MIMES is an innovative program that aims to guide students across this diverse and fascinating region, which, since decades, is at the core of the geostrategic interest of the international system. The program focuses on the contemporary challenges and trends, through a multi-disciplinary approach ranging over international relations, geopolitics, conflicts and security, economy and energy.
Nonetheless, specific sections are devoted to the analysis of the historical and religious foundations of the Middle East, from the birth of Islam to the evolution of Islamic political thought, Islamic law and economy.
The Master in Middle Eastern Studies analyses in details the different areas of the region, from the Maghreb to Southern Asia, to the Levant and the Gulf, encouraging a comparative and holistic area studies approach.
MIMES is articulated in five complementary levels, fostering multidimensional training and cross-fertilization, integrating scientific methodologies and operative competence
1st LevelPropaedeutic Phase: history, power and institution: the conceptual foundation of the Middle East |
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2nd Level |
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3rd Level |
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4th Level |
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5th Level |
1st Level - Propaedeutic Phase: history, power and institution: the conceptual foundation of the Middle East
The first level provides students of different academic backgrounds with a broad knowledge of the Middle East, the rise of Islam and its characteristic, with an accurate analysis of the historical evolution of the region and its role within the international system. A dedicated course will offer a linguistic analysis of the political and juridical terminology and a glossary in Arabic.
Research methods for Middle Eastern Studies
History of Muslim societies
Islamic political thought
Islamic finance and economics
Islamic law
Study of political and juridical terminology. Glossary in Arabic
International Relations of the Middle East
Research Tools
2nd Level - In-depth Analytical Phase: sub-regional contexts
Students acquire a detailed knowledge of different sub-regions of the wider Middle East, focusing on their peculiarities and connections with regional and international geopolitical trends. The program encourages the adoption of a comparative methodology, emphasizing the conceptual dichotomy continuity/change, within an historical-political narrative.
North and Sub-Saharan Africa
The Levant and Israel
South-West and Central Asia
The Arabic peninsula: political and security issues
3rd Level - Thematic and Contemporary Issues
During the final class term, the program offers a wide portfolio of specializing courses on the most relevant political, geoeconomic and security events and dynamics contributing to the current Middle Eastern unbalances. The program aims to underline in particular the role of the region within the larger international system, and the lesson learnt during the post-Cold War period.
Global security issues: Jihadism and Arab development challenges
Current trends in the enlarged Persian Gulf area
Technics for Geopolitical and strategic analysis of the wider Middle East
Economic scenarios in the Middle East
Pluralism in the Middle East
The European Union, the Mediterranean and the migration issue
How to prepare for a career in international organizations
4th Level - Project work
In order to get the final diploma of the Master in Middle Eastern Studies students are required to write a personal project work consisting of an interdisciplinary and critical analysis of a specific issue related to Middle Eastern affairs. The specific subject, agreed with a MIMES professor (supervisor), must be approved by the Director of the Master. It is suggested to connect the project work to the internship experience. Scientific knowledge acquired through the Master's courses constitutes the scientific background necessary to develop the research project.
5th Level - Internship or Arabic, Persian or Turkish Language Course
The Master's program is completed with an internship in Italy or abroad within an institution whose mission and activities are consistent with the Master's program. This gives the student the invaluable opportunity to test and strengthen the competencies acquired during the Mater's program and it usually lasts minimum three months. Students will receive support and tutoring for their internship research, specifically concerning CVs and cover letter preparation, vacancies research and internship announcements indication.
As an alternative, students may choose to attend an Arabic, Persian or Turkish language course. In this case, the course will have to be positively evaluated by the Master's Direction (additional fee depending on the organizing institution may occur).
1st level Specializing Master's Degree issued by the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (Italian Law D.M. 509/99) will be granted at the end of the Master’s course upon achievement of 60 ECTS credits, gained through the attendance to all the Master activities and the positive results in the examinations taken. All the Master’s activities (exams, internship, project work) must be performed.
