Middle Eastern Studies Minor

Abbreviation: 
ME

The minor in Middle Eastern Studies is designed to give students an introduction to the study of the modern Middle East (the Arab, Turkish, Persian, and Israeli nation-states) through social science and humanities courses. (Students interested in emphasizing language, archaeology and/or ancient civilizations should investigate minors in the Department of Near Eastern Studies.) The MES minor is open to all undergraduates except MES majors.

Minor Requirements
Lower Division: 

1 course from the following list

  • Near Eastern Studies 10: Introduction to the Near East
  • History 12: Introduction to the Middle East
  • Middle Eastern Studies 10: Social Issues in Middle Eastern Studies
  • Middle Eastern Studies 20: Perspectives on the Middle East
Foreign Language: 

The study of modern Middle Eastern languages is encouraged. However, there is no language requirement for the MES minor. In fact, language courses do not count toward the minor.

Upper Division: 

5 courses

Five upper-division courses about the Middle East, chosen from a list of eligible courses (those indicated as having 50% or more Middle East-related content), and taken in at least two different departments. Consult the MES handbook and MES Minor Application for details.

Completing the Minor: 
  1. The six courses taken to satisfy the MES minor must total 22 or more units.
  2. All courses must be taken for a letter grade. MES 97, 98, 99, 197, 198 and 199 cannot be used to fulfill minor requirements.
  3. At least three of the upper division minor courses must be completed at U.C. Berkeley. (All transfer courses must be approved by the MES coordinating faculty advisor.)
  4. A minimum GPA of 2.0 must be achieved in the courses used to satisfy minor
  5. Course work for the minor must be completed within the College of L&S unit ceiling policy.
  6. Only one course may be double-counted with a major.
More information: 

This description is for introductory purposes only. Students interested in completing a minor in MES should consult the MES Handbook, the MES Minor Application, or the Center for Middle Eastern Studies website.