Cornell undergraduate students will be able to apply for this new minor starting in Fall 2027.
The minor in Middle Eastern Languages offers students the opportunity to engage deeply with the cultures and peoples of the Middle East through advanced study of the modern languages of the region: Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, and Turkish. Students also have the option to combine ancient and modern languages for the Middle Eastern Languages Minor. Knowledge of the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region, including its languages, is essential to a wide array of academic and professional pursuits.
Students interested in this minor should first speak to their NES language professors and then meet with the Director of Undergraduate Studies for Near Eastern Studies.
Minor requirements
To complete the minor, all courses must receive a minimum grade of "B-".
A total of 6 courses following one of two tracks:
- Track one: 6 courses in a modern MENA language, following a sequential
- curriculum to the advanced level
- Track two: 4 semesters in one modern MENA language and 2 in an ancient language