Middle Eastern Studies, B.A.

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Minimum Total Credit Hours: 120

Major Hours: 30

Minimum Upper-Division Hours: 48

Upper-Division Hours Within Major: 18


Overall GPA - Combined and OU: 2.00

Major GPA - Combined and OU: 2.50

Program Code: B694

Some courses required for the major may also fulfill University General Education and/or College of International Studies Requirements

The major requires 30 hours, 18 of which must be upper-division, and a 2.50 GPA. 12 of the required 30 must be taken in the Department of International and Area Studies.

Major Requirements

I. Language & Literature
Choose two courses at the 3000-level or above beyond the 16-hour requirement in Arabic or Hebrew 6
II. Middle Eastern Studies
Choose 9 hours from a list of courses maintained by the department9
III. History and Religion
Choose 3 hours from a list of courses maintained by the department3
IV. Arts and Culture
Choose 3 hours from a list of courses maintained by the department3
V. Additional Courses
Choose two additional courses from Middle Eastern Studies, History and Religion, or Arts and Culture 6
VI. International Experience
Choose an approved international experience 1
VII. Senior Capstone Course
IAS 4013Senior Capstone Seminar in International and Area Studies3
Total Credit Hours30
1

Please check with the IAS Academic Advisor for more information. 

Note: Students may take other appropriate courses as approved by the IAS Academic Advisor.

Major Support Requirements

Choose 16 hours of either Arabic or Hebrew16
IAS 2003Understanding the Global Community3
Total Credit Hours19

General Education and College Requirements

Courses for fulfillment of General Education and College of International Studies requirements must be from the approved General Education course list published in the Class Schedule or at: http://www.ou.edu/content/gened/courses.htmlCourses graded P/NP will not apply.

UNIVERSITY-WIDE GENERAL EDUCATION (MINIMUM 40 HOURS) AND COLLEGE REQUIREMENTS
Core Area I: Symbolic and Oral Communication
English Composition
ENGL 1113Principles of English Composition3
ENGL 1213Principles of English Composition3
or EXPO 1213 Expository Writing
Language
(0-13 hours in the same language) The College of International Studies requirement cannot be met by high school coursework
Beginning Course0-5
Beginning Course, continued0-5
Intermediate Course (2000 level) 1,20-3
Mathematics
Choose one course3
Core Area II: Natural Science
Choose two courses from different disciplines in the biological and/or physical sciences, one of which must include a laboratory component 17
Core Area III: Social Science
P SC 1113American Federal Government3
Choose one course3
Core Area IV: Arts and Humanities
Artistic Forms
Choose one course 43
Western Culture
HIST 1483United States to 18653
or HIST 1493 United States, 1865 to the Present
Choose one course 3,43
World Culture
Choose one course 43
Core Area V: First-Year Experience
Choose one course3
Total Credit Hours37-50
1

College of International Studies Requirements: College requirements are not automatically fulfilled by a previous degree. 

2

One course at the intermediate level or demonstrated competency at that level. If this requirement is waived, a few hours of General Education electives may be needed to achieve the required 40 hour minimum (may also be satisfied by a major requirement or free elective).

3

Excluding HIST 1483 and HIST 1493

4

It is recommended students take either Artistic Forms, Western Culture, or World Culture at the 3000-/4000-level to fulfill the university requirement of one upper-division course from the approved University Wide General Education list. The course must be outside the major. This may also be satisfied in the upper-division or free elective categories.

Free Electives

Electives to bring total applicable hours to the minimum total required for the degree including 48 upper-division hours.

