Master of Arts in Middle East and Islamic Studies: Degrees

The one-year Master of Arts program (Master of Middle East and Islamic Studies – MEIS) is aimed at providing a rigorous generalist degree fostering an informed understanding of issues related to the Middle East and the Islamic world. This one-year degree could complement other professional or pre-professional training and appeals to those who wish to enter into mass media, business, banking, commerce, law, international organizations, government and non-government organizations, human rights and cultural organizations, high-school teaching and seek to focus on some aspect of the Middle East, the Islamic world or Islam.

Private and government, for-profit and non-profit organizations across the world are realizing that an understanding of the political, economic, social, cultural, religious and historical complexities, subtleties and intricacies of this region is a basic necessity for any successful negotiation, contract, dialogue or arbitration.

For college graduates, the one year MA degree serves the purpose of an enriching gap-year before going on to a different graduate training or entering the job-market. The one-year MA is equally appealing to early and mid-career individuals as well as to concerned and mature students who wish to obtain a firm academic and independent grasp of a field, aspects of which seem to be recurring in the daily news, affecting their daily lives. 

The two-year Master of Arts Program (Master of Middle East and Islamic Studies with Language – MEISL) is intended for students who wish to have a more in depth understanding of the discipline, especially through the firm knowledge of a language of the region. This degree requires training and proficiency in a language of the Middle East or the Islamic world enabling students to read accurately in order to carry out research. The degree is tailored to those seeking employment in this region, those who wish to pursue a Ph.D. program in the field, teaching at Universities and/or carrying out research at academic institutions, private or government organizations as well as think tanks. Students who are native speakers would be encouraged to study a second language.

The three-semesters Master of Arts degree in Middle East Studies and Arabic (MEL) is aimed at combining a rigorous study of the Middle East with a solid working knowledge of Arabic. The degree is intended for students who wish to concentrate on the study and understanding of the Middle East in addition to mastering Arabic. As working in the Middle East is becoming more attractive for a growing number of students with different academic backgrounds, this program is intended to enable them to attain their objective successfully by gaining academic insight and knowledge of the history, politics, economics and religion of the region. The Arabic language component of the degree aims at providing students with the necessary tools to be able to access and use Arabic sources in their research and reports. The summer semester in Cairo will immerse students in a conducive language and cultural environment familiarizing them with the people and customs of the region. Their language skills should facilitate their interaction and understanding.

The degree provides a sound base for students who are interested in pursuing further education in Middle Eastern Studies. It could also complement other professional or pre-professional training and appeals to those who wish to enter into mass media, business, banking, commerce, law, international organizations, government and non-government organizations, human rights and cultural organizations, high-school teaching, and seek to focus on some aspect of the Middle East.

Private and government, for-profit and non-profit organizations across the world are realizing that an understanding of the political, economic, social, cultural, religious and historical complexities, subtleties and intricacies of this region is a basic necessity for any successful negotiation, contract, dialogue or arbitration.

For college graduates, the MEL degree serves the purpose of an enriching gap-year before going on to a different graduate training or entering the job market. The one-year MEL is equally appealing to early and mid-career individuals as well as to concerned and mature students who wish to obtain a firm academic and linguistic grasp of a field, aspects of which seem to be recurring in the daily news, affecting their daily lives.

The three-semesters Master of Arts degree in Islamic Studies and Arabic (ISL) is aimed at combining a thorough introduction to Islamic studies at the MA level with a solid working knowledge of Arabic. The degree is intended for students who wish to obtain a grasp and understanding of Islamic studies in addition to mastering Arabic, the language of the fundamental sources of the faith. The growing interest in Islam, both as a faith and a political and cultural force throughout Muslim countries as well as the interaction between Muslims and their European and North American hosts, has rendered Islamic studies attractive for a growing number of students with different academic backgrounds. This program is intended to enable students to delve into the study of Islam, through the instruction of its history, the development of the faith, its rites and rituals as well as its legal structure in addition to the rise of political Islam and its interface with colonialism, modernism and secularism. The Arabic language component of the degree aims at providing students with the necessary tools to access and use the primary sources of the faith in their research and reports. The summer semester in Cairo will enable students to closely familiarize themselves with Islam, its culture and traditions, in one of the key capital cities of the Islamic world. Their language skills should facilitate their interaction and understanding.

The ISL degree provides a sound base for students who are interested in pursuing further education in Islamic Studies or Comparative Religions. It could also complement other professional or pre-professional training and appeals to those who wish to enter into mass media, business, Islamic banking, comparative law, international organizations, government and non-government organizations, human rights and cultural organizations, high-school teaching and seek to focus on some aspect of Islamic Studies.

Private and government, for-profit and non-profit organizations across the world are realizing that an understanding of Islam, its schools of thought, jurisprudence, history as well as political and economic interpretations is necessary for any successful interaction with the people of the Islamic world as well as the people of those countries hosting Muslim communities.

For college graduates, the ISL degree serves the purpose of an enriching gap-year before going on to a different graduate training or entering the job market. The one-year ISL is equally appealing to early and mid-career individuals as well as to concerned and mature students who wish to obtain a firm academic and linguistic grasp of a religion, the different manifestations and aspects of which are making daily news and affecting their daily lives.

Student Exchange Agreement with AUC

The American University of Paris and the American University in Cairo (AUC) offer a Student Exchange Agreement which allows students enrolled in the two-year MEISL, three-semester MEL and three semester ISL degrees to spend one academic semester at AUC, studying Arabic. Students pursuing an MEISL degree who would like to take advantage of this opportunity to live in Cairo and study at AUC during their 3rd semester (Fall) must apply before the last day of classes of their first (Fall) semester.