Requirements

Middle Eastern and North African Studies Minor

Students interested in Middle Eastern and North African studies should contact Robert G. Morrison, professor of religion.

Requirements for the Minor in Middle Eastern and North African Studies

By studying the languages and cultures of a region outside of Europe and North America, Middle East and North African (MENA) studies minors enhance their awareness of global diversity and learn about the importance of language to understanding other perspectives. MENA minors also improve their ability to analyze historic and current events in the region, and understand how accurate, informed conclusions require both nuance and a recognition of complexity.

The minor consists of five courses.

Required courses:

a

Bowdoin offers Arabic, but Hebrew, Turkish, and Persian studied off-campus could count, with prior approval. Please see the program director for information about other middle eastern languages.

b

These are examples of courses that fulfill this requirement. Students should consult the program director for more information about additional course options and note that any course offered in or cross-listed with MENA will satisfy this requirement.  Two of the three courses must be from two different Bowdoin departments/programs and no more than one course may be taken at the 1100 level.

Arabic Minor

Requirements for the Minor in Arabic

Students interested in Arabic should contact Batool Khattab, lecturer in Arabic, or Marybeth Bergquist, academic department coordinator.

Arabic minors attain a basic level of proficiency in one of the world’s most difficult languages and also learn how important Arabic is for a deeper understanding of the history, politics, society, and culture of most Middle Eastern and North African countries. Arabic minors enhance their awareness of global diversity by learning more about how important foreign languages are to imagining and understanding other perspectives. 

The minor consists of five courses.

Required courses:

• Four courses in Arabic instruction (two years, beginning at the level into which the student is placed)
• A fifth course focusing on any aspect of the cultures of the Middle East or North Africa (such as a course in philosophy, religion, literature, history, or politics) at the 2000 or 3000 level.^​

a

Two years of instruction, beginning at the level into which the student is placed

b

Must be taken at the 2000 or 3000 level. This course may focus on any aspect of the cultures of the Middle East or North Africa, such as a course in history, literature, philosophy, politics, or religion. Students should consult the program director for guidance on course selection.