Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Middle East Studies < The George Washington University

GW’s Middle East Studies program helps students understand the forces that shape this dynamic region by exploring the religion, politics, economics, culture, history, and geography of this region. Through this program, students are encouraged to study in the Middle East through one of the Elliott Schools formal partnerships with a regional university and gain proficiency in a modern regional language. Students also benefit from a faculty of leading scholars and senior international affairs practitioners, access to Washington's unmatched career opportunities, diverse study-abroad options, and more than 250 on-campus events each year. Program graduates go on to serve as senior policymakers, diplomats, international business executives, or a global nonprofit leaders.

Visit the program website for additional information.

For more information on the admission process, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Applications may be submitted via the Common Application.
Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The George Washington University
800 21st Street NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20052
Contact for questions:
gwadm@gwu.edu or 202-994-6040

General requirements

Elliott School bachelor's degrees engage students with global issues through multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches. Students begin their studies in the first year with foundational courses in political science, economics, history, and anthropology or geography. They supplement these courses with others in the traditional liberal arts categories of writing, natural or physical science, mathematics or statistics, and the humanities/creative arts, plus two writing in the disciplines courses. Foreign language study also is emphasized early to enable students to satisfy the third-year language proficiency requirement of the bachelor's degree in a timely manner.

Introduction to the major

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Prerequisite core (19 credits)
Required
The following courses must be taken in the first year. With the exception of IAFF 1001 (fall), ECON 1011 (fall) and ECON 1012 (spring), courses can be taken in fall or spring. IAFF 1001 is not required for internal or external transfer students.
IAFF 1001	First-Year Experience
IAFF 1005	Introduction to International Affairs
ECON 1011	Principles of Economics I
ECON 1012	Principles of Economics II
HIST 1011	World History from 1500 to Present
PSC 1001	Introduction to Comparative Politics
One of the following (not required in the first year):
ANTH 1002	Sociocultural Anthropology
ANTH 1004	Language in Culture and Society
GEOG 1001	Introduction to Human Geography
GEOG 1003	Society and Environment

GEOG 1003 does not meet the prerequisite requirement for all upper-level geography courses.

