Middle East Studies Certificate
Program Overview
The Middle East Studies Center
The Middle East Studies Center (MESC) is an area studies center housed within the Office of International Affairs. Established in 1959, it promotes the scholarly and cultural understanding of the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia via outreach and campus events.
Mission and Objectives
MESC is an integral part of Middle East Studies at Portland State University. It organizes lectures and public events to bring faculty and students from numerous departments and disciplines together with the community to focus on the cultural, economic, political, and societal aspects of this region. The mission of the Middle East Studies Center is to serve students, the city, and the world through the creation of a diverse, inclusive community and the promotion and sharing of scholarship on the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia. MESC engages PSU departments, centers, and academic units, as well as community organizations, businesses, and local government in collaborative activities that reflect the diversity of this region. It offers a wide range of tools, resources, and programs to support prospective and current students, public educators, and the general public. The center's activities include organizing lectures, public events, and outreach programs to promote the understanding of the "