The Center for Middle East and North Africa Studies (CMENAS) at Binghamton University coordinates the study of the Middle East, North and Sudanic Africa, and European countries that have extensive Islamic contact. The Center develops and integrates research and graduate and undergraduate instruction about the MENA area.

A Certificate of Achievement in the Middle East Studies Program involves the study of the history, politics, cultures, religions, and languages of one of the most complex and critical regions of the world. Some of the questions which students will encounter in courses in this program include: What are the main tenets of the major religions of the area? What is the history of the people of this region? What are the political systems of these countries like? Why is the region so critical to world politics? What are the cultural differences in Middle Eastern cultures, within the Middle East and between the Middle East and the West and the East.

The Israeli Studies minor provides students with the knowledge and multidisciplinary skills to examine Israeli history, politics, and culture. It serves students with a wide range of interests and backgrounds and complements majors in Anthropology, Arabic, Art History, Comparative Literature, Geography, History, Judaic Studies, Political Science, and Sociology. Students who are pre-law or pre-health, but interested in the humanities and social sciences will find a home in Israel Studies.

The Associate in Arts in Middle East Studies degree (AA in Middle East Studies) is an interdisciplinary program that provides students with a solid foundation to transition to a Baccalaureate Degree in Middle East Studies at UCSB or at any of the other UC or CSU campuses offering a similar major. The Middle East Studies major also seeks to understand the question of democratization, political violence, the role of religion and ideology, and the role of tradition and history in shaping the physical and psychological makeup of the region. The Program will be complemented with a Study Abroad component offering students a hands-on experience of the life and culture and tradition and history of the Middle East.

The undergraduate certificate in East Asian studies is offered by the Center for East Asian Studies (CEAS) and is available to students working toward a baccalaureate degree in any of the University of Wisconsin–Madison schools and colleges, and to University Special students. This certificate meets the needs of students choosing to focus on the East Asian region (China, Korea, Japan, and Tibet) within their primary major, but not wishing to commit to the rigorous language study required by the relevant majors in the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures.

Our department is your gateway to the study of the languages and cultures of East Asia, a region of rich traditions and huge economic and political importance. Knowledge and understanding of East Asia is critical in today’s interconnected world and global marketplace. Our programs in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are recognized for progressive and immersive language and culture study, giving you the best possible tools for a global career. KU students from all majors and professional schools are encouraged to explore East Asian languages and cultures.

The objective of this new one-year graduate program is to appreciate Jerusalem in its cultural, historical, and linguistic diversity. Students will spend considerable time in direct contact with various communities in order to gain a firsthand understanding. This will include overseeing socio-linguistic questionnaires, recording interviews, visiting historically significant sites, and meeting with community representatives. In addition, they will explore primary historical sources such as the writings of Josephus, Byzantine pilgrims, and Muslim geographers. They will learn the science of ancient inscriptions (epigraphy) with field trips to decipher Greek and Arabic incscriptions. They will discover the "other" languages of Jerusalem such as Syriac, Latin, Coptic, and Greek.

With the growing presence and importance of the Middle East in the global economy, the need for Western workers who are versed in the Arabic language and culture has never been greater. One of the world’s oldest languages, Arabic is one of the most commonly spoken native languages globally and the official language of more than 20 countries.

When they consider what subject to take up at university, only a few students will think immediately of Chinese, Japanese, Hebrew or Arabic Studies. Yet there are many good reasons to do so. The languages themselves may be a little complicated, but they are fascinating, as are the histories, literature, politics, and cultures of the areas in which they are spoken.