Supporting courses in the liberal arts

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Writing (minimum 10 credits)
Writing requirements are established by the University Writing Program. Students must complete UW 1020 and 6 credits in writing in the disciplines (WID) courses to be taken in at least two courses over two or more semesters. UW 1020 must be completed in the first year before enrolling in a WID course for credit toward this requirement. WID courses should be taken in the student's major, minor, or a related field. WID courses are designated in this Bulletin with a "W" appended to the course number (e.g., HIST 2340W).
Required
UW 1020	University Writing
At least 6 credits in two WID courses.
Mathematics or statistics (3 credits)
MATH courses numbered 1051 and above require a placement test. Credit for only one of the following MATH courses may be applied toward a degree: MATH 1221, MATH 1231, or MATH 1252. Credit for only one of the following STAT courses may be applied toward a degree: STAT 1051, STAT 1053, STAT 1111, or STAT 1127. STAT courses may not be double-counted between the Mathematics requirement and the Research Methods requirement (see “Major Requirements.”)
One of the following:
MATH 1007	Mathematics and Politics
MATH 1008	History of Mathematics
MATH 1009	Mathematical Ideas I
MATH 1051	Finite Mathematics for the Social and Management Sciences
MATH 1221	Calculus with Precalculus II
MATH 1231	Single-Variable Calculus I
MATH 1232	Single-Variable Calculus II
MATH 1252	Calculus for the Social and Management Sciences
MATH 2233	Multivariable Calculus
STAT 1051	Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics
STAT 1053	Introduction to Statistics in Social Science
STAT 1111	Business and Economic Statistics I
STAT 1127	Statistics for the Biological Sciences
Science (3 to 4 credits), lab required
One of the following:
ANTH 1001	Biological Anthropology
ANTH 3412	Hominin Evolution
ASTR 1001	Stars, Planets, and Life in the Universe
ASTR 1002	Origins of the Cosmos
BISC 1005	The Biology of Nutrition and Health
BISC 1006	The Ecology and Evolution of Organisms
BISC 1007	Food, Nutrition, and Service
BISC 1008	Understanding Organisms through Service Learning
BISC 1111	Introductory Biology: Cells and Molecules
BISC 1112	Introductory Biology: The Biology of Organisms
CHEM 1003	Energy, Environment, and Society: Current Issues and Future Outlook
CHEM 1004	Medicinal Chemistry: from Atoms to Vaccines
CHEM 1111	General Chemistry I
CHEM 1112	General Chemistry II
GEOG 1002	Introduction to Physical Geography
GEOL 1001	Physical Geology
GEOL 1002	Historical Geology
GEOL 1005	Environmental Geology
HONR 1033	Honors Seminar: Scientific Reasoning and Discovery
HONR 1034	Honors Seminar: Scientific Reasoning and Discovery (continuation of HONR 1033)
PHYS 1003	Physics for Future Presidents
PHYS 1007	Music and Physics
PHYS 1011	General Physics I
PHYS 1012	General Physics II
PHYS 1021	University Physics I
PHYS 1022	University Physics II
PHYS 1025	University Physics I with Biological Applications
PHYS 1026	University Physics II with Biological Applications
Humanities/creative arts (9 credits)*
This requirement can be satisfied by completing 9 credits in humanities courses, or 6 credits in humanities courses and 3 credits in creative arts courses.
Humanities—two or three of the following:
Any Corcoran Art History (CAH) course except CAH 4199.
AMST 1100	Politics and Film
AMST 1160	Race, Gender, and Law
AMST 1200	The Sixties in America
AMST 2010	Early American Cultural History
or HIST 2010	Early American Cultural History
AMST 2011	Modern American Cultural History
or HIST 2011	Modern American Cultural History
AMST 2020	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
or AMST 2020W	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
or HIST 2020	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
or HIST 2020W	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
AMST 2120W	Freedom in American Thought and Popular Culture
or PSC 2120W	Freedom in American Thought and Popular Culture
AMST 2210	The African American Experience
AMST 2320	U.S. Media and Cultural History
or HIST 2320	U.S. Media and Cultural History
AMST 2350	U.S. Religion and Politics
or HIST 2350	U.S. Religion and Politics
AMST 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
or HIST 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
or WGSS 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
AMST 2385	Sex and Citizenship
or AMST 2385W	Sex and Citizenship
or WGSS 2385	Sex and Citizenship
or WGSS 2385W	Sex and Citizenship
AMST 2410	Modern U.S. Immigration
or AMST 2410W	Modern U.S. Immigration
or HIST 2410	Modern U.S. Immigration
or HIST 2410W	Modern U.S. Immigration
AMST 2430	Capitalism and Culture
AMST 2440	The American City
or AMST 2440W	The American City
or HIST 2440	The American City
or HIST 2440W	The American City
AMST 2450	History and Meaning of Higher Education in the United States
AMST 2520	American Architecture I
AMST 2521	American Architecture II
AMST 2600	U.S. Popular Music and Culture
AMST 2610	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
or AMST 2610W	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
or HIST 2610	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
or HIST 2610W	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
AMST 2620	Human Mind and Artificial Intelligence
AMST 2630	Discovering the Mind
AMST 2710	The United States in the World
or HIST 2710	The United States in the World
AMST 2730	World War II in History and Memory
or AMST 2730W	World War II in History and Memory
or HIST 2730	World War II in History and Memory
or HIST 2730W	World War II in History and Memory
AMST 2750W	Latinos in the United States
or ANTH 2750	Latinos in the United States
