Bachelor in Near and Middle Eastern Studies (Bachelor's)

Tuition is Tuition for the 2024-2025 academic year is $62,000..

Students engage in intensive language study, historical analysis, and political research focused on the Middle East and North Africa. They participate in fieldwork, archival research, and interdisciplinary seminars that examine cultural, social, and economic dynamics across the region. The programme emphasizes critical thinking through direct engagement with primary sources and regional perspectives. Students develop advanced proficiency in Arabic and often study additional languages such as Farsi or Turkish.

Focus areas include Arabic language, Middle East history, North Africa studies, Islamic studies, Political economy of the region, Cultural studies in the MENA region.

The programme requires 36 credits, distributed across language courses, core seminars, and electives in history, politics, and culture. Students complete a senior thesis based on original research in the region.

Graduates pursue roles in international organizations, government agencies, non-profits, and research institutions focused on the Middle East and North Africa.

Applicants must submit high school transcripts, standardized test scores, and a personal statement. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is recommended. International students must provide English proficiency scores.

The programme totals about 36 credit hours. On-campus, full-time, four-year programme. For international students, tuition is well above the median for US programmes. The institution admits about 20% of applicants.

Residential life is central to Smith. The college has 40 self-governing houses rather than conventional dorms, and most students live on campus throughout their college career. House communities bring together students from all four class years and sustain traditions such as Friday afternoon tea. The campus includes Paradise Pond, formed in the 18th century by a dam on the Mill River. It serves as a campus attraction and a living laboratory for science students. Smith is in Northampton, Massachusetts.

Smith’s open curriculum gives students room to shape an education across disciplines. Current students combine fields such as computer science and psychology, sociology and landscape studies, or neuroscience and chemistry. The college supports paths into STEM, the humanities, graduate study, professional school, and service programs. Career support begins when students arrive, with nine career advisers, internship opportunities, conference funding, fellowships advising, and access to Smith Career Connect. Eighty-seven percent of graduates complete at least one internship while at Smith.

International students can draw on a worldwide alumni network of 53,000 people in more than 130 countries. Praxis grants support unpaid internships around the world, while Smith’s fellowship advising includes opportunities such as the Fulbright program. Recent student experiences have included work connected to Ghana, international taekwondo competition, and climate research in Rhode Island. The college’s location in Northampton places campus life within a Massachusetts setting while its academic and alumni networks extend well beyond the United States.