Graduate Programs
Graduate students in the Elliott School of International Affairs who wish to study the Middle East may do so in one of programs: the Master of Arts in Middle East Studies or the Master of Arts in International Affairs with a regional concentration on the Middle East.
The Elliott School of International Affairs does not currently have a Ph.D. program for Middle East Studies. If you are interested in completing a Ph.D. related to the Middle East, please contact the relevant disciplinary office (e.g. Political Science, Anthropology, History, etc).
- Master of Arts in Middle East Studies
The Master of Arts in Middle East Studies program combines a rigorous multidisciplinary academic foundation in the study of the Middle East with a strong professional orientation. In their last year of study, each student showcases their expertise and linguistic and analytical skills through their culminating Capstone project, where students conduct individualized, in-country research on a policy issue or other aspect of the modern Middle East. Bridging the theory and practice of international affairs, this program will prepare students for careers in government, the private sector, and international and nongovernmental organizations.
The curriculum includes a range of courses covering the history, politics, economics, international relations and cultures of the societies and nations of the Middle East. In consultation with the program director, each student will develop a program of study that combines a broad overview of the region through a set of core courses, along with a professional specialization field based on the student’s specific academic and career interests. In addition, completion of the M.A. in Middle East Studies requires demonstrated intermediate-high oral and reading proficiency in a language of the Middle East region (Arabic, Hebrew, or Persian, with the option to pursue Turkish via The Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area), ensuring their ability to use the language for professional purposes.
- Master of Arts in International Affairs (Middle East Concentration)
The Master of Arts in International Affairs program combines a rigorous academic foundation in the study of the Middle East with a strong professional orientation. This master’s program offers both a broad foundation for understanding pressing economic, social, political, and cultural issues, as well as at least one specialized area of knowledge expertise. This broad foundation prepares students for a wide variety of careers in government, the private sector, and international and nongovernmental organizations.
The Middle East concentration offers graduate students in International Affairs a comparative and international exploration of the countries of the Middle East and North Africa. Students in this concentration examine modern Middle Eastern history and culture, comparative and regional politics, regional economic exchange and development, and the foreign policies and relations of Middle Eastern countries.
Contact Us
Middle East Studies Program
1957 E Street NW, Suite 512
Phone: 202-994-3476
Email: mesp
gwu [dot] edu (mesp[at]gwu[dot]edu)
gwu [dot] edu (esiagrad[at]gwu[dot]edu)ESIA Graduate Student Services
1957 E Street NW, Suite 603
202-994-3788
esiagssgwu [dot] edu (esiagss[at]gwu[dot]edu)