or ANTH 2750W	Latinos in the United States
AMST 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or AMST 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or HIST 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or HIST 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or WGSS 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or WGSS 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
AMST 3361	African American History Since 1865
or HIST 3361	African American History Since 1865
AMST 3600	Popular Music and Politics
AMST 3625	Ethnographic and Historical Perspectives on Data Ethics
or ANTH 3625	Ethnographic and Historical Perspectives on Data Ethics
ANTH 2505	Introduction to Ethnomusicology
ANTH 2506	Religion, Myth, and Magic
ANTH 2750	Latinos in the United States
or ANTH 2750W	Latinos in the United States
or AMST 2750W	Latinos in the United States
ANTH 3625	Ethnographic and Historical Perspectives on Data Ethics
or AMST 3625	Ethnographic and Historical Perspectives on Data Ethics
ARAB 3105	Special Topics (Arabic Literature: Arabia to America) -- or IAFF 3188 (Arabic Literature: Arabia to America)
ARAB 3105	Special Topics (Contemporary Arabic Literature)
ARAB 3105	Special Topics (Gender and The Arab World: Gender, Love, and Friendship in the Arab World: Past and Present -- or WGSS 3170 (Gender and The Arab World: Gender, Love, and Friendship in the Arab World: Past and Present))
ARAB 3105	Special Topics (Islamic Political Thought)
ARAB 3301	Modern Arabic Literature
ARAB 3501	Arabic and Arab Identity
ARAB 3502	Arab Film and Culture in English
ARAB 4002	Arabic Narratives Through the Ages
CHIN 3109	Introduction to Classical Chinese I
CHIN 3110	Introduction to Classical Chinese II
CHIN 3112	Chinese Literature in Translation II
CHIN 3116	Language Policy of China
CHIN 3162	Chinese Culture Through Film
CHIN 3163	Taiwanese Literature and Film
CHIN 3173	Chinese Drama and Theatre
CAH 1090	Art History I: Art Now, Contemporary Perspectives in the Visual Arts
Any non-language Classical Studies (CLAS) course.
CTAD 1015	Understanding Dance
CTAD 1020	Women and the Creative Process
CTAD 2185	Trends in Performance–Action into Art
CTAD 2191	Dance History
EALL 3811	Confucian Literature in East Asia
or REL 2811	Confucian Literature in East Asia
EALL 3814	Religion and Philosophy in East Asia
or EALL 3814W	Religion and Philosophy in East Asia
or REL 2814	Religion and Philosophy in East Asia
ENGL 1050	Introduction to Literary Studies
ENGL 1315	Literature and the Financial Imagination
ENGL 1320	Literature of the Americas
or ENGL 1320W	Literature of the Americas
ENGL 1330	Myths of Britain
or ENGL 1330W	Myths of Britain
ENGL 1340	Essential Shakespeare
or ENGL 1340W	Essential Shakespeare
ENGL 1351	Shakespeare Seminar
ENGL 1360	Fantasy and Speculative Fiction
ENGL 1365	Literature and the Environment
ENGL 1500	American Political Fictions
ENGL 2100	Introduction to Asian American Studies through Literature
ENGL 2410	Introduction to English Literature I
or ENGL 2410W	Introduction to English Literature I
ENGL 2411	Introduction to English Literature II
or ENGL 2411W	Introduction to English Literature II
ENGL 2510	Introduction to American Literature I
or ENGL 2510W	Introduction to American Literature I
ENGL 2511	Introduction to American Literature II
or ENGL 2511W	Introduction to American Literature II
ENGL 2610	Introduction to Black Literature of America I
or ENGL 2610W	Introduction to Black Literature of America I
ENGL 2611	Introduction to Black Literature of America II
or ENGL 2611W	Introduction to Black Literature of America II
or WGSS 2710	Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
ENGL 2710	Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
or ENGL 2710W	Postcolonialism, Race, and Gender in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
ENGL 2711	Postcolonialism and Migration in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
or ENGL 2711W	Postcolonialism and Migration in Global Anglophone Literature and Film
ENGL 2712	Bollywood Cinema
ENGL 2800	Introduction to Critical Theory
or ENGL 2800W	Introduction to Critical Theory
ENGL 3210	Readings in Creative Writing
ENGL 3400	Topics in Literature and Finance
ENGL 3446	Shakespearean London
ENGL 3621	American Poetry II
ENGL 3730	Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
or ENGL 3730W	Topics in Global Postcolonial Literature and Film
ENGL 3826	Toni Morrison and William Faulkner
ENGL 3910	Disability Studies
ENGL 3918	Literature and Medicine
FREN 2500	Cultural Politics of Food in France
FREN 3020	Contemporary France
FREN 3100	Introduction to French Literature
or FREN 3100W	Introduction to French Literature
FREN 3220	Modern French Literature
FREN 3500	Race, Religion, and Identity in France
FREN 3560	Topics in Contemporary Francophone Literature and Cinema (Contemporary Francophone Literature/Cinema French Literature of the Renaissance)
FREN 3700	History of French Cinema
FREN 4510	French Literature of the Renaissance
FREN 4540	Nineteenth-Century French Literature and Culture
Any Film Studies (FILM) course.
GER 2091	Introduction to German Literature—in English I
GER 2092	Introduction to German Literature—in English II
GER 2161	German Culture–in English I
GER 2162	German Culture–in English II
GER 3182	The Fairy Tale from the Grimms to Disney
GER 3185	Literary Voices and the Fascist Experience—in English
GER 3187	German Cinema after 1945
GER 4171	The Age of Goethe—in German
HEBR 3101	Modern Hebrew Literary Classics in Translation
HEBR 3102	Israeli Society and Culture: Literary Perspectives
HEBR 3103	Israeli Cinema (in English) (same as HIST 3001 and JSTD 2002 (Israeli Cinema [in English])
HEBR 3104W	Gender and Sexuality in Israel
HEBR 3301	Modern Hebrew Fiction
or HEBR 3301W	Modern Hebrew Fiction
