Middle East Studies
Available as a concentration
Sail up the Nile. Study in Jerusalem.
Challenge current preconceptions and familiarize yourself with the ancient beginnings of humankind. Understand how past and present mingle in the most geopolitically important region of our time. By studying past and present Middle East, you will have a better understanding of a history rich in culture and conflict and how it propelled us into today's climate.
Curriculum & Courses
Sample Course Offerings
ARTH 220: Ancient Egypt Art & Archeology
HIST 284: Modern Middle East
POLI/IR 234 The Arab Israeli Conflict
RELG 204: Islam
Travel Opportunities
Travel Opportunities
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Roanoke offers an exchange program with the American University in Cairo, Egypt.
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Learning through travel
Students have traveled to Bulgaria, Egypt, Israel, Russia, Turkey, Morocco and others to experience the countries firsthand.
Turkey
Turkey
Israel
Turkey
Israel
Egypt
Turkey
Turkey
Egypt
Learn by Doing
Opportunities
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Events
Student-led Israel/Palestine Peace Week hosted speakers and music to elicit conversations about conflict, shared experiences and culture. Faculty events include film festivals and teach-ins on current issues.
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Model UN and Arab League
Our students have the opportunity to travel with a faculty member to national and international Model UN and regional Arab League conferences.
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Archaeology Lab
Roanoke students can conduct original research on ancient Egyptian archaeology and ancient settlements in the on-campus Archaeology Lab. Resources include documents and data brought back from excavation projects done by Roanoke faculty.
Experiencing Egypt
The generosity of an anonymous Roanoke College donor enabled art history majors Serena Soterakopoulos '18 and Jacob Friedrich '19 to travel to Elephantine Island, Egypt, for five weeks in 2017. The student ceramic research assistants dove into the rich archaeological history of Elephantine Island while exploring the current vibrancy of the Egyptian culture.
Normally, Soterakopoulos and Friedrich conduct their research-primarily the analysis of ceramic material procured from various Egyptian archeological sites-on campus with Dr. Leslie Anne Warden, assistant professor of art history and archaeology. For this experience, they assisted on the "Realities of Life" archaeological project, which is run by the German Archaeological Institute, Cairo. The project studies an ancient Egyptian settlement on the southeastern portion of the island, located in the middle of the Nile River.
Faculty
News
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Roanoke College faculty are accomplishing exciting things! Catch up on some of the latest news.
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Damien Fellows ’26, an international relations student, spent eight weeks in South Korea, where he balanced intensive learning classes with cultural activities.
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Catch up on the latest news from our impressive faculty members.
Events
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Join President Frank Shushok Jr. and Rev. Kelly Shushok for a conversation on how respect shapes leadership, civic life, education and everyday encounters across differences!
- Date:
- January 21, 2026
- Time:
- 7 - 8:30 p.m.
- Location:
Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea
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Join Dr. James Peterson and Roanoke College's Benne Center for Church & Society in an exploration of the inevitable — and necessary — clashes that happen between the rigors of rationality and the demands of faith.
- Date:
- March 26, 2026
- Time:
- 7 - 8 p.m.
- Location:
Wortmann Ballroom
