Explore the Middle East Studies Center

Who are we?

We're a hub for all things Middle East at Ohio State University. We are here to amplify the accomplishments of faculty, staff and students who study the Middle East at the Ohio State University. We do this by building a community of scholars on campus and forming linkages between our Ohio State community and institutions in the Middle East. Faculty, staff, and students who are committed to sharing culture, serving their communities, and increasing multi-disciplinary collaborations are the keys to our success. We serve as a resource for people curious about the Middle East or who wish to deepen their understanding. To learn about major events, course offerings, and programs, join our newsletter! To learn about major events, course offerings, and programs, join our newsletter!

What do we do?

Our program promotes scholarly community building, intercultural experience related to the Middle East, and the development student-centered curriculum. MESC combines efforts with departments such as Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (NELC), the Department of History, the Undergraduate International Studies Program (UISP), and the Middle East Studies Library Collection, to host scholarly and educational events and offer student programs. Together, we enhance academic exchange, allow greater access to research resources, and engagement with culturally and linguistically diverse experiences.  MESC supports language learning, creates opportunities for authentic cross-cultural interaction, and serves as a clearing house of information regarding professional opportunities, funding and resources for learning to faculty, students and the general public.  

The mission of the Center is to foster and generate knowledge of the Middle East, its past and current economic, social and political developments, and to promote teaching, learning, research and public awareness of the diverse array of Middle Eastern languages, cultures, and peoples. As a part of that mission, MESC helps OSU to make knowledge accessible to the citizens of Ohio, the country and the world. Sharing university resources and expertise with academic communities, the general public at a variety of venues, federal and state agencies, and the media, helps the Center to make a greater impact.  Outreach and engagement, providing better student resources, facilitating multidisciplinary collaboration and conducting follow-up communications and programs with our various constituencies are all essential to the Center's success. 

We achieve mission goals through teamwork across disciplines, supporting courses, and providing support for students such as internship opportunities and (when funded) the Foreign Language and Area Studies fellowships, contributing to the library, co-sponsoring faculty activities, providing instructional resources, creating linkages and fostering relationships with domestic and foreign institutions. The Center draws on the expertise and experience of faculty members from 24 departments, 4 colleges, and the library at OSU.

What academics does OSU offer related to the Middle East?

Ohio State is distinguished by its curriculum on the history and religions of the ancient Mediterranean, late antique and Byzantine studies, literary studies, cultural studies, postcolonial studies, archaeology, sociolinguistics, and cultural anthropology, housed in several, closely collaborating departments:

Check our list of faculty members for more information about what departments are offering with regard to courses and studies about the Middle East. Additionally, the University supports extracurricular engagement on campus, in local communities, and in communities abroad.

What Does Our Community Accomplish?

The Middle East Studies Center (MESC) at Ohio State University (OSU) offer a robust platform for scholarly community engagement both within and beyond campus borders. We are pleased to report that our community is actively sharing knowledge and serving communities within and without the university. Faculty, students, and staff are making a difference by improving the educational experience and engaging in learning.

Students are actively involved in creating a positive impact through organizations and projects centered on Middle Eastern themes. These initiatives include mentoring New Americans in Columbus, organizing fundraising campaigns for newcomers, and hosting cultural events such as Iftar and Taste of OSU to share and celebrate Middle Eastern culture.

Academic enrichment explores modern cultures and ancient civilizations. Recent guest Dr. Jeremie Schiettecatte's insights on ancient Arabia enriched discussions of archeology while the Digital Arabia project led by Moore and al-Jallad highlight ancient cultures and languages. The Middle East Studies Center (MESC) plays a pivotal role in connecting global archaeological research and promoting international collaboration, as evidenced by the director’s role on the Royal Al-Ula Commission in Saudi Arabia.

OSU's innovative approach to education is demonstrated through courses like TURKISH 3797, which includes hands-on activities with Istanbul universities, as well as by providing faculty funding opportunities for course creation that promotes Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL). Furthermore, the Middle East Studies Forum fosters interdisciplinary discussion and scholarly exchange on various topics including Indian Ocean Studies and food systems in Turkey.