HEBR 4001	Advanced Hebrew Literature I
or HEBR 4001W	Advanced Hebrew Literature I
HEBR 4002	Advanced Hebrew Literature II
HIST 1020	Approaches to Women's History
HIST 1110	Foundations of Europe to 1715
HIST 1120	Europe in the World Since 1715
or HIST 1120W	European Civilization in its World Context
HIST 1121	The War of Ideas in European and International History, 1750-Present
HIST 1310	Introduction to American History from the Pre-Columbian Era to 1877
HIST 1311	Introduction to American History since 1877
HIST 2001	Special Topics (African History Through the Novel)
HIST 2001	Special Topics (Capitalism and Inequality, From the Industrial Revolution to the Present)
HIST 2001	Special Topics (The Crusades)
HIST 2001	Special Topics (War & Peace In Israeli Society)
HIST 2010	Early American Cultural History
or AMST 2010	Early American Cultural History
HIST 2011	Modern American Cultural History
or AMST 2011	Modern American Cultural History
HIST 2020	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
or HIST 2020W	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
or AMST 2020	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
or AMST 2020W	Washington, DC: History, Culture, and Politics
HIST 2050	History of Jewish Civilization: From the Bible to Modernity
HIST 2060	Modern Jewish History
HIST 2113	The Roman World to 337 A.D.
HIST 2124	Nineteenth-Century Europe
HIST 2125	Twentieth-Century Europe
HIST 2131	History of England Since 1689
HIST 2141	History of France Since 1789
HIST 2160	History of Germany
HIST 2312	The American Civil War and Reconstruction, 1850-1877
HIST 2313	History of the American West
HIST 2320	U.S. Media and Cultural History
or AMST 2320	U.S. Media and Cultural History
HIST 2321	U.S. History, 1890-1945
HIST 2322	U.S. History since 1945
HIST 2350	U.S. Religion and Politics
or AMST 2350	U.S. Religion and Politics
HIST 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
or AMST 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
or WGSS 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
HIST 2410	Modern U.S. Immigration
or AMST 2410	Modern U.S. Immigration
or HIST 2410W	Modern U.S. Immigration
HIST 2440	The American City
or HIST 2440W	The American City
or AMST 2440	The American City
or AMST 2440W	The American City
HIST 2520	Africans in the Making of the Atlantic World
HIST 2610	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
or HIST 2610W	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
or AMST 2610	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
or AMST 2610W	Science, Technology, and Politics in Modern America
HIST 2630	History of Korea
HIST 2710	The United States in the World
or AMST 2710	The United States in the World
HIST 2730	World War II in History and Memory
or HIST 2730W	World War II in History and Memory
or AMST 2730	World War II in History and Memory
or AMST 2730W	World War II in History and Memory
HIST 2811	The Formation of Islam to 1500
HIST 2850	Modernization in Russia, Turkey, and Iran
HIST 3035	The United States and the Wars in Indochina, 1945–1975
HIST 3044W	The Price of Freedom: Normandy 1944
HIST 3111	Topics in Ancient History
HIST 3324	U.S. Urban History
HIST 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or HIST 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or AMST 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or AMST 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or WGSS 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or WGSS 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
HIST 3353	U.S. Women's History II
HIST 3360	African American History to 1865
or AMST 3360	African American History to 1865
HIST 3361	African American History Since 1865
or AMST 3361	African American History Since 1865
HIST 3601	Topics: Asian History (China: Civil War and Holy War)
HIST 3611	History of Modern China
HIST 3801	Topics in Middle Eastern History (topic: Gender and The Arab World: Gender, Love, and Friendship in the Arab World: Past and Present -- or ARAB 3105 or WGSS 3170 (Gender and The Arab World: Gender, Love, and Friendship in the Arab World: Past and Present))
HIST 3811	The Emergence of the Modern Middle East
HONR 1016	Honors Seminar: Origins and Evolution of Modern Thought
HONR 2053	Arts and Humanities Seminar
or HONR 2053W	Arts and Humanities Seminar
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Christianity and Islam in East Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Religions of Asia)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Historical Memory and Human Rights in Chile)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin America in Motion: Indigenous Media, Cinema, and Social Movements)
IAFF 3188	Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Arabic Literature: Arabia to America) -- or ARAB 3105 (Arabic Literature: Arabia to America)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (African Literature and Politics)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (Hip Hop and Social Change in Africa)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (West African Film and Literature)
IAFF 3190	Special Topics in International Affairs (Film and U.S. Foreign Policy)
ITAL 3300	Italian Literature and Culture in Translation (Pandemics in Italian Literature & Film)
ITAL 4100	The Italian American Experience
ITAL 4184	Contemporary Italian Cinema
ITAL 4380	Italian Journeys Medieval to Postmodern
JAPN 3111	Japanese Literature in Translation I
JAPN 3112	Japanese Literature in Translation II
JSTD 2001	Topics in Judaic Studies: Pre-modern (topic: Excavating Armageddon -- or CLAS 3115 or HIST 3111 (Excavating Armageddon))
JSTD 2001	Topics in Judaic Studies: Pre-modern (topic: The Hebrew Scriptures -- or CLAS 2105 or REL 1009 (The Hebrew Scriptures))
