• Home
• Curriculum
• Faculty
• Study Abroad
• Public Events
• Admission Information
• Institute for Middle East Studies

Curriculum

For updated information on classes, please refer to the Schedule of Classes: http://my.gwu.edu/mod/pws/index.cfm

IAff 341 Introductory cornerstone symposium (1 credit):

Students and faculty in the program will participate in an introductory symposium to be held over a weekend early in the first semester of study. The symposium will be required for all students but will graded on a pass/fail basis. It will focus on a general theme relevant to the modern Middle East. Program faculty will develop a short set of core readings and lead discussions on the theme from the vantage point of their own scholarly expertise and experience. Outsider experts and alumni will be invited to participate as well.

Core (12 credits): Choose four of the following, normally during the first year of study:

• Psc 277 Comparative Politics of the Middle East
• Psc 278 International Relations of the Middle East
• IAff 346 Political Economy of the Middle East
• IAff 347 Religion in the Modern Middle East
• Hist 297 History of Modern Middle East
• A graduate level course in Anthropology focusing on the Middle East. Specific topics will vary by semester, please contact the Middle East Studies program assistant for current offerings.

Professional specialization field (12 credits):

• Students may select from a list of fields designed to develop professional competence in a field with applications related to the modern Middle East. The list of fields is:
1. Conflict and Conflict Resolution
2. Global Health
3. International Affairs and Development
4. International Economic Affairs
5. International Law and Organizations
6. International Security Studies
7. Technology and International Affairs
8. U.S. Foreign Policy
9. Management
10. International Business
• Students are encouraged to work on projects relevant to the Middle East in their professional specialization field courses. For instance, if there is a research paper requirement, students are encouraged to select a topic connected to the Middle East.
• Students may design their own professional specialization field in consultation with relevant faculty and the approval of the program director. The courses should form a coherent introduction to a professional field. They may be drawn from various subjects and disciplines but should be selected in a coherent manner to assist the student’s professional development.

Supporting Middle East electives (9 credits):

• Three courses related to the Middle East, selected in consultation with the program director.
• At least three credits must have a language or humanities aspect.

Capstone 3 credits:

• A policy based exercise generally completed in the final semester.

Skills courses 3 credits

Language Requirement:

• All students completing the program must pass a proficiency examination at the advanced level of proficiency according to the ACTFL Guidelines in order to receive their degrees. Students must pass a proficiency examination in a major modern Middle Eastern language (Arabic [i.e., Modern Standard Arabic], Persian, Hebrew, Kurdish, or Turkish). Arabic and Hebrew are taught at GW. No substitutions are permitted.
• Students must take a placement examination at the beginning of their program. The tester will indicate the appropriate language course at GW.
• Only advanced language courses may be counted (under Middle East electives) as part of the 40-credit hour program.
• Since students who place below the advanced level upon entry will be required to take undergraduate language classes in addition to their 40 credit hours of graduate work, it is unrealistic to expect that they will complete their program in two years. Below are a number of strategies that students may consider to expedite their attainment of the required level of proficiency for timely completion of their M.A. degree. (1) enrollment in intensive language courses at GW during the academic year; (2) continued language studies in immersion/intensive language courses over the summer at GW or an approved accredited program; (3) with advanced approval, spending one or more semesters at an academic institution in a Middle Eastern country where language of choice is primarily used; (4) making room for language classes in their schedule each semester; (5) consulting periodically with the director of MES and with the directors of their respective Middle Eastern language at GW.
• The program will also offer one-credit language courses organized around specific skills (such as media, political writing, or argumentation).