Outreach programs extend the university's impact by providing resources and educational experiences for local schools and community. These efforts are complemented by extensive library resources researching about the Middle East that can be conducted in European and Middle Eastern languages. Faculty are addressing contemporary issues through pedagogical and discussion spaces, giving background on current events.  Outreach to the community includes interfaith conversations with local faith leaders in conjunction with other Ohio State University Departments, such as the Melton Center for Jewish Studies. 

Finally, the university strengthens its international ties with partnerships across the Middle East, from Egypt to Yemen, facilitating language studies, research collaborations, and archaeological projects. This comprehensive framework at OSU not only educates students about the Middle East but also actively engages them with the region's rich heritage and contemporary dynamics.

Languages

Beyond our Arabic and Hebrew programs, commonly found across the nation, OSU also offers rarer concentrations in Judeo-Arabic, Aramaic, Akkadian, Syriac, other Semitic languages, and modern Uzbek. Read more about OSU's language programs below or on our language page. 

 

Degree Programs

OSU has one of the country’s top graduate programs in Ottoman History. OSU’s strengths in Islamic Studies, Jewish literary traditions, linguistics, comparative Semitics, Hebrew Bible, Late Antique and Medieval Near East, modern Arabic and Hebrew literature, cultural and linguistic anthropology of Central Asia and South Asia, distinguish it among peer institutions. More details can be found under the next accordion. 

 

Research Tools

OSU's Library offers one of the most competitive collections in the country with respect to Middle East Studies, Islamic Studies, and Jewish Studies. To support scholarship, the Middle East Studies librarian has curated a research guide. OSU's collection houses over 150,000 books on the history and culture of the Middle East and North Africa from the 7th CC AD to the present. For further assistance, students may consult and work with our subject librarian, Magda El-Sherbini. 

Undergraduate Degree Programs: 

Near Eastern and South Asian Languages & Cultures (NESA) offers undergraduate students the opportunity to study under its faculty on one of its 4 majors:

NESA also offers 6 minors:

Note: Advanced Persian and Turkish courses are offered, which are rare among major research institutions.

NESA also collaborates with Classics, History, and History of Art in offering a Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization in Religions of the Ancient Mediterranean.  Beyond these formal degree options, a wide variety of interests can be satisfied in the courses taught by faculty members across 16 departments at OSU, focused on topics related to North Africa/West Asia/Central Asia/South Asia. NESA offers 80 language courses, and 67 non-language courses - 32 of which are conducted in their regional languages. 

While there are currently only standardized major options for Arabic and Hebrew, students with other language interests (such as Persian or Turkish) can work with NESA faculty members to create a personalized program of study (PSP). 

Please check out upcoming courses being offered.

Graduate Degree Programs:

The M.A. program in NELC offers study in some of the world’s richest languages, literatures, and cultural traditions including Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish, as well as a number of ancient Near Eastern languages, among them Aramaic, Biblical Hebrew, and Ugaritic. The curriculum is rigorous but flexible, preparing students for professional employment in business, education, or government, or for the pursuit of doctoral work involving NELC languages in the study of the dynamically changing societies of the Near East. Students may specialize in one NELC language or in two coherently combined NELC languages, in consultation with the faculty advisor.

The  NELC Ph.D. program builds on linguistic, literary, and cultural studies to support a selection of interdisciplinary foci. The four primary languages taught in NELC (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish), which are in reality the four major languages of the Middle East and as such are at the center of every comprehensive program in this field nationally, can each be the basis of a course of study leading to the Ph.D which will build upon a focused but flexible set of core courses. Students may pursue a PhD focusing on the Middle East in a number of programs across the university.  Degree Requirements in many other departments offer degrees potentially related to the Middle East, inlcude History, Comparative Studies, Political Science and Sociology, especially. Please check our faculty list to learn more about the possibilities for PhDs related to the Middle East. 

Please check out the announcements under the "For Faculty" tab, as there are a lot of opportunities that fit graduate student needs for academic and career development, as well. Also look at the "International Career Paths" page and "Graduate Funding Opportunities" pages. 

Graduate admission applications can be accessed here. 