KOR 3111	Korean Literature in Translation I
KOR 3112	Korean Literature in Translation II
LATN 2002	Poetry of Empire
or LATN 2002W	Poetry of Empire
LATN 3001	Major Latin Authors I
or LATN 3001W	Major Latin Authors I
LATN 3002	Major Latin Authors II
or LATN 3002W	Major Latin Authors II
MUS 1103	Music in the Western World
MUS 1104	Topics in Music
MUS 1105	Introduction to Musical Thought and Practice
MUS 1107	Music of the World
MUS 1108	History of Jazz
MUS 2101	Harmony
MUS 2105	Introduction to Ethnomusicology
MUS 2106	Music History III: Twentieth-Century Art Traditions
MUS 2122	Music in the U.S.
MUS 2123	Musical Cultures of Black Americans
MUS 2174	Introduction to Jazz Harmony
MUS 3126	Music History I: Antiquity through Early Baroque
MUS 3127	Music History II: The Tonal Era
MUS 3139	Form and Analysis
MUS 3174	Topics in Music Theory and Composition
MUS 3175	Topics in Music History and Literature
Any Philosophy (PHIL) course except PHIL 2045 and PHIL 3121.
PSC 2105	Major Issues of Western Political Thought I
PSC 2106	Major Issues of Western Political Thought II
PSC 2120W	Freedom in American Thought and Popular Culture
or AMST 2120W	Freedom in American Thought and Popular Culture
PSTD 1010	Introduction to Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
Any Religion (REL) course.
SLAV 1392	Introduction to Russian Literature II
SLAV 2310	The Russian Media Since Communism
SLAV 2361	Russian Culture
SLAV 2362	Russian Culture
SPAN 2500	The Spanish-Speaking World: Spain, Latin America, and the United States
SPAN 3100	Texts and Contexts of the Spanish-Speaking World
or SPAN 3100W	Texts and Contexts of the Spanish-Speaking World
TRDA 1025	Understanding the Theatre
TRDA 2240	Play Analysis
TRDA 3245	History of the Theatre I
TRDA 3246	History of the Theatre II
or TRDA 3246W	History of the Theatre II
UNIV 1006	Questions of Culture
WGSS 1020	Approaches to Women's History
WGSS 2225	Philosophy of Race And Gender
or PHIL 2125	Philosophy of Race and Gender
WGSS 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
or AMST 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
or HIST 2380	Sexuality in U.S. History
WGSS 2385	Sex and Citizenship
or WGSS 2385W	Sex and Citizenship
or AMST 2385	Sex and Citizenship
or AMST 2385W	Sex and Citizenship
WGSS 3170	Special Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (Feminism, Migration, and Media)
WGSS 3170	Special Topics in Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (Women in Modern European History)
WGSS 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or WGSS 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or AMST 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or AMST 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or HIST 3352	U.S. Women's History to 1865
or HIST 3352W	U.S. Women's History to 1865
WGSS 3353	U.S. Women's History II
WGSS 3981	Women in Western Religion
or REL 2981	Women in Western Religion
WLP 1020	Writing, Literature, and Society
Literature and film classes in the Departments of Classical and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations; East Asian Languages and Literatures; English; and Romance, German, Slavic Languages and Literatures also fulfill this requirement.
Creative Arts—a maximum of 3 credits from the following:
Any Corcoran Studio Arts (CSA) course.
CHIN 3173	Chinese Drama and Theatre
CTAD 1170	Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance I
CTAD 1214	Beginning Acting
CTAD 2180	Movement Improvisation/Performance
CTAD 2250	Dramatic Writing
CTAD 2339	Theatre Practicum
CTAD 3174	Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance I
CTAD 3182	Dance Composition I
CTAD 3183	Dance Composition II
CTAD 3186	Embodied Kinesis for Dance
CTAD 3240	Introduction to Dramaturgy
CTAD 3331	Introduction to Lighting
CTAD 3332	Theatrical Makeup Design
CTAD 3335	Introduction to Scene Design
CTAD 3336	Introduction to Costuming
CTAD 4275	Directing for the Theatre
CTAD 4338	Scene Painting
ENGL 1210	Introduction to Creative Writing
ENGL 2210	Techniques in Creative Writing
ENGL 2460	Fiction Writing
ENGL 2470	Poetry Writing
ENGL 2560	Intermediate Fiction Writing
ENGL 3390	Topics in Creative Writing
Non-ensemble performance study (MUS) courses, including:
MUS 1101	Elements of Music Theory
MUS 1102	Comprehensive Musicianship I
MUS 1106	Introduction to Musical Performance and Experience
MUS 2102	Comprehensive Musicianship II
MUS 2134	Composition
MUS 2661	Electronic and Computer Music I
MUS 2662	Electronic and Computer Music II
MUS 4184	Advanced Composition
Performance Study Courses (TRDA), including:
TRDA 1035	Theatre Production
TRDA 1151	Beginning/Intermediate Ballet
TRDA 1152	Beginning Modern/Postmodern Dance
TRDA 1153	Beginning/Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance
TRDA 1171	Intermediate Modern/Postmodern Dance II
TRDA 1330	Basics of Production Design
TRDA 2160	Intermediate Ballet
TRDA 2172	Intermediate/Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance I
TRDA 2173	Intermediate/Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance II
TRDA 2192	Repertory/Performance
TRDA 2193 & TRDA 2194	Dance Styles I and Dance Styles II
TRDA 2194	Dance Styles II
TRDA 2215	Intermediate Acting
TRDA 3175	Advanced Modern/Postmodern Dance II
TRDA 3222	Topics in Advanced Acting
TRDA 3250	Intermediate Dramatic Writing
TRDA 3333	Stage Management
TRDA 4184	Choreography and Performance
*Some MUS and TRDA courses may be repeated for credit. Consult course descriptions in this Bulletin for additional information. All courses must be taken for a letter grade to fulfill this requirement. Courses taken Pass/No Pass are not accepted.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Elliott School of International Affairs, Undergraduate Degree Requirements.

