Middle Eastern Studies

Prospective University of Texas at Austin students should visit UT Admissions to learn about the application process and how to declare a major.

Undergraduates currently enrolled at UT who wish to declare a Middle Eastern studies major must first meet with a Middle Eastern studies advisor. There is no formal application process.

Visit the Middle Eastern Studies degree plan to see all required courses for the Middle Eastern Studies major in the College of Liberal Arts. For additional information, view major requirements and Middle Eastern studies course descriptions.

Students pursuing the Middle Eastern Studies major under the 2020-2022 catalog must choose a track to pursue within the major: Ancient Near East, Arabic, Hebrew, History, Islamic Studies, Literature, Persian, Turkish. Students will take 9 hours of upper-division coursework in the track they choose.

Students in earlier valid catalogs do not have to choose a track to pursue. If you are unsure about your catalog eligibility, contact the Middle Eastern Studies advisor to learn more.

Middle Eastern Studies students are curious about the politics, culture, history, and social constructs of this diverse region. Students in this major wish to engage in academic and career-related pursuits related to the Middle East and typically plan to study or travel abroad.

The Middle Eastern Studies major, as with most Liberal Arts majors, develops students' critical thinking, writing, and research skills as they take an interdisciplinary approach to learning about the diverse region of the Middle East. Middle Eastern Studies majors will become proficient in a related foreign language of their choosing: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish. This major provides students with a strong set of transferrable skills and a knowledge of the politics, history, and culture of the Middle East that is applicable to a number of different career fields and/or graduate study.

• College of Liberal Arts
• Center for Middle Eastern Studies