Program Overview

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Bachelor – Nah- und Mitteloststudien / Islamwissenschaft

The Bachelor's program "Nah- und Mitteloststudien" provides fundamental knowledge about the various Islamic regions of the Near and Middle East as well as North Africa in history and the present, and introduces students to the languages Arabic, Persian, and Turkish.

Focus Areas

• Culture and social history
• Politics
• Religion and society
• Intellectual traditions and material culture

The program critically reflects on the history of the field of Oriental Studies/Islamic Studies. Working with original sources is closely linked to historical and cultural-sociological approaches.

Study Offer

The newly aligned study program "Nah- und Mitteloststudien" can be studied as a major (120 ECTS credits) or minor (60 ECTS credits) starting from the fall semester 2025. The course offerings include the core areas of introduction with language acquisition, core competencies, focus areas, and topics, as well as advanced language acquisition.

Core Areas and Modules

Core Area | Modules
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Introduction and Language Acquisition |

• Fundamentals of Near and Middle Eastern Studies
• Arabic (4 modules)
• Persian (4 modules)
• Optional Turkish (2 modules)
• Advanced courses through reading, conversation, and dialect courses

Core Competencies Muslim Cultures and Societies |

• Religion, culture, and society in Muslim-dominated regions
• History of Muslim cultures and societies
• Normative traditions in Islam

Focus Areas and Topics |

• Social orders and dynamics of change
• Cultures, languages, media

All students learn Arabic and acquire the qualification for precise understanding of original language texts. In the major, Persian is planned as a second language. In the major and minor, Turkish can also be chosen as an additional language.

Career Prospects

Graduates acquire the ability to research and access subject matter related to Islam and the Middle East based on intensive language studies and qualify for a master's program. Their competencies can also be applied in a wide range of professional fields. Graduates with a Bachelor's degree work in journalism, diplomacy and administration, education, foundations, or tourism. International organizations such as the ICRC also offer diverse career opportunities for graduates.

Further Information

Study Organization

Answers to technical questions about study organization (module booking, dates and deadlines, forms and information sheets, completion, etc.) can be found here.

Useful Tools and Online Resources

A list of links to subject-specific tools and online resources can be found on the page: "Studying at the Department of Islamic Studies"

• Ba Islamwissenschaft Major 120
• Ba Nah- und Mitteloststudien Major 120
• Ba Islamwissenschaft Minor 60
• Ba Nah- und Mitteloststudien Minor 60