A minimum grade of C- must be earned in all major requirement courses, to include the last course used to prove third-year proficiency in a modern regional language .

If a student wishes to take any course not listed here, prior approval of the Program Director is required.

Major requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Foundation (3 credits)
IAFF 2095	The Middle East in International Affairs
It is strongly recommended that students take IAFF 2095 before more advanced coursework in the major.
Foreign Language (credits vary)
Students must demonstrate third-year proficiency in a modern foreign language (Arabic, Hebrew or Persian) by examination or coursework. Additional information regarding the Elliott School foreign language examinations is available from the academic advisor.
Arabic
Option one:
ARAB 1001	Beginning Arabic I
ARAB 1002	Beginning Arabic II
ARAB 2001	Intermediate Arabic I
ARAB 2002	Intermediate Arabic II
ARAB 3001	Advanced Arabic
and one of the following courses:
ARAB 3301	Modern Arabic Literature
ARAB 3302	Media Arabic
ARAB 3311	Business Arabic
Or
Option two:
ARAB 1201	Intensive Elementary Arabic I
ARAB 1202	Intensive Elementary Arabic II
ARAB 2201	Intensive Intermediate Arabic
ARAB 3201	Intensive Advanced Arabic: Mass Media
Hebrew
HEBR 1001	Beginning Hebrew I
HEBR 1002	Beginning Hebrew II
HEBR 2001	Intermediate Hebrew I
HEBR 2002	Intermediate Hebrew II
HEBR 3001	Hebrew Conversation and Writing
and one of the following courses:
HEBR 3301	Modern Hebrew Fiction
or HEBR 3301W	Modern Hebrew Fiction
HEBR 3302	The Israeli Media
Persian
PERS 1001	Beginning Persian I
PERS 1002	Beginning Persian II
PERS 2001	Intermediate Persian I
PERS 2002	Intermediate Persian II
PERS 3001	Advanced Persian
PERS 3002	Media Persian
or PERS 3002W	Media Persian

Regional Foundations (3 credits)

