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Academic Options

Undergraduate Specialization in the Middle East

Middle East studies at Portland State University (PSU) is primarily an undergraduate program. PSU is a national leader, both historically and currently, in supporting undergraduate education and degree concentration in Middle East studies. The following undergraduate degree options are available:

1. Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies - specializing in Middle East area studies.
   In addition to fulfilling general university requirements and requirements for the International Studies major, students interested in specializing in the Middle East must meet the following requirements:
   • 24 upper-division credit hours of adviser-approved Middle Eastern course work
   • Three years of Middle Eastern language study or equivalent proficiency
2. Middle East Certificate to complement a Bachelor of Science or Arts degree in any other PSU degree program.
   Certificate requirements are as follows:
   • 30 adviser-approved credit hours of area courses
   • Two years of adviser-approved Middle Eastern language, or equivalent proficiency
   • Total of 54 credits
3. Middle East Certificate to complement a Bachelor's degree from another accredited institution.
   The certificate requirements as stated in option b. above are the same for this option.
4. Minor in Arabic Language and Literature - See Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
5. Middle East Studies Cluster - part of PSU's General Education Program. All students are required to select from a wide range of cluster options. For more information visit the University Studies website at: http://www.pdx.edu/unst/

Admissions Procedure

Admission and degree requirement inquiries are handled directly through PSU's Office of Admissions at:

104 Neuberger Hall
P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR 97207-0751
Tel: (503) 725-3511

Graduate Specialization in the Middle East

At the graduate level, students can focus their studies on the Middle East in a number of departments while pursuing various degrees.

1. M.A. or M.S. course work and research with a Middle East focus can be done in the following departments:
   Anthropology, Conflict Resolution, Geography, History, Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, and a Master of Arts in Teaching with an Arabic Language focus.
2. Students can include a Middle East focus in the following Ph.D. programs:
   Environmental Sciences and Resources, Public Administration and Policy, Systems Science, and Urban Studies.
3. A Middle East Studies Certificate can accompany any graduate degree program at Portland State University.

Graduate Admissions Procedure

Application to graduate programs at PSU requires two complete (but different) admissions packets, one from the Office of Admissions (see address above) and one from the department in which the student is seeking acceptance. To be admitted to PSU for the purpose of pursuing graduate work, applicants must satisfy minimum University requirements and be accepted by the department in which the graduate work is proposed. Direct correspondence to each department:

Specific Department
Portland State University
P.O. Box 751
Portland, OR 97207-0751