Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies

The Middle East and Central Asia, predominately Muslim States and Societies, are rich in history, geographical wonders, political turmoil, and socio-cultural influence. The Middle East ranges from Turkey and Iran in West Asia to the Arab heartland as far as Morocco in North Africa. Central Asia is comprised of Afghanistan and the former Muslim republics of the Soviet.

They are areas of constant domestic and international interest as events often unfold which have global relevance and significance. This program will take you through the topics, debates and developments in the Middle East and Central Asia. You will study the socio-cultural, political, historical and economic structures of these regions and develop a comprehensive knowledge of their relationship to global socio-cultural, political and economic trends.

The Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (CAIS) at ANU is the only academic institution in Australia to offer the Bachelor of Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies. The courses offered are interdisciplinary, drawing from international relations, sociology, history, political economy, security, cultural studies and cognate disciplines. The breadth of disciplines and approaches used in CAIS's teaching offers a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the Middle East and Central Asia regions. To fully engage with the history and culture of the regions, you can also study a Middle Eastern or Central Asian language. There is also the opportunity to undertake a highly competitive research project through the Australian National Internships Program (ANIP).

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Course selection

Enrolling for the first time can seem like a big task. Below, you will find an example enrolment pattern for your first year of study.

There are a few items to note:

• Courses coded in the 1000 range are appropriate for first-year students. We strongly recommend that students new to tertiary study enrol in first-year courses during their first semester.
• We recommend you start a CASS Program Plan. This is a way to track how the courses you take fit within the overall structure of your degree and will help you pick your later year courses.
• The tables below represent only one possible combination. You are welcome to pick and choose from any other 1000-coded course found under the "Study Tab".
• The tables below assume you are new to tertiary study and ineligible for course credit.
• A step-by-step guide on how to enrol in courses is available on the Enrol for the First time webpage.