Middle East and North Africa Studies

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is home to a diversity of peoples and cultures, rich literary and artistic traditions, extensive trade networks, urban planning, and governance systems. Through our minor program, students can explore critical issues across the region while focusing on their areas of interest.

A huge thank you to Portland real estate developer, philanthropist and UO alumnus Jordan Schnitzer and the Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation, for a landmark $25 million gift to CAS that will empower future global leaders and problem solvers! The School of Global Studies and Languages is now named the Schnitzer School of Global Studies and Languages, and we are truly excited to be a part of it!

Learn More about Schnitzer School

What You Can Do with a Minor in Middle East and North Africa Studies

Recognizing the crucial economic and political role that the MENA region plays, this minor gives students foundational qualifications to enter a global workforce. It is especially useful for careers in:

  • Academia
  • Foreign service
  • International business
  • International law

Our Degree Program

The Middle East and North Africa studies minor is an interdisciplinary program.

an Arabic classroom with students listening to someone speaking

Learn from Experts in the Field

Our minor draws on expert faculty from a dozen different departments across the College of Arts and Sciences.

students sitting in Amman, Jordan, watching the sunset

Get Real-world Experience

Strengthen your language and culture skills overseas. Explore countries in the Middle East and North Africa region through study abroad opportunities.

Scholarships and Funding

Students in the Middle East and North Africa Studies can seek funding through the College of Arts and Sciences, which awards various scholarships both to incoming students and to those already attending the UO.

CAS and UO Scholarships

Academic Support

Our academic advisors can help students understand their major or minor requirements, plan their course of study, explore study abroad opportunities, and more.

Undergraduate Advising

Social Sciences News and CAS Events

ANTHROPOLOGY - CHC and College of Arts and Sciences senior Bella Albiani studies the link between homelessness and food insecurity. The work to understand one of society’s most intractable issues has no end, but that’s what compels Albiani to stay with it.
LATINX STUDIES — On Oct.13, the Museum of Natural and Cultural History gave free admission for Indigenous Peoples’ Day and showcased the exhibit, “Transgressors,” which had been up since May 16, to highlight and honor Indigenous and Queer identities.
INDIGENOUS, RACE AND ETHNIC STUDIES - On Jan. 13, 2026, Ernesto Javier Martínez was awarded the two-year $150,000 Fields Fellowship from the Oregon Community Foundation in partnership with Oregon Humanities. The fellowship supports Oregon artists who use creativity and cultural expressions to address communities, such as Martínez's film stories that tell the experiences of queer Latinx youth and the immigrant experience in the US.

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Writing Lab: Research and Writing Drop-In Event
Feb26
Writing Lab: Research and Writing Drop-In Event Feb 26 Willie and Donald Tykeson Hall
AI, The Economy, And Your Future Career
Feb26
AI, The Economy, And Your Future Career Feb 26 Lawrence Hall
Geography Colloquium: "Storing the Renewable Energy Transition: Emerging Critical Geographies of Green Hydrogen"
Feb26
Geography Colloquium: "Storing the Renewable Energy Transition: Emerging Critical Geographies of Green Hydrogen" Feb 26 Condon Hall
Latinx Studies New Faculty Roundtable and Lunch
Feb27
Latinx Studies New Faculty Roundtable and Lunch Feb 27 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Sparkling Salsa Night
Feb27
Sparkling Salsa Night Feb 27 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
"Much Ado About Nothing"
Feb27
"Much Ado About Nothing" Feb 27 Robinson Theatre
Eugene Youth Math Festival
Feb28
Eugene Youth Math Festival Feb 28 McArthur Court
"Much Ado About Nothing"
Feb28
"Much Ado About Nothing" Feb 28 Robinson Theatre
"Much Ado About Nothing"
Mar1
"Much Ado About Nothing" Mar 1 Robinson Theatre
Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Galapagos Info Session
Mar2
Sustainable Cities and Landscapes in the Galapagos Info Session Mar 2 Hendricks Hall

All events »