Master in Middle Eastern Studies – MIMES

The Master in Middle Eastern Studies (MIMES)from Cattolica University is a 1-year program, entirely taught in English. Thanks to the expertise of its faculty, this innovative program combines several perspectives on the Middle East: international relations, history, economics, law, geopolitics, security and energy. The analysis of the current dynamics, debates and most important topics regarding the role of the Middle East at a regional and international level, as well as dedicated modules on its sub-regions and their peculiarities, are strengthened by the theoretical basis provided during the first part of the program. Thanks to this multidisciplinary approach, the program offers a solid knowledge of the contemporary issues, in order to provide students with a specific understanding of one of the most important regions in the international scenario and help them to convert their knowledge in professional skills.

The Master in Middle Eastern Studies offers high quality training to students from all over the world. They will take part in team projects with the guidance of important scholars and leading professionals from the Middle East as well as from Europe and the U.S..

MIMES provides graduate students with a detailed, comprehensive knowledge of the wider Middle East, beneficial to undertake a number of different careers, consistently with their previous training and experience, within international institutions, private companies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), research centers and area studies, media networks, etc.

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 Level - Propaedeutic Phase: history, power and institution: the conceptual foundation of the Middle East

• 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

• 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

• 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

4th Level - Project work

5th Level - Internship or Arabic, Persian or Turkish Language Course

Assessment and Diploma

• Aula internazionale
• Docenti internazionali
• Lezioni in lingua straniera 100%
• Tirocinio formativo all’estero
• Tirocinio formativo presso aziende internazionali

• Laurea primo livello

• Valutazione del cv
• Lettera di motivazioni
• Test e/o colloquio di lingua
• Colloquio individuale motivazionale