One course from the following in any region except the Middle East.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Africa
ANTH 3708	Anthropology of Africa
ECON 2198	Special Topics in Economics - Regional (Economics of Africa)
GEOG 3164	The Geography of Africa
HIST 3501	Topics: Africa (African History Since 1880)
HIST 3510	African History to 1880
HIST 3530	Women in Africa
HIST 3540	West Africa to Independence
IAFF 2093	Africa: Problems and Prospects
IAFF 2190W	Special Topics (North Africa and the World) ^*
IAFF 2190W	Special Topics (Rising Africa and the World)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (African Literature and Politics)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (Ethnic and Religious Conflict in Africa)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (International Relations in Africa)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (New African Security Frontier)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (Religion in Africa)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (Security Challenges in Africa)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (Transnational Justice in Africa)
IAFF 3189	Special Topics in African Studies (Women and Leadership in Africa)
IAFF 3190	Special Topics in International Affairs (Africa: Declassified)
IAFF 3190	Special Topics in International Affairs (China and Africa)
IAFF 3190	Special Topics in International Affairs (West African Film and Culture)
PSC 2381	Comparative Politics of Sub-Saharan Africa
PSC 2482	African International Politics
PSC 3192W	Proseminar: Political Science (Comparative Politics of Africa)
PSC 3192W	Proseminar: Political Science (Development Challenges in Africa)
PSC 3192W	Proseminar: Political Science (Government and Politics of Africa)
*IAFF 2190W (North Africa and the World) is not approved as a Regional Foundations course for students in the Middle East Studies program due to the degree of overlap between issues in North Africa and the Middle East.
Asia (Students in the BA in Asian studies program must fulfill the Regional Foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than Asia.)
ANTH 3703	Cultures of the Pacific
ANTH 3704	Cultures of Southeast Asia
ANTH 3705	Anthropology of East Asia
ANTH 3791	Topics in Regional Anthropology (Anthropology of South Asia)
ECON 2198	Special Topics in Economics - Regional (East Asian Economies)
GEOG 3165	Geography of South Asia
HIST 2605W	Majors’ Introductory Seminar: Asia (Graverobbers on the Silk Road)
HIST 3601	Topics: Asian History (Empire and Legacies Northeast Asia: Russia, China, Japan)
HIST 3640	History of Southeast Asia
HIST 3650	Modern South Asia, 1750-Present
HONR 2047	Self and Society Seminar (Political Economies of China, India, and Beyond)
IAFF 2091	East Asia-Past and Present
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Asian Order and Community Building)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Asian Security)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Current Events in East Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Development Issues in Southeast Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (East Asian Security)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Economic Development of East Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (History and Politics of South Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Indo-Pacific Security Challenges)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (International Relations of South Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Memory and Reconciliation: Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Politics and Conflict of South Asia)
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Religions of Asia -- or REL 2990 (Religions of Asia))
IAFF 3186	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Women in Asia)
IAFF 3186W	Special Topics in Asian Studies (Equitable Development in Southeast Asia)
IAFF 3190	Special Topics in International Affairs (Human Rights and Democracy in Southeast Asia)
PSC 2369	Comparative Politics of South Asia
PSC 2373	Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia
PSC 2475	International Relations of East Asia
PSC 3192W	Proseminar: Political Science (Politics and Protest in East Asia)
PSC 3192W	Proseminar: Political Science (Protest and Participation in East Asia)
Europe and Eurasia
ECON 2199	Special Topics in Economics (Economics of the EU)
HIST 1120	Europe in the World Since 1715
or HIST 1120W	European Civilization in its World Context
HIST 1121	The War of Ideas in European and International History, 1750-Present
HIST 2125	Twentieth-Century Europe
HIST 3126	European Integration: A History
HIST 3178	The Making of the Modern Balkans
IAFF 2092	Russia and Eastern Europe: An Introduction
IAFF 2094	Europe in Transition
IAFF 3185	Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (Nationalism in Russia and Eurasia)
IAFF 3185	Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (The European Union)
IAFF 3185	Special Topics in European and Eurasian Studies (Ukraine and Georgia between Russia and the West)
IAFF 3190	Special Topics in International Affairs (European Economies and Crisis of Integration)
IAFF 4191W	Research Seminar (Europe)
PSC 2330	Comparative Politics of Western Europe
PSC 2331	Comparative Politics of Central and Eastern Europe
PSC 2332	European Integration
PSC 2994	Special Topics in International Relations (International Politics of Central and Eastern Europe)
Latin America (Students in the BA in Latin American and hemispheric studies program must fulfill the Regional Foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than Latin America.)
ANTH 3702	Anthropology of Latin America
ECON 2185	Economic History and Problems of Latin America
GEOG 3161	Geography of Latin America
HIST 3701	Topics in Latin American History (Latin America and the World Since 1820)
HIST 3710	History of Latin America I
HIST 3711	History of Latin America II
IAFF 2090	Latin America: Problems and Promise
IAFF 3177	Political Economy of Latin America
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Democracy Under Siege in Latin America)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Economic and Social Development of Latin America)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Feminist Movements in Latin America)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (History of Latin America II)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin America Geopolitics and Geoeconomy)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Latin American Migration)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Racial and Ethnic Politics in Latin America)
IAFF 3187	Special Topics in Latin American and Hemispheric Studies (Security in the Americas)
IAFF 3191W	Populism and Regime Change in Latin America
IAFF 3194W	Latin America's Violent Peace
PSC 2383	Comparative Politics of Latin America
PSC 2484	International Relations of Latin America
Middle East (Students in the BA in Middle East studies program must fulfill the Regional Foundations requirement using a course focused in a world region other than the Middle East.)
ANTH 3707	Anthropology of the Middle East
GEOG 3154	Geography of the Middle East and North Africa
HIST 3810	History of the Middle East to 1800
HIST 3811	The Emergence of the Modern Middle East
IAFF 2095	The Middle East in International Affairs
IAFF 2190W	Special Topics (Arab Politics)
IAFF 2190W	Special Topics (Challenges and Change in the Middle East)
IAFF 2190W	Special Topics (North Africa and the World)
IAFF 2190W	Special Topics (Politics and Culture in the Middle East)
IAFF 3188	Special Topics in Middle East Studies (The Middle East Since WWII)
IAFF 3188	Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Militaries and Politics in the Middle East)
IAFF 3188	Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Political Islam)
IAFF 3188	Special Topics in Middle East Studies (Security Issues in the Greater Middle East)
IAFF 3188	Special Topics in Middle East Studies (U.S. Policy in the Persian Gulf)
IAFF 4191	Research Seminar (Political Islam)
PSC 2377	Comparative Politics of the Middle East
PSC 2476	The Arab-Israeli Conflict
or PSC 2476W	The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSC 2478	International Relations of the Middle East

