Middle East Studies at Carleton
The Middle East is one of the world’s most historically rich, culturally diverse, and politically consequential regions. Studying it requires curiosity, critical thinking, and a willingness to see the world from multiple perspectives.
The region is home to some of the world’s oldest civilizations and to the emergence of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Zoroastrianism، as well as to many linguistic and cultural communities whose histories continue to shape global culture and politics.
At Carleton, Middle East Studies brings together faculty and courses from across the humanities and social sciences to help students understand the region’s pasts and presents—through language, history, religion, politics, music, literature, and the arts.
Info for First-Year Students
Can I major in Middle East Studies?
No, however, Carleton offers an interdisciplinary Minor in Middle East Studies designed to give students a broad and integrated understanding of the region through courses drawn from multiple departments.
The minor complements majors in Religion, Political Science, History, Music, and related fields, allowing students to situate their disciplinary work within a wider regional and comparative framework. It also pairs especially well with the Arabic minor, enabling students to connect language study with broader cultural, historical, and political perspectives on the Middle East.
Some students complete the Middle East Studies minor as a central part of their academic program; others take one or more courses to enrich their major or explore new intellectual directions. Both paths are integral to the program’s mission.
Why study the Middle East?
The Middle East has long been a crossroads of cultures, empires, and ideas. Its societies have produced rich intellectual, religious, artistic, and political traditions that continue to matter well beyond the region itself.
Too often, the Middle East is encountered only through headlines or moments of crisis. Studying the region in an academic setting allows students to move beyond simplified narratives and to engage with its complexity, diversity, and historical depth.
Middle East Studies at Carleton
Middle East Studies at Carleton is interdisciplinary by design. The program brings together faculty from Arabic, Art History, French and Francophone Studies, Hebrew, History, Music, Political Science, Religion, and related fields, offering students the opportunity to explore the Middle East from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
Students encounter the Middle East through:
- Examine key texts and traditions in their historical and political contexts.
- Study the religious and intellectual traditions of the region, and explore how culture, religion, and politics intersect across time
- Language- and culture-based approaches
- Study music, literature, film, and visual culture as expressions of social life
- Connect regional histories to global processes
Events & Community
Middle East Studies at Carleton extends beyond the classroom. The program regularly hosts lectures, concerts, workshops, and film screenings that bring scholars, artists, and students together around the study of the Middle East.
