West Virginia University

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Areas of Emphasis – Africa and The Middle East

This area of emphasis offers courses focused on Sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, and the Middle East. Required courses (six hours) offered at WVU are advanced French and German; other language courses taken abroad or elsewhere can count (e.g., Arabic, Swahili, or Turkish) towards this requirement. Students select four analytic courses (12 hours) in international/comparative economics, development issues, international politics, U.S. foreign policy, and/or up to six additional hours of advanced language. Six additional required courses (18 hours) are focused on the region’s political systems, development, geography, culture, religions, and general history. These course may include foreign language courses on the region’s culture. The program’s Model U.N. experience can count towards this requirement when WVU represents an African or Middle East country. A study abroad experience is highly recommended, and note that courses taken abroad can be used to meet the some of the above requirements. WVU students have recently enrolled in programs in Turkey and Morocco; see these opportunities and others at the WVU under the study abroad section.

Course List

Required language courses (select 6 hours of the same language):

Select 12 hours from the following analytic courses (at least 2 disciplines):

Select 18 hours from the following courses on Africa and/or the Middle East courses (from at least two different disciplines):

NOTE: Foreign students from non-English speaking countries are exempt from the advanced language requirement. Instead, they must complete 15 hours chosen from the advanced core classes above.