Information Concerning General Rules, Regulations and Minimum Requirements

Total Hours: A minimum of 120 semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed.
Upper-Division Hours: A minimum of 48 upper-division semester hours acceptable toward graduation must be completed. OU courses numbered 3000 or above are upper-division. Transfer work is counted as lower-division or upper-division credit depending on the level at which it was offered at the institution where it was earned. Two-year college work is accepted only as lower-division credit.
Liberal Arts and Sciences Hours: At least 80 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BA degree. At least 55 semester hours of liberal arts and sciences courses are required for a BS degree.
Major Work: A minimum of 30 semester hours must be earned in the major, including a minimum of 15 credit hours at the upper-division level.
Pass/No Pass Enrollment: A maximum of 16 semester hours of free elective credit may be attempted under this option.
Individual Studies (e.g., courses titled “Independent Study”): A maximum of 12 total semester hours may be counted toward graduation, excluding Honors Reading and Honors Research.
Military, Military In-Service, Skills, Applied Technology, and P.E. Courses: A maximum of 16 semester credit hours of basic skills and/or applied technology courses. No physical education activity courses will be counted toward the 120 semester hours of acceptable credit for graduation.
Senior Institution Hours: A minimum of 60 semester hours applied toward graduation must be earned at senior (4-year) institutions.
Residency:

  • At least 15 of the final 30 hours applied toward the degree or at least 50 percent of the hours required by the institution in the major field must be satisfactorily completed at the awarding institution.
  • At least 15 semester hours of upper-division major work must be completed in residence at OU.
  • OU correspondence courses are not considered resident credit.
  • Credits earned via examination are neither resident nor nonresident credit.

Information regarding Grade Point Averages, Special Degrees, and Application for Graduation can be found in the catalog under David L. Boren College of International Studies: Undergraduate Study.

Suggested Semester Plan of Study

This plan of study should not be used in lieu of academic advisement. Students who transfer from other institutions (particularly community colleges) must verify credit hour and course requirements with their academic counselor, (405) 325-1429, http://www.ou.edu/international. Please make an appointment for a degree check with your college academic counselor once you have earned 90 hours.

This plan shows one possible grouping of courses that would allow students to graduate in four years. Please refer to the front of the degree checksheet for official requirements. Students must consult with College of International Studies academic advisors to verify that courses selected each semester fulfill the recommended plan and satisfy university, College of International Studies, and major requirements.

  • Junior Year - International Experience
Plan of Study Grid
Freshman
First SemesterCredit Hours
ENGL 1113 Principles of English Composition (Core I) 3
MATH (Core I) 3
Beginning Language (Core I) 5
Natural Science with lab (Core II) 4
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
ENGL 1213
Principles of English Composition (Core I)
or Expository Writing
3
P SC 1113 American Federal Government (Core III) 3
Beginning Language continued (Core I) 5
Natural Science without lab (Core II) 3
First-Year Experience (Core V) 3
 Credit Hours17
Sophomore
First Semester
HIST 1483
United States to 1865 (Core IV)
or United States, 1865 to the Present
3
IAS 2003 Understanding the Global Community 3
Middle Eastern Studies Major Elective, upper-division 3
Intermediate Language 3
Artistic Forms (Core IV) 2 3
 Credit Hours15
Second Semester
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Intermediate Language continued 3
World Culture (Core IV) 2 3
Western Culture (Core IV) 2 3
Free Elective, lower-division 3
 Credit Hours15
Junior
First Semester
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Arts and Culture Major Elective, upper-division 3
Language and Literature Major Elective, upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours12
Second Semester
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE:
History & Religion Major Elective, upper-division 3
Language and Literature Major Elective, upper-division 3
Free Elective, lower-division 3
Free Elective, lower-division 3
 Credit Hours12
Senior
First Semester
Middle Eastern Studies Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Middle Eastern Studies Major Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours18
Second Semester
IAS 4013 Senior Capstone Seminar in International and Area Studies 3
Choose an additional course, lower or upper-division (3000-4000-level) 1 3
Choose an additional course, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 1 3
Free Elective, lower- or upper-division 1
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
Free Elective, upper-division (3000-4000-level) 3
 Credit Hours16
 Total Credit Hours120
1

Chosen from Middle Eastern Studies, History and Religion, or Arts and Culture.

2

University-Wide General Education course, refer to online listing. One course (Artistic Forms, World Culture, or Western Culture) must be 3000-4000-level.