In conjunction with the UT Center for Middle Eastern Studies (MES), a dual degree program with MGPS and Middle Eastern Studies combines advanced studies of globalization with a focus on the politics, economy and cultures of the Middle East. The program prepares students to deal with governance challenges in the fluid modern environment where new cross-border trends and opportunities challenge traditional rules of thumb and public-management techniques.
Students will integrate studies of languages, cultures, history and political economy of the Middle East with trans-boundary issues ranging from climate change to cross-border water disputes, from the Doha-round global trade policy agenda to regional free trade agreements, and from the U.S. military strategy of hegemonic leadership to cross-border influences on political stability.
Program Structure
Students can earn both degrees simultaneously in approximately three academic years. Degrees are awarded when the required course work in both areas is completed. Students in the dual degree program take the following courses, which total either 67 or 70 credit hours of work (67 hours if you write a thesis, and 70 if you write a professional report).
Degree Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of either 67 or 70 semester hours of coursework (67 hours for the thesis option, and 70 hours for the professional report option), which includes:
Global Policy Studies
- 22 hours of required global policy core courses
- 15 hours MGPS specialization
- Summer internship in an office where activity is related to the dual degree program
- Demonstrate proficiency in a language other than English
Middle Eastern Studies
- 6 hours of history
- 6 hours of social science
- 6 hours of arts/humanities
- Completion of two upper-division or graduate-level courses in one Middle Eastern language while enrolled in the degree program. These courses may also fulfill other degree requirements, usually in the humanities. Students who are native speakers of a Middle Eastern language must complete these courses in a second Middle Eastern language.
For the Middle Eastern Studies side of the dual degree program, students can choose whether to write a thesis or a professional report. Their choice has implications for the rest of their degree requirements, specified as follows:
Professional Report Option:
- 12 hours of concentration courses
- 3 hours of Master's Report (MES 398R)
Thesis Option:
- 6 hours of concentration courses
- 6 hours of Master's Thesis (MES 698)
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