Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures
Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures

Minors

Prerequisites

To meet the prerequisites of the Studies Minor, the student must have completed at least one of the following options:

  • Option 1: Completion of an Elementary level (1010/1020) Middle Eastern (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian) or South Asian (Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit) language with a grade of C or better in each semester.
  • Option 2: At least Elementary level proficiency in a Middle Eastern (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian) or South Asian (Hindi, Urdu, Sanskrit) language as determined by the successful completion of a placement test. Contact the appropriate language coordinator for details.

Requirements

A total of six courses (18 Credits) focusing on one regional concentration of the student's choice (Middle East or South Asia).

  • 3 courses (9 Credits) must be concentration courses in MESALC or any other department.
  • 1 course (3 Credits) must be a non-language MESALC course.
  • 2 courses (6 Credits) of the student's choice, from regionally appropriate courses.
    • Language courses may be used to satisfy these 6 Credits only if the course is beyond the 2020 level.
  • No more than 9 Credits can be from any one department outside of MESALC.
  • No more than 6 Transfer Credits can be used to satisfy the 18 Credit requirement.

Declaring a Minor

  1. Select a region of concentration (Middle East or South Asia).
  2. Review course listings by area (Middle East, South Asia) and the minor requirements of your concentration (listed above). The minor requirements can also be found on the Minor Declaration Form.
  3. Submit your major declaration using the Declare a Major or Minor form on the College website.  Instructions for logging in and accessing the form can be found at the above link.  Be sure to select the correct major so that we receive your declaration. 
  4. Once you have submitted your declaration, you can expect an email response from us in 5 business days during the Fall/Spring semester and within 10 business days at any other time. 
  5. Having trouble using the form?  Email CollegeForms@virginia.edu with as much information as possible about your specific problem. 
  6. Haven’t heard back from us? Thank you for your patience!  If your declaration is still in progress but you haven’t received an email from us in the time windows mentioned above, feel free to email the office Admin at tcj3a@virginia.edu, include your full name, computing ID, and the major/minor you are trying to declare. 
  7. Make an appointment with the Director of Undergraduate Programs, listed below.
  8. Bring the Minor Declaration Form to your meeting with the advisor.
  9. Submit copies of the form to the appropriate parties (as indicated on the bottom of the form).

“The information contained on this website is for informational purposes only. The Undergraduate Record and Graduate Record represent the official repository for academic program requirements. These publications may be found at http://records.ureg.virginia.edu/index.php.”