U of Penn Adds MidEast Studies Major

The University of Pennsylvania will add Modern Middle Eastern Studies to the degree options open to undergraduates beginning in fall 2007.

The program will allow undergrads to pursue a minor or a major in Middle Eastern studies. The interdisciplinary program will include classes in Middle Eastern languages, history, economics, political science, sociology, and archaeology.

The Modern Middle Eastern Studies program was developed partly in response to student concerns that the University's Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations major restricted classes to the humanities. Students complained that they had to declare a second degree major or minor in order to pursue social science classes relevant to the Middle East.

The new program will be run through the University's Middle East Center, which coordinates research and academic programs.

Source: "Modern Middle East Major OK'd for 2007," by Tali Yahalom - the Daily Pennsylvanian, April 26, 2007

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