Middle Eastern Studies Minor

Middle Eastern Studies at Stonehill draws its strength from its interdisciplinary nature, pulling together the expertise of scholars from various fields, such as religion, literature, history, politics, economics and sociology.

Program Type Undergraduate Minor
Mode of Study On Campus
Department Interdisciplinary
School May School of Arts & Sciences
Ancient Babylonian sculpure
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Program Overview 

In the Middle Eastern Studies program at Stonehill College, students will combine the study of a language with courses focused on myriad aspects of Middle Eastern life. 

Stonehill offers courses in Arabic and Biblical Hebrew. Other languages that meet the program's requirements include Kurdish, Persian and Turkish. These can be studied independently, through an approved program, or through Stonehill's affiliation with nearby colleges and universities in the Southeastern Association for Cooperation on Higher Education in Massachusetts (SACHEM). 

A Minor that Enhances Many Majors

Middle Eastern Studies is a minor intended to provide students with a basic knowledge of the people and cultures of the Middle East. The program furnishes a substantial foundation for subsequent specialized study in the field of Middle Eastern politics, history, language and culture.  

The Middle Eastern Studies minor is well-suited for students who have a declared major in a variety of fields: 

Sample Middle Eastern Studies Courses

Elementary Arabic I

This is the first course in a two-semester sequence introducing students to Modern Standard Arabic. By completing both semesters, students will reach the “novice high” proficiency level as defined by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages, in speaking, listening, reading, writing, and cultural competence.

Politics of the Middle East

This course will focus on the Arab-Israeli conflict and relationships among the Arab states; the role of the major powers in the Middle East’s consideration of ideas and political manifestations of nationalism; the impact of imperialism; problems of development; the politics of oil; and the impact of ethnicity, tribalism culture and religion in explaining politics in the Middle Eastern states.

Hard Rockin’ Jews: Judaism and Pop Culture in Israel

For 2000 years Judaism has been a minority religion in majority “other” cultures. With the establishment of Israel, Judaism became the majority culture of a nation-state. This course examines how the religion of Judaism both influences and is influenced by the secular culture of the modern State of Israel.

Women in the Islamic Tradition

The treatment of women and women’s issues in the Islamic tradition through both primary sources (in translation) and secondary sources: women in Muhammad’s life and the role they played in Islamic society; the treatment of women and women-related issues in the Islamic tradition, including both legal and non-legal matters; and the writings of modern Muslim women scholars on Islam as they look at these same issues with a new perspective and present new interpretations.

Gods, Kings and Justice in the Ancient World

Who speaks for Justice? Where does Justice come from? This course examines these and related questions by analyzing and comparing ancient texts such as the Babylonian law code of Hammurabi, Egyptian hymns, Homer’s Odyssey, and the biblical prophets. Ancient works of art treating issues of justice are also examined.

International Opportunities

Our students have pursued internships, directed studies and study abroad opportunities all over the world.

Stonehill accepts transfer credits from programs that include:

  • American University in Cairo
  • Doha, Qatar API Program 
  • Al-Quds Bard College for Liberal Arts and Sciences 
  • Hebrew University, semester abroad and summer programs 
  • Ulpan at Hebrew University (summer programs) 
  • Ulpan Akiva, for Hebrew and Arabic 
  • University of Haifa 
  • Arab Language Institute in Fez 
  • Qasid Arabic Institute (Jordan) 
  • Arabic and North African Studies (ARANAS) Program, Morocco

Continue exploring our Middle Eastern Studies Internships & Opportunities. 

The connection between rigorous academic standards and cultural understanding is clean in the Middle Eastern Studies program.

Contact Us With Any Questions

Shari L. Lowin

Shari L. Lowin

Professor of Religious Studies & Theology, Middle Eastern Studies Program Director
slowin@stonehill.edu
508-565-1285
May 210
Religious Studies & Theology

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