Coronavirus Information
Until further notice, the University of Arizona, in accordance with the guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, encourages all employees to work remotely. Our office in 440 Marshall Building is closed to the public, but you can reach the School of Middle Eastern & North African Studies, Monday–Friday 8am-5pm:
- Director: Ben Fortna bcfortna@arizona.edu 520-873-7008
- Program Coordinator: Sergio Cañez canez@arizona.edu 520-260-0837
- Administrative Assistant: Randa Abdu randaabdu@arizona.edu 520-561-2098
Get COVID-19 updates and information for the University of Arizona community. Also, see SBS resources for continuing instruction and learning.
Understand the Middle East and North Africa literature and culture, in addition to instruction in the principal languages of the area—Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Hebrew.
About the Major
You will enter relevant courses available in religion, political science, history, literature, geography, sociology, archeology, linguistics, and architecture—often in cooperation with the respective discipline department. Through this interdisciplinary approach, you will be understanding and learning more about Middle Eastern and North African literature and cultures. You will also learn analytical and writing skills that serve you well no matter what career you choose.
Additionally, through our language programs, you will achieve at least intermediate-level proficiency in a Middle Eastern language—Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish.
Required Minor
You are required to complete a minor (or dual-major) with this program. We encourage you to look for departments with courses that complement the skills you learn here in Middle Eastern North African Studies. Some areas of interest you may look into include business, political science, government policy, education, and more.
Career Pathways
Our graduates, who sought out this degree in our department out of interest in the Middle East/North Africa, often are drawn to government services, advanced academic careers, international businesses, or in preparation for advanced study in this or similar fields. You should consider the following potential jobs as you continue your pursuit of this degree:
- Interpreter
- Intelligence officer
- Foreign language teacher
- Cultural advisor
- International business
- Nonprofit director