Middle East Studies
The study of a world region is intended to provide students with a broad, integrated overview of the influences that have shaped, and continue to shape, its internal evolution as well as the role it plays in the world. The Middle East Studies major introduces students to the cultural, economic. historical and political forces that have combined to determine its contemporary character, shape U.S. policy towards the region and produce the resurgence of Islam that it is currently experiencing.
In addition to the course requirements below, International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English. To learn more about the language requirement, visit the World Language Requirement page.
To learn more about major requirements, check out the links below. Requirements and course offerings do change, so if you have any questions please reach out to internationalstudies@osu.edu or contact your academic advisor.
Middle East Studies Major Requirements
Bachelor of Arts
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2023, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
Students must complete one course each in Advanced Writing (AW), Data Analysis (DA) and Technology (TECH) as part of the major.
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Methods & Analysis: Choose one course (3 hours)
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis (DA)
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data (DA)
- Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization (DA)
- Sociology 5650 - Presenting & Communicating Quantitative Data (DA)
Primary Specialization: any 5 courses from list below (15 hours)
Secondary Specialization: any 3 courses from list below (9 hours)
- ANTHROP / NELC 2241 - Middle East Close Up
- ANTHROP 3451 - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
- ARABIC 3702 - Place, Space, & Migration in Arabic Literature
- ARABIC 3705 - A Thousand & One Nights: Storytelling in Arabic & World Literature
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- HEBREW 3245 - Israeli Film & Society
- HEBREW 3703 - Prophecy in the Hebrew Bible & Post-Biblical Literature
- HEBREW 3704 - Women in the Bible & Beyond
- HEBREW 3705 - Israeli Society & the Holocaust
- HISTART 3211 - Art & Civilization in the Near East
- HISTORY 3351 - Intellectual & Social Movements in the Muslim World
- HISTORY 3365 - History of Afghanistan
- HISTORY 3450 - History of Ancient Israel
- HISTORY 3505 - U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East
- INTSTDS 2200 - Introduction to the Middle East
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- INTSTDS 4701 - The Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS/NELC/SLAVIC 5020 - Oligarchs, Penthouses, & Yachts: Eurasian Elites
- INTSTDS 5645 - Contemporary Issues in the Middle East
- ISLAM 3201 - Muslims in America & Europe: Citizenship & Living Between Worlds
- ISLAM 3205 - Women in the Muslim Middle East
- ISLAM 3355 - The Early Islamic Conquests (630-750 CE)
- ISLAM 3501 - Introduction to Islam
- ISLAM 3702 - Literature & Culture of the Islamic World
- ISLAM 4597 - Islamic Revival & Social Justice: Utopian Ideals & Lived Realities
- ISLAM 4626 - Introduction to the Arabic Qur’an
- ISLAM 5701 - The Qur’an in Translation
- NELC 3702 - Literatures & Cultures of the Islamic World
- NELC 3704 - The Middle East in the Media
- NELC 3230 - Introduction to Shi’i Beliefs & History
- NELC 4601 - Israeli & Palestinian Literature
- NELC 5204 - Culture & Politics in Central Asia
- PERSIAN 3350 - Iranian Society Today: Internal Conflicts & Social Movements
- POLITSC 4327 - Politics in the Middle East
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- TURKISH 3350 - Contemporary Issues in Turkey
- TURKISH 3797 - Virtual Education Abroad in Istanbul, Turkey
Bachelor of Science
For students admitted to OSU prior to Autumn 2025, please schedule an appointment with an advisor.
World Language Requirement: All International Studies majors must be proficient in a language other than English (2000 level)
International Studies is an 11 course major (33 hours) (World Language does not count toward this total)
Embedded Literacies: 3 courses (9 hours)
These courses are part of the major - one course in Advanced Writing (AW); one in Technology (TECH); and complete a 3-course sequence in Data Analysis (DA).
Required Foundations: 2 courses (6 hours)
- INTSTDS 3850 - Introduction to Globalization (AW) - ideally taken sophomore year
- INTSTDS 4852 - Research in Globalization (AW) - ideally taken senior year
Data Analysis: 3 courses (9 hours)
Choose one 3-course Series, and complete the 3 courses from that one Series
- Series 1
- Geography 4103 - Introductory Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5103 - Intermediate Spatial Data Analysis
- Geography 5210 - Fundamentals of Geographic Information System
- Series 2
- INTSTDS 3400 - The Analysis & Display of Data or Political Science 3780 - Data Literacy & Data Visualization
- Political Science 4781- Data Literacy in Political Science I
- Political Science 4782 - Data Literacy in Political Science II
- Series 3 (check course catalog for prerequisites for 3301 and 3302)
- Statistics 2450.01 or 2450.02 Introduction to Statistical Analysis I
- Statistics 3301 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery I:
- Prerequisites: MATH 2568 and STAT 3202 and 3201
- Statistics 3302 - Statistical Modeling for Discovery II
Specialization: Choose 6 courses (18 hours)
- ANTHROP 3451 - Archaeology of the Ancient Near East
- ARABIC 3702 - Place, Space, & Migration in Arabic Literature
- ARABIC 3705 - A Thousand & One Nights: Storytelling in Arabic & World Literature
- COMM 3554 - Social Implications of Communication Technology (TECH)
- HEBREW/JEWSHST 3245 - Israeli Film & Society
- HEBREW/JEWSHST 3703 - Prophecy in the Hebrew Bible & Post-Biblical Literature
- HEBREW/JEWSHST 3704 - Women in the Bible & Beyond
- HEBREW 3705 - Israeli Society & the Holocaust
- HISTART 3211 - Art & Civilization in the Near East
- HISTORY 3351 - Intellectual & Social Movements in the Muslim World
- HISTORY 3365 - History of Afghanistan
- HISTORY 3450 - History of Ancient Israel
- HISTORY 3505 - U.S. Diplomacy in the Middle East
- INTSTDS/NELC 2200 - Introduction to the Middle East
- INTSTDS/GEOG 3650 - A World Divided? Place, Space, and Regions in World Affairs
- INTSTDS 3703 - Ethical Issues in Information Technology (TECH)
- INTSTDS/ECON/AEDECON 4537 - Middle Eastern Economic Development
- INTSTDS 4701 - Development & Control of Weapons of Mass Destruction (TECH)
- INTSTDS/NELC/SLAVIC 5020 - Oligarchs, Penthouses & Yachts: The Eurasian Elites
- INTSTDS/NELC 5645 - Contemporary Issues in the Middle East
- ISLAM 3205 - Women in the Muslim Middle East
- ISLAM 3355 - The Early Islamic Conquests (630-750 CE)
- ISLAM 3501 - Introduction to Islam
- ISLAM 3702 - Literature & Culture of the Islamic World
- ISLAM 4597 - Islamic Revival & Social Justice: Utopian Ideals & Lived Realities
- ISLAM 4626 - Introduction to the Arabic Qur’an
- ISLAM 5701 - The Qur’an in Translation
- NELC 3702 - Literatures & Cultures of the Islamic World
- NELC 3704 - The Middle East in the Media
- NELC 3230 - Introduction to Shi’i Beliefs & History
- NELC 4601 - Israeli & Palestinian Literature
- NELC 5204 - Culture & Politics in Central Asia
- PERSIAN 3350 - Iranian Society Today: Internal Conflicts & Social Movements
- POLITSC 4327 - Politics in the Middle East
- SOCIOL 3302 - Technology & Global Society (TECH)
- TURKISH 3350 - Contemporary Issues in Turkey