0, at least half the required Liberal Studies hours including English and mathematics, or an A.A. Degree.  Students are encouraged to take ASH 1044 (3) Middle Eastern Civilization to meet the history requirement in Liberal Studies.

Mapping
Mapping is FSU’s academic advising and monitoring system.  Academic progress is monitored each Fall and Spring semester to ensure that students are on course to earn their degree in a timely fashion.  Transfer students must meet mapping guidelines to be accepted into their majors.   You may view the map for this major at
www.academic-guide.fsu.edu.

Major Program of Studies at FSU:  39 hours in major + 15 hours in Arabic or Hebrew.
Students majoring in the program are to construct their study program in consultation with an advisor. A total of 54 hours beyond Liberal Studies is required.  A list of approved courses is available with the advisors.
Major requirement:  39 hours.
A.  ASH 3230 (3) Middle East Survey Seminar
B.  Students are to take a minimum of 36 additional hours from among those area specific courses listed for their major track. The credit hours should come from at least 3 departments.
Foreign  language requirement: 15 hours
Fifteen hours of coursework is required in a relevant area language (Arabic, Hebrew or any other Middle East language that might be offered on campus in the future). The 15 hours must come from one language.  Students will be encouraged to bring their chosen language up to an effective level of proficiency in both reading and speaking by either taking additional coursework on the FSU campus or by participating in a semester or summer abroad program in their relevant cultural area as such programs are available. To encourage the achievement of language proficiency, language coursework hours taken beyond the 15 hour foreign language requirement may be counted towards the required 36 hours for the major.

Computer Skills Competency:   3 hours.  CGS 2060 (3), CGS 2064 (3), CGS 2100(3), or EME 2040 (3).

Oral Communication Competency:  0-3 hours
Students must demonstrate the ability to orally transmit ideas and information clearly.  This requirement may be met through appropriate high school speech training or with an approved college-level course.

Minimum Program Requirements - Summary
Total Hrs. Required 120
Liberal Studies 36
Major Coursework 39
Foreign Language 15
Computer Skills 3
Oral Competency 0-3
Electives to bring total hours to 120
* Middle Eastern Studies majors should begin their language study no later than their sophomore year and are encouraged to start the learning process as early as their freshman year.

Employment Information:
An increasing number of jobs are available throughout Florida and nationally for those with expertise in the Middle East and its languages.

Representative job titles related to this major: Foreign Service Officer, Teacher, linguist, translator, and government employee.

Representative employers: U. S. Government (including the State Department, Defense Department, Defense Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, International Communications Agency and Homeland Security), Federal Bureau of Investigation, State Government, Multinational Corporations, Educational Institutions, U.S. military and Non-profit Organizations.