Saint Louis University's Middle East studies minor facilitates the exploration of the various factors that have shaped the Middle East, also exposing SLU students to the history, cultures and religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, among other religions in the region.
The Middle East is a region of historic and contemporary importance in which three of the major world faiths developed. Rulers built empires whose peoples made lasting contributions to philosophy, the visual and literary arts, architecture and mathematics. The relevance of significant trade routes in the past continues in the region today in its major commercial centers and industries of profound importance.
Curriculum Overview
SLU's Middle East studies program is special in its historical scope — exploring the ancient, medieval and modern periods — to encourage students to gain an unusual depth in their study of a complex world region. Moreover, the minor focuses not only on the geographic area of the traditional Middle East but also on areas influenced by or politically tied to the cultures of the Middle East, such as Spain and Africa. With courses from an array of fields in the College of Arts and Sciences, the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business, and the Madrid, Spain, campus, this minor is distinctly multidisciplinary.
Students must complete 19 credits of Middle East studies (MES) courses for the minor. Students are encouraged to take MES courses from a range of disciplines on diverse topics, cultures and time periods.
Some courses not listed here may count toward the minor with the program director's approval. These must have a majority of material related to the Middle East. Courses taken in study abroad programs or special topics courses (with a temporary course number ending in ‘930’) may also be approved for the minor and may count towards one of the area requirements with consultation from the program director.
Madrid Campus Requirements
At least one of the MES courses taken for the 19 credits of the minor must be at the 3000-4000 level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Course | ||
| ISTD 1100 | Intro to International Studies | 1 |
| Humanities and the Arts Electives | ||
| HIST 3760 | Medieval Spain | 3 |
| or HIST 3770 | History of the Jews in Spain | |
| Social Science and International Business | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
POLS 2930 | Special Topics (Introduction to the Politics of the Middle East and North Africa) | |
POLS 4930 | Special Topics (International Contemporary Challenges) | |
| Philosophy and Theological Studies | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
THEO 2717 | Muslims, Christians, and Jews in Medieval Spain | |
THEO 2730 | Stranger Things: Peoples and Places through Religious Travelers' Eyes | |
THEO 2715 | Jerusalem: Three Faiths, One City | |
THEO 2930 | Special Topics (International Contemporary Challenges) | |
THEO 3930 | Special Topics (The Qur’an and the Bible) | |
THEO 3115 | Biblical Prophets: Voices of Conscience and Social Justice | |
THEO 3730 | Jewish Life: Bible to Middle Ages | |
THEO 4710 | Islam and the Christian Theologian: Comparing Theological Themes | |
| Electives | ||
| Additional credits chosen from any of the three MES Attribute areas. | 9 | |
| Total Credits | 19 | |
Non-Course Requirements
For the non-credit bearing required capstone, minors will revise a research paper that was originally written for an MES course from the minor with the counsel of a professor. The students will present the revised paper at an annual capstone event and write a brief commentary on their studies on the Middle East for submission to the director of the minor.
Language Study and Study Abroad Recommendation
Though the MES minor does not require foreign language study or study abroad, the MES faculty strongly recommends that students with an interest in future careers or graduate studies in Middle East topics pursue relevant foreign language study and/or study abroad in the Middle East. Language courses taken abroad or in other universities may transfer and count towards the minor with approval from the director of the minor. Students should discuss the options available with the director of the minor and the Office of International Services.
Continuation Standards
All minor courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher in order to count for the minor and for the student to continue in the minor.