MES Majors should:

• attain an advanced level of language proficiency in either Hebrew or Arabic.
• acquire an understanding of the region from anthropological, historical, and political perspectives.
• investigate one Middle Eastern culture in depth through the study of literature, religion, music, and art history.
• be able to understand the Middle East in a comparative perspective and a global context.
• synthesize information in an area where they have developed some background in previous courses, through a seminar, thesis, or advanced independent study.
• demonstrate critical thinking and writing skills on the Middle East.
• draw and assess data from textual sources, including literary works, historical texts, films, journalism, and non-traditional media.