Note: STAT courses may not be counted toward both the research methods requirement and the math requirement.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Research methods (3 credits)
One course pertaining to qualitative or quantitative social science research methods from the following:
ANTH 3531	Methods in Sociocultural Anthropology
APSC 3115	Engineering Analysis III
ECON 2123	Introduction to Econometrics
GEOG 2104	Introduction to Cartography and GIS
IAFF 2101	International Affairs Research Methods
IAFF 2190	Special Topics (Political Risk Analysis)
IAFF 2190	Special Topics (Program Design in International Affairs)
IAFF 2190	Special Topics (Qualitative Research Methods)
IAFF 3180W	Special Topics in Security Policy (Security Policy and Qualitative Analysis)
IAFF 3190	Special Topics in International Affairs (Strategic Management and Qualitative Methods in International Affairs)
IAFF 4191W	Research Seminar (International Conflict and Contentious Politics)
IAFF 4191W	Research Seminar (Security Policy and Qualitative Analysis)
PSC 2101	Scope and Methods of Political Science
PSC 2102	Visualizing and Modeling Politics
PSYC 2101	Research Methods in Psychology
PUBH 3131	Epidemiology
PUBH 3199	Topics in Public Health (Qualitative Research Methods)
SOC 2101	Social Research Methods
SOC 2111	Field Research
STAT 1051	Introduction to Business and Economic Statistics ^*
STAT 1053	Introduction to Statistics in Social Science ^*
STAT 1111	Business and Economic Statistics I ^*
STAT 1127	Statistics for the Biological Sciences ^*
STAT 2112	Business and Economic Statistics II
STAT 2183	Intermediate Statistics Lab/Packages
or STAT 2183W	Intermediate Statistical Laboratory: Statistical Computing Packages
*Credit for only one of the following courses may be applied toward an Elliott School undergraduate degree: STAT 1051, STAT 1053, STAT 1111, or STAT 1127.

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Multi-disciplinary Core (24 credits)
The following lists are not exhaustive and new courses may be added at any time. Contact the Director of the Middle East Studies program for approval to count a course not listed toward one of these requirements.
History (6 credits)
Two courses from the following:
HIST 2803	The Ancient Near East and Egypt to 322 B.C.
HIST 2804	History of Ancient Israel
HIST 2805W	Majors’ Introductory Seminar: Middle East (Plague in Islamic History)
HIST 3801	Topics in Middle Eastern History
HIST 3810	History of the Middle East to 1800
HIST 3811	The Emergence of the Modern Middle East
HIST 3820	History of Israel
or HIST 3820W	The History of Israel
HIST 3825	Land and Power in Israel/Palestine
HIST 3830	History of Iraq
HIST 3850	Modern Iran
Economics (3 credits)
One course from the following:
ECON 2136	Environmental and Natural Resource Economics
ECON 2151	Economic Development
or ECON 2151W	Economic Development
ECON 2180	Survey of International Economics
ECON 2181	International Trade Theory and Policy
ECON 2182	International Macroeconomic Theory and Policy
Middle East Arts and Literature (3 credits)
One course from the following:
ARAB 3301	Modern Arabic Literature
ARAB 3501	Arabic and Arab Identity
ARAB 3502	Arab Film and Culture in English
ARAB 4001	Genres in Modern Arabic Literature
ARAB 4002	Arabic Narratives Through the Ages
CAH 3113	Islamic Art and Architecture
HEBR 3101	Modern Hebrew Literary Classics in Translation
HEBR 3102	Israeli Society and Culture: Literary Perspectives
HEBR 3103	Israeli Cinema (in English)
HEBR 3104W	Gender and Sexuality in Israel
HEBR 3301	Modern Hebrew Fiction
or HEBR 3301W	Modern Hebrew Fiction
HEBR 4001	Advanced Hebrew Literature I
or HEBR 4001W	Advanced Hebrew Literature I
HEBR 4002	Advanced Hebrew Literature II
REL 3432	Persian Sufi Literature East and West
Political Science (6 credits)
Two courses from the following:
PSC 2377	Comparative Politics of the Middle East
PSC 2379	Politics and Foreign Policy of Israel
PSC 2476	The Arab-Israeli Conflict
or PSC 2476W	The Arab-Israeli Conflict
PSC 2478	International Relations of the Middle East
Religion (6 credits)
Two courses from the following:
REL 2401	Islam
REL 3405	Shi'ite Islam
REL 3414	Islamic Philosophy and Theology
REL 3425	Islamic Political Thought
REL 3431	Sufism/Islamic Mysticism
REL 3432	Persian Sufi Literature East and West
REL 3475	Islamic Religion and Art
REL 3481	Women in Islam
REL 3482	Gender and Piety in Islam
REL 3990	Selected Topics in Religion (topic: Law and Diplomacy in the Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean. Same as REL 3990W: Law and Diplomacy in the Ancient Near East and the Mediterranean)
Related Coursework (6 credits)
Two courses related to the Middle East from any discipline, including International Affairs (IAFF), selected with the approval of the Middle East Studies program director.
Study Abroad
Students are encouraged to study in the Middle East through one of GW's formal partnerships with a regional university or an approved self-designed study abroad program.