The Middle East Studies Center Program

The Middle East Studies Center (MESC), an area studies center of the Office of International Affairs at the Ohio State University, was established in 1981. Since then, the Center has brought in over 13 million dollars to the university, forged lasting partnerships and strengthened OSU’s reach in the local community and beyond. This means the creation of easy-to-digest materials, such as our e-book, and our personal delivery of content to schools in Columbus, across the country, and online. We conduct extensive training for the military, provide ongoing media analysis (delivering 50 media interviews per year), and continually work to strengthen Middle East studies at OSU by supporting courses, enrichment activities, library resources and experiential learning opportunities for students.  Please support our Center's Outreach Program with a donation. Every dollar directly funds work to make university expertise and resources available and accessible to the general public.  

Eight consecutive Title VI grants obtained by MESC, seeded positions, bolstered research about the Middle East, and supported the current language instructional programs related to the Middle East and South Asia.  We continue to ensure students, faculty and staff have the support and material enrichment they need to conduct top-notch studies, research and education. Our Center's mission is not only to foster multidisciplinary research and scholarship, but also to use this research and scholarship to increase understanding of the realities of everyday lives of Middle Eastern people. For this reason, our highest priority is to share knowledge based on direct experience in the form of field research, cross-cultural interaction, and primary sources from the Middle East.  We strive to make that information accessible to all.  MESC promotes learner-centered teaching, scholarly exchange, and intercultural experience related to the Middle East. 

In 1988,1991, 1994, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2009 the Center was designated by the US Department of Education as an Undergraduate Title VI National Resource Center (NRC), for a total of 28 years. The Center's Title VI NRC funding created more opportunities, and more access to OSU programs and activities focusing on the Middle East and a robust outreach program that targeted multiple audiences, especially the P-12 education community. Additionally, MESC provided 12 academic Year FLAS Fellows and between 5 and 10 summer awards to support students studying our region's languages. This funding provided support for Arabic, Hebrew, Pashto, Persian, Somali, Turkish and Urdu instruction. By combining efforts with the Near Eastern and South Asian Languages and Cultures Department, these funds also allowed MESC and OSU to serve as host of the Eastern Consortium in Persian and Turkish for the 3 consecutive years most recently for three consecutive summers from 2004 to 2006.  In addition, OSU served as its host in the summers of 1990, 1996-98. The Eastern Consortium summer intensive Persian and Turkish program offered students a summer opportunity to form a foundation in those languages.  Through this membership in the Eastern Consortium, OSU collaborated with some of the top universities in the United States.  Other members included Harvard, Yale, NYU, Columbia, Princeton, Georgetown, the University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago.  
 

Title VI funding has allowed the Ohio State University to provide the following critical resources to students, local schools and community members, teachers, military and government personnel,  the business community, media, and others:

  • Interdisciplinary courses about the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia, in at least 30 disciplines.
  • Curricular materials for teaching about the Middle East
  • Seeding faculty lines in positions related to Middle Eastern, North African and Central Asian cultural communities, languages, and connections to world affairs. 
  • Seeding and offering courses and professional development programs for pre- and in-service teachers focused on the Middle East. 
  • Training, on campus and through site visits, targeting teachers, military personal and the general public. 
  • Instruction of critical languages at intermediate and advanced levels in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Uzbek, and Urdu.  In addition, a comprehensive Hebrew program is offered at all levels, and Pashto courses and instructional materials have been developed. Our graduates in these languages are recruited by multiple branches of the U.S. federal government, and businesses in the private sector. 
  • Fellowships for an average of 20 graduate students per year, and now also several undergraduates per year.  Many of these graduates go on to be professionals focused on the Middle East or communication with the Middle East. 
  • One of the nation’s best Middle East library collections, including numerous titles in the languages of the Middle East.
  • International faculty exchange programs with institutions in the Middle East resulting in new research. 
  • Domestic faculty exchange through participation and organization of academic conferences and colloquia. 
  • Teach-ins and other academic engagement events
  • Breaking Down the Headlines blog,and related videos and public engagement events.  
  • Serving as platform for information on jobs, calls for papers, funding opportunities and other relevant information for members of the Middle East Studies community on OSU campus.  

