Middle East and North African Studies
Interdisciplinary Studies
Why Minor in Middle East and North African Studies at Allegheny College
Take a multifaceted approach to studying the language, history, politics, religion, culture, and economics of the Middle East and North African region. You can design this minor to complement your other coursework, interests, and career goals.
Unusual Combinations
Students often combine Middle East and North African Studies with:
Division
- Interdisciplinary Studies
Program Type
- Minor
Number of Credits
24 for minor
Where Middle East and North African Studies Alumni Work Today
Spanish Teacher
York Prep
Molly O’Donnell ‘18
Product Designer
Alteryx
Baneen Al-Akashi ‘19
Camp Director
YMCA Camp Hi-Rock
Ethan Kennelly ‘21
The flexibility an interdisciplinary major offers in terms of what you can take … has been incredibly helpful in making the education and the classes feel relevant to what I’m interested in.
Your Four-Year Journey
Year 1: Understanding
Recognize the historical, cultural, social, and political traditions that influence the Middle East and North Africa. You can start from the very beginning if Arabic is new to you or if you’ve studied Arabic before. We’ll ensure you start in a suitable class to make the most of what you already know while building a solid foundation for the coming years.
Year 2: New Approaches
Your second year is a great time to reach out to the Arab-speaking community on campus. If you haven’t already, try to live in the Spanish house in the Max Kade Wing, where you’ll speak Arab all the time and have a native speaker for a roommate. Don’t forget to declare your Middle East and Northern African Studies minor before the end of the year!
Year 3: Delving Deeper
By now, you’ll be advancing your language skills and gaining rich knowledge of its culture. Nothing helps you do that more than studying in an Arab-speaking country. Most Middle East and Northern African minors go abroad in their third year. Visit the International Education Office about your options and talk with your advisor to ensure you don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime immersion opportunity!
Year 4: The Comp
By now, you’ve had an unforgettable time abroad and you might even have a bit of reverse culture shock when you return home to Allegheny! For most students, the Senior Project is the defining feature of their major in the fourth year. You’ll start by choosing a topic related to the Middle East or Northern Africa. Then, a professor will work with you to refine, research, and develop it.
Research and Internships
World Language & Cultures students get immersed into a culture by:
- Getting housed in the Max Kade International Wing, promoting cross-cultural exploration
- Writing for Gator International in a foreign language
- Joining a student, cultural organization
Special-interest housing is open to any student with a strong interest in world cultures or the language of Arabic, Chinese, French, German or Spanish.
Write creative work in a foreign language for Gator International, a magazine established in 1993 and managed by the language honor society, Phi Sigma Iota.
Get involved with a student organization! Often they host awareness and cultural events to share with the College community. Here are some to consider:
- African Students Association
- Association for the Advancement of Black Culture (ABC)
- Black Girl Magic (BGM)
- International Club
- Islamic Culture Association (ICA)
- Men of Color Advancement Association (MOCAA)
- Queer People of Color (QPOC)
Students interested in studying away from campus during their junior year often spend a semester in Morocco, Jordan, or Israel.
Faculty and Staff
Assistant Professor
Ph.D., University of Iowa; M.A., Georgia State University; B.A., John Carroll University
Email: bmiller2@allegheny.edu
Phone: 814-332-4302
Professor
M.A., Ph.D., University of Connecticut; M.S., University of Ife; B.S., University of Port Harcourt;
Email: sonyeiwu@allegheny.edu
Phone: 814-332-3338
Featured News
People & Places: December 2023 – April 2024
Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and Sustainability Delia Byrnes contributed an essay titled “Ecocriticism: From the Wilderness Idea to Just Multispecies Futures” to the edited collection The Routledge Companion to Literature and Social Justice, which was published on November 20, 2023. Her essay traces the theoretical field of ecocriticism from its origins in European and […]
Program Contact
Sami Alkyam
Assistant Professor of Arabic; Chair of International Studies
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Address:
520 North Main Street
Meadville, PA 16335
Contact:
814-332-4351
info@allegheny.edu
admissions@allegheny.edu
