Inside the Middle East: UM-Dearborn to offer certificate program in Middle East Studies

February 15, 2016

The Middle East Studies Certificate—offered through the College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters (CASL)—is designed to give students a broad perspective on Middle Eastern history and culture.

UM-Dearborn College of Arts, Sciences, and Letters
The 12-credit hour program will launch this fall and be open to undergraduate and post-baccalaureate students.

The program was designed to take advantage of existing CASL courses, according to Camron Amin, professor of history.

Courses within the program focus heavily on Middle Eastern history, but also will allow students to examine the region’s political, philosophical, economic, linguistic and cultural influences.

“We were looking for ways to leverage our existing faculty expertise to provide students an opportunity to dig deeper into the subject matter,” he said. “The Middle East Studies Certificate offers students a multidisciplinary program with a meaningful focus that complements their other learning ambitions.”

Amin said he envisions students pursuing the credential for a variety of reasons—a personal connection to the region, a desire to understand current events, or a professional interest that would benefit from a deeper understanding of the subject.