For comprehensive information on Title VI and area studies in the U.S., see: Changing Perspectives on International Education. The book targets school and university administrators, policymakers, and education planners.

Background:

Since World War II, the principal reason for establishing international and regional programs at the Ohio State University has been the need for international experts.  These graduates must have the ability to deal with the challenges of the 21th century.  As one of the pioneering Title VI National Resource Centers, the Middle East Studies Center (MESC) at the Ohio State University continues to play a major role in the realization of that vision by contributing to the enrichment of the intellectual environment at The Ohio State University.  The Center will continue to provide opportunities for faculty, undergraduate and graduate students to pursue their academic objectives and contribute to the body of knowledge about the Middle East.  The need for knowledge and understanding about other peoples and cultures has never been more pressing.  

The Middle East Studies Center (MESC) was established at the Ohio State University in 1981. As an area studies center in the Office of International Affairs, MESC serves the university community and the community at large by facilitating and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, offering courses on the Middle East, funding graduate study through the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS), linking OSU and foreign institutions through exchange programs and collaborations, and engaging various constituencies through educational activities. In addition MESC helps OSU to maintain its academic coverage of the Middle East by supporting the Middle East Studies Library, seeding positions, funding course development, and supporting study abroad to the Middle East.

About Title VI: http://www.usglobalcompetence.org/index.html
About National Resource Centers: http://www.nrcweb.org/

List of Middle East Title VI National Resource Centers, with links to contact information: http://www.outreachworld.org/searchcontacts.asp

Newsletter

  • We send notices about Middle-East-related events and initiatives happening around campus.
  • Between career openings, scholarships, and lectures, we make sure our forum is updated about relevant opportunities.

Podcast

  • The Keys to Understanding the Middle East podcast gives our Ohio State faculty a platform to delve into fascinating subjects
  • We seek to make higher-level education accessible to students of all backgrounds. 

Blog

  • Read academic perspectives on contemporary issues through our blog.

We are working to compile a list of resources specific to undergraduate students interested in area or language studies. By providing career advice and connecting students with opportunities, the MESC works to help students throughout their paths.

Career Tools

Get started on your job-market-ready resume with these resources. You can find more advice on pursuing a career in area or language studies on our career page. Please connect with us on LinkedIn so that we may continue to support our alumni after graduation. 

Job Search Tools

This list of job-search databases may not be exhaustive but it's a great place to start searching for careers.

Funding

 

Study Abroad 

If you’re interested in studying abroad, start by exploring the Office of International Affairs Global Education page. Not only do they offer a list of programs, but they also provide funding and offer advising appointments. 

Nota bene: Please check with the following scholarships about their eligibility requirements. 

 

Certifications

 

Undergraduate Research Grants

If you are interested in undergraduate research, explore the ASC website and consult an advisor (schedule and get feedback on availability).

Nota bene: Please check with these offices for their eligibility requirements.

Monthly Forums

  • We invite all of our forum, including students and faculty alike, to meet monthly in a friendly, educational setting
  • We often feature the research of forum members, giving them a platform to share their work
  • We are open to new talent; this is a space for you to take initiative, build new relationships, and discover new opportunities. 
  • Sign up for the listserv.

LinkedIn Community

  • By connecting with the Middle East Studies Center on LinkedIn, you can start growing your network
  • We also send out relevant opportunities such as teaching positions, calls for articles, and grants. 
  • This is a great option for graduating alumni. Learn more here. 

Affiliated Faculty

  • The Center draws on the expertise and experience of faculty members from multiple departments and the library at OSU
  • These members support one another and students interested in the ME with research advice and opportunity-searches

Student Cohort

  • We are crafting a student cohort program that puts students at the center of MESC programming
  • This cohort is looking for new talent and ideas from passionate undergraduates
  • Please contact us if you are interested in this opportunity

Internship Program

Keep in Touch

We invite you to join our newsletter here. Regular updates and live events are also shared on our Twitter and Facebook. Finally, we share relevant opportunities on our LinkedIn.

As we view ourselves as a primary stakeholder in a wider Middle East studies community at OSU, we value your participation and feedback. Please reach out to us at through our Contact page. 

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