Department website: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/mes/index.php

Offered by the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), the Master of Arts (MA) in Middle Eastern studies (MES) is an interdisciplinary academic degree designed to broaden and deepen the student’s knowledge of the Middle East and its languages. The MES MA degree is a terminal MA degree. It may be undertaken in the context of one of seven dual degree programs that allow graduate students to simultaneously earn an MA in MES and a second degree from one of UT’s professional schools. MA degree requirements are the same for all MES MA students, whether or not they pursue a dual degree. There is a good deal of flexibility in meeting degree requirements; each student, in consultation with the graduate advisor, designs an individual program within the framework of the requirements described in the Requirements tab. Many students in this program enter careers in academia, business, communication, government, global policy studies, public affairs, information studies, law, and the military.

Graduate Handbook

Graduate handbook information is updated and maintained by each program. Graduate handbooks are available within each program's office and online. Please contact the program with concerns or questions.

Admission

Students seeking admission to the MA in MES must have a BA from an accredited college or university. Students seeking admission to a Dual Degree program must apply to both CMES and the second academic unit for admission, and undergo admissions evaluations by both units. Dual degree students typically spend a third year at CMES (or a fourth, in the case of the dual degree in Law). 

Total Hours Required: 30

Requirements

This program consists of at least 30 semester hours, including a six-semester-hour thesis; or at least 33 semester hours, including a three-semester-hour report. With the exception of MES 698 (Part A and B) and MES 398R, all courses must be taken on the letter-grade basis. For the 30-semester-hours thesis option, students complete 12 semester hours of Middle Eastern studies graduate coursework, six hours of intermediate to advanced Middle Eastern language coursework, up to six semester hours of concentration coursework relevant to their thesis, and six semester hours of thesis. For the 33-semester-hours report option, students complete 15 hours of Middle Eastern studies coursework, six hours of intermediate to advanced Middle Eastern language courses, up to nine semester hours of concentration coursework relevant to their report, and three semester hours of report. All students are also required to enroll in a “proseminar” during their first semester.

For administrative purposes, a coursework option is available to dual-degree students who are required by their other graduate program to take the 698A and 698B courses, or 398R course, so that the student does not need to complete two theses, two reports, or one thesis/one report. In such cases, a Center for Middle Eastern Studies Graduate Studies Committee member must still serve as either the supervisor, co-supervisor, or second reader.

Language requirement (six semester hour minimum): The student must complete two upper-division and/or graduate-level courses in Middle Eastern languages while enrolled in the degree program. Students who are native speakers of a Middle Eastern language must complete these courses in a different Middle Eastern language than their native language.

All students are expected to maintain a minimum 3.50 grade point average in order to remain in good standing in the program. Failure to maintain this minimum average will result in a warning letter and one semester of warning, during which time the student is expected to return to a minimum 3.50 grade point average. The program has the discretion to dismiss students who are unable to meet this requirement after one additional semester.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
All students must also follow the requirements and policies below:
Graduate Liberal Arts Requirements
Graduate University Requirements