On this page:
- The Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program
- Minor in MEI
- Eligible Courses
- Faculty
- Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Lecture Series
- Upcoming Classes
- More News and Upcoming Events
- Arabic Language / Summer Abroad / Internship Programs
The Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program
The Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies program (MEI) provides students with an opportunity to major or minor in a multidisciplinary concentration of courses incorporating the fields of Arabic, Islam, and Middle Eastern history, religion, and politics. The program is geographically focused on what today forms the Arab world, Iran, Israel, and Turkey in the period after the advent of Islam in the seventh century. Students have the opportunity to acquire a depth of knowledge in a region and a faith rich in language, culture and religious practice, which are as central to the dynamics of history as they are to current political and economic affairs.
If you are interested in this program, contact the Coordinator of the MEI Minor Awad Halabi.
Minor in MEI
Requirements for the Minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies:
- Required: ARA 1010/1020 * (6 credits)
- Required: REL 3310 “Introduction to Islam” (3 credits)
- Required: Two courses: one from History and one from Political Science (6 credits)
- Electives: Choose 2 courses (6 credits) from eligible courses in the Departments of History, Modern Languages, Political Science, Religion, or Sociology & Anthropology, or from “Cross-Listed and General Courses.”
Total: 21 Credit Hours
* Native speakers of Arabic are required to take two ARA 3000- or 4000-level courses in lieu of ARA 1010/1020 (6 credits)
Eligible Courses
Cross-listed and General Courses
- ARA 3700 Internship
- ML 3990 / AFS 3990 / WGS 3800 Arab World Cultures and Gender
- ML 3990 / AFS 3990 / WGS 3800 Women’s Voices in Arabic Film
- REL 2040 The Bible, the Qur’an, and Western Cultures
- RST 2910 Regional Studies: Middle East
- ML 3500 Summer Program to Arabic speaking countries
- PLS 4750 Weapons of Mass Destruction
- PLS 4940 Special Topics: Oman Summer Program
Dept. of Modern Languages
- ARA 3110 Arabic Conversation I
- ARA 3120 Levantine Arabic
- ARA 3210 Advanced Arabic Syntax and Grammar I
- ARA 3220 Advanced Arabic Syntax & Grammar II
- ARA 4510 Introduction to Media Arabic
- ARA 4310 Classical Arabic Texts
- ARA 4410 Introduction to Arabic Fiction
Dept. of History
- HST 3450 Survey of Middle Eastern History:
- Ottoman Empire, 1200-1800
- Arab Peoples, 1800-2000
- HST 4450 Topics in Middle East History:
- Arab Peoples from 1800 to the Present
- Middle East Under Colonial Rule, 1832-1962
- Middle East from WWI to WWII
- Middle East from WWII to the Present
- Middle Eastern History Through Literature and Film
Dept. of Political Science
- PLS 4540 Politics of the Middle East
- PLS 4550 Politics of Iraq
- PLS 4640 Politics of Israel/Palestine
Dept. of Religion
- REL 3310 Introduction to Islam (applies to AAFS program)
- REL 3320 / PLS 4600 Islam in the Modern World
- REL 3300 Topics in Islam:
- Islamic Law and the Qur’an (PLS 4930, and applicable to WGS program)
- Islamic Tradition and Culture
Dept. of Sociology and Anthropology
- SOC 4090 Sociology of Middle Eastern Society
Capstone Project
(must receive the approval of a MEI faculty member)
- ARA 3980 Independent Study
- HST 4950 Independent Readings
- PLS 4900 (Independent Reading) and 4910 (Independent Research)
- REL 4810 Independent Study
- SOC 4080 Independent Study
Faculty
Awad Halabi, Ph.D.
Liam Anderson, Ph.D.
Azadeh Jahanbegloo, M.A.
Joshua Mabra, Ph.D.
Amira Ben-Amer Orr, M.A.
Vaughn Shannon, Ph.D.
Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Lecture Series
The Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program Fund was established in 2016 to support public lectures and events at Wright State University that relate to the Middle East and Islam. In the 2016-2017 academic year, the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Lecture Series collaborated with other departments and programs at Wright State to host various scholars from across the country to address a diverse range of issues and topics.
“Civil War in Syria & ISIS: Challenges for the Next President”
Dr. Amr Al-Azm, Shawnee State University
“The Untold Story of the Arab Uprisings: Climate Stress”
Dr. Fadhel Kaboub, Denison University
“Jewish-Muslim Relations During the Holocaust & Colonialism”
Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, Manhattan College
“Gender Issues in Islamic Law”
Dr. Judith Tucker, Georgetown University
"A Symphony for Peace: Reflections on the Syrian Crisis"
Donations to the lecture series are always welcome. Give to the Middle East Program Fund.
Upcoming Classes
| Course | Title | Days of Week | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| HST 4450 | Middle East from World War I to World War II | T/R | 6:30 p.m. (Session B) |
| Course | Title | Days of Week | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLS 4540 | Politics of the Middle East | T/R | 9:30–10:50 a.m. |
| RST 2910 | The Middle East | M/W/F | 10:10–11:05 a.m. |
| RST 2910 | (Honors) The Middle East | M/W/F | 1:25–2:20 p.m. |
| REL 3310 | Intro to Islam | W | 6:10 p.m. |
| Course | Title | Days of Week | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARA 1020 | Beginning Arabic | T/R | 2:00–3:20 p.m. |
| ARA 4410/6410 | Survey of Arabic Literature | T/R | 12:30–1:50 p.m. |
| ARA 2020 | Intermediate Arabic | T/R | 12:30–1:50 p.m. |
| ARA 3110/5110 | Arabic Conversation | T/R | 2:00–3:20 p.m. |
| ML 3990/5990 | Women's Voices in Film | T | 3:30–6:10 p.m. |
| HST 4450/6450 | A History of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict | R | 5:00–7:40 p.m. |
| REL 3320/PLS 4600 | Islam in the Modern World | M | 6:10–8:50 p.m. |
More News and Upcoming Events
Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies: 2017-2018 Lecture Series
ISIS and the Future of Islam
Dr. Ovamir Anjum
Thursday October 26, 4:30 PM
Millett Hall Atrium
Never Give Up: Human Rights Activism in Palestine and the Path to Peace
Fateh Azzam, LLM
Thursday November 9, 4:30 PM
Millett Hall Atrium
In Honor of Syrian Refugees: A Tribute Through Music, Photography and Dialogue
Wednesday March 28, 2018, 7:00 PM
Shuster Hall, WSU Creative Arts Center
New minor focuses on Middle Eastern and Islamic studies
Students interested in learning more about the Middle East and Islam can now do so for college credit with a new minor. The minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic studies gives students a broad and strong foundation in the history, language, religion, sociology and politics of the Middle East. Classes cover a period beginning in the seventh century, after the rise of Islam, to present day. Read more
