Apply to M.A. or Ph.D. Program
The deadline for applications for Fall 2022 admission was January 15, 2022.
Applications for Fall 2023 admission will be accepted starting in October 2023.
Admission Requirements
To be considered for the M.A. or Ph.D. programs you must:
- Hold a bachelor's or master's degree with a 3.0 GPA (cumulative GPA or last 60 semester units if your undergraduate GPA is lower than 3.0 cumulative; graduate GPA will be taken cumulative only)
- Minimum GRE scores of 150 for verbal reasoning and 3.5 for analytical writing
- Graduate College requirements for international applicants.
We invite highly qualified B.A. students to apply directly to the Ph.D. program. Applicants accepted into the Ph.D. program without an M.A. will be awarded an M.A. in MENAS after successfully completing the MENAS M.A. requirements, which are included in their course of doctoral study. These requirements comprise 33 units of graduate MENAS coursework.
Application Checklist
Application Fee
An $85 application fee is due when you submit your application.
Statement of Purpose
Include a 1-2 page statement of purpose indicating the academic and professional goals you hope to achieve in pursuit of this program of study.
Letters of Recommendation
You'll need three letters of recommendation. Enter contact information for your referees in the online application. Your referees will be contacted directly by the University of Arizona.
Transcripts
Transcripts from all colleges and universities you have attended or are currently attending are required. Unofficial transcripts must be uploaded with your application. You must submit official transcripts, later on, before you can be officially admitted by the Graduate College.
Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Upload your current resume or curriculum vitae outlining your education, honors, membership and participation in professional organizations, employment history, research and scholarly activities and publications in the Supplemental Questions section of the application.
Writing Sample
Submit a 20 page/6,000 word writing sample in English (term paper, chapter of thesis, etc).
GRE Scores
Official Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are required for both domestic and international students. Ask that your scores be sent to Institution Code #4832. Use school code 2201 (area studies), or 2299 (social sciences, other). GRE test scores must be dated within 5 years of enrollment.
English Language Proficiency (International Applicants)
While the department does not require a TOEFL score, the University of Arizona Graduate College does. Self-report your Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Official scores must also be submitted via ETS to the Graduate College (Institution Code is 4832). TOEFL score must be dated within 2 years of enrollment.
How to Apply
To apply, you must complete the University of Arizona Graduate College online application. Follow these steps:
- Create a GradApp account
- Complete your GradApp profile under "My Account".
- Select "Apply to a Program" from the sidebar.
- Choose "Degree Seeking" under application type and either "Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MA)" or "Middle Eastern and North African Studies (PhD)" under program of study.
- Choose the semester during which you wish to enter the program.
- Your application should now be initiated under "My Active Applications."
Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowship
We encourage all domestic students to who will be taking language courses to apply to the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowship.
Pre-Enrollment Reading for MA Students
MA students who do not enter the program with the equivalent of MENA 277A: History of the Middle East, MENA 277B: History of the Middle East: Modern Middle East, and MENA 334: Islamic Thought will be given a reading list to complete prior to enrolling.
Questions?
For more information contact Lora Galabi, MENAS Program Coordinator, or Dr. Yaseen Noorani, Director of Graduate Studies.