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In the summer of 1965 the University of Pennsylvania set up a center for the study of the modern Near East. The Center formed a part of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and looked to add a contemporary dimension to Penn’s programs in ancient and medieval studies of the Middle East. Click here for more historical information. Today, the Center's mission remains raising awareness of the unique circumstances of the region through research and instructional programs. The MEC has adopted an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Middle East, and we offer a wide range of educational opportunities to support this endeavor.

Our Philosophy
The Middle East Center is non-partisan and takes no official political position on any issues. Instead, it is a hub for nurturing research, teaching, and an appreciation of things Middle Eastern. It draws on the extensive resources that Penn has dedicated to the region.

Major and Minor in Modern Middle East Studies at Penn
In 2007, the MEC offered undergraduate students the opportunity to concentrate their studies on the region by offering both a major and a minor in Modern Middle East Studies. This interdisciplinary degree allows students to combine coursework from several departments in the humanities and social sciences. It also incorporates language study in the preparation of undergraduates committed to the major. For more information about the requirements, click here.

**Graduation News**- NEW!

Read what our '09 graduates said about the major!

Certificate of Study in Middle East and Islamic Studies at Penn's Law School
The Center is proud to announce a new program available to law students at the University of Pennsylvania who meet the proper criteria. To qualify for the Certificate of Study in Middle East and Islamic Studies, students must successfully complete at least four courses that have been identified by the MEC as meeting the requirements of this degree's coursework. For more information, click here.

Outreach Program for Educators and the Public
The MEC provides kindergarten-through-high school teachers, as well as the wider public, access to the multitude of resources on the Middle East available through the University of Pennsylvania. Our outreach activities reflect the diverse nature of the region and embrace a wide array of faiths, languages, civilizations, countries, and issues in the Middle East. We are available to cater to the different needs and interests of educators, the media, religious congregations, and the general public. Although the MEC takes no official stance on any controversial topics, we provide a public forum for dialogue on issues related to the region. For more information on our Outreach Program, click here.

Podcasts - NEW!
The MEC will upload popular lectures to iTunes as podcasts. The inaugural episode features Professor Sylvia Vatuk's lecture on "Islamic Feminism in India: Muslim Women Activists and the Reform of Muslim Family Law" as part of our Women and Islamic Law series. Find the lectures through iTunesU, or by following this link.

This week's episode features two panelists from yesterday's discussion on Israel and Palestine - Prof. Lev Grinberg of the University of Ben-Gurion in the Negev and Penn's own Prof. Ian Lustick of Political Science.  See this link to download and stay tuned for more episodes next week!

For all of our upcoming events, click here!

Click here for a message about the Center's co-sponsorship of events on campus.