BA Middle Eastern Studies at University of Virginia

Programme overview

Middle Eastern Studies is an interdisciplinary major with a core of language work and coursework in the Middle East regional concentration. Courses from outside MESALC, such as a Religious Studies course on Islam, can count toward the major.

Faculty: College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences | Department: Department of Middle Eastern & South Asian Languages & Cultures | Duration: 30 credits (ten courses) | Study mode: full-time | Location: Charlottesville, VA, United States

What you will study

Students take two courses at the 3000 level or above in a MESALC language, the Fourth-Year Capstone Seminar (MEST 4991), and seven courses in the regional concentration including at least one literature course and one history course.

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Application information

Entry requirements

Prerequisite for declaring: an Intermediate (2010/2020) sequence in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Hindi, Urdu or Sanskrit with a C or better each semester, or an Accelerated (1060/2060) sequence, or Intermediate proficiency by placement test. A cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 in major and related courses is required each semester.

First-year entry for Fall 2027 via Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision; transfer applicants can apply for Spring or Fall entry.

First-year deadlines: Early Decision and Early Action November 1 (decisions by December 15 and February 15 respectively); Regular Decision January 5 (decision by April 1). Applications are submitted through the Common Application. Standardized testing is test optional for Fall 2027 first-year applicants.

Transfer deadlines: Spring Transfer October 1 (notification by December 1); Fall Transfer March 1 (notification by May 1). Transfer applications are test optional.

Application fees (2026-27): undergraduate $75; Graduate School of Arts & Sciences $85; Architecture $80; Batten graduate $75; Darden non-PhD $250, Darden PhD $100; Data Science $85; Education and Human Development $65; Law $85; McIntire graduate $85; Medicine $80; Nursing $88; SCPS $70; Graduate Engineering no fee.

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