About

An overview of the Middle East and North African studies concentration at Denison University

Called by many “the cradle of civilization,” the Middle East and North Africa is a fascinating area that substantially impacts much of the world. With the Middle East and North African Studies concentration (MENA), you will approach this region from an interdisciplinary point of view.

You’ll gain knowledge of this complex and subtle sphere through a curriculum connected to anthropology and sociology, economics, history, international studies, political science, religion and modern languages. And you’ll have many options to learn experientially about the region: via a study abroad; an internship at an NGO, business, or governmental organization; a research project related to the MENA region; or community work in areas with predominantly Middle Eastern populations.

This work prepares you for many career opportunities, including global corporations, government, nonprofit and service agencies, and graduate study.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Middle East and North African Studies program is to provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to the MENA region to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of its historical, political, economic, religious, social and linguistic aspects, both theoretically and experientially.

Departmental Guidelines

This concentration integrates coursework from the social sciences and humanities, allowing students to gain a broad and wide knowledge of the region of the Middle East and North Africa. Building on Denison’s commitment to internationalizing the curriculum, this concentration engages students with a deeper understanding of the region both theoretically and experientially. It draws on the interdisciplinary strength of Denison’s community by including courses from Anthropology and Sociology, Economics, History, International Studies, Political Science, Religion and Modern Languages. This concentration also addresses the rising demand of students for study in Arabic. Accordingly, this concentration gives students the opportunity to integrate and contextualize their knowledge of Arabic along with a deeper understanding of the MENA region.