Middle East-North Africa studies

Undergraduate minor

About the minor

Often referred to as the “cradle of civilization,” the Middle East and North Africa was of central importance in the development of agriculture, cities, mathematics, science, and western religious traditions. The Middle East and North Africa region is home to a broad diversity of peoples and cultures as well as the first written language, monumental architecture, long-distance trade, and centralized state systems. However, it is also in the midst of grave instability and unrest, which has global consequences.

This minor is a broad examination of the Middle East and North Africa region. Students focus their study with a concentration in language, study abroad, or research. The minor is designed to offer flexibility so that students may focus on particular areas of interest while providing all students with an introduction to critical issues in the contemporary Middle East and North Africa.

A little more info

  • The UO is home to one of the best Arabic programs in the nation.  
  • Faculty at the UO have launched a new study abroad opportunity, the intensive study of Arabic over the summer in Amman, Jordan. Numerous study-abroad scholarship opportunities are available.

Career opportunities

Students with a minor in Middle East-North Africa studies have gone on to successful careers in international business, international law, US government foreign service, and academia.

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