What is Middle East in a Global Context?
A variety of countries make up the Middle East and North Africa, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The Middle East in a Global Context is a study of the Middle East, its histories, cultures, politics and language in the larger context of global relations past and present.
What 3rd level courses are available?
Universities and colleges in Ireland are offering courses on the Middle East in a Global Context in the following subject areas:
- The Middle East in a Global Context (M.Phil.) – Study the region of the Middle East, its histories, cultures, politics and (optionally) language.
- International History (M.Phil.) – Students will be trained in transnational, comparative, and international approaches to history and have the opportunity to study foreign languages, cultures, and societies.
- MA In International Relations – An introduction to international relations and it’s diverse theoretical, disciplinary and geographical perspectives.
- International Development: Challenges for a World in Transition – This course introduces the main issues associated with meeting the challenges of international development, in the context of changing global, political and economic circumstances.
- International Trade (Import-Export) – Learn the ins and outs of the import-export trade.
Studying Middle East in a Global Context
There are many courses on the Middle East in a Global Context that may take place over a few days, weeks or even 1 year to 4 years depending on the course and modules selected. There are also part-time courses and night courses available so you can be sure to fit in your studies no matter what your schedule is like.
Courses will cover theory work through lectures, assignments, tutorials and taught modules. Assessments will take place on a continuous basis with written examinations and practical assignments combined in order to achieve a qualification.
You could also consider work experience or a work shadow in the industry. Relevant work experience is a good way of demonstrating a genuine interest in the field and is regarded favorably by employers.
Intergovernmental organizations such as the United Nations and the European Union, offer volunteering opportunities, internships and traineeships. Working for a charity or non-governmental organization is another popular area of work and these can be good areas for volunteering or paid work experience.
If you’re interested in using your degree to work in the media, try writing for your university newspaper, blogging or writing for an online publication. For careers in other areas, such as teaching, business or law, you’ll also need relevant experience.
Within the museums and heritage sector pre-entry work experience is highly valued. Look for volunteering or work experience opportunities within the area in which you’re interested. For example, if you’d like a career in curatorship, try to get experience working with museum collections.
Languages are important for a number of roles, so gaining work experience abroad, or other experience that allows you to develop language skills can be of great benefit.
Work Experience will not only give you the opportunity to obtain a deeper knowledge and understanding of the industry, it will also give you a chance to do some essential networking with other industry professionals and gain valuable contacts for the future.
Career options
After completing the Middle East in a Global Context course you will be able to get started in a career that uses specific knowledge of international relations, history and geography.
With a course that covers as many fields as this, you can expect a very wide range of choices and you may need to combine this course with further study in another area for some more specialized fields. Typical employers can include banks, charities, IGOs, such as the UN, UNICEF and The World Bank, international businesses, law firms, local and national government, media companies and even NGOs, such as Oxfam, Greenpeace and Médecins Sans Frontières.
If you want to use your degree directly, consider roles with government departments such as the Department for International Trade and the Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
National and local government and the public services also attract history graduates, particularly the civil service, the police and armed services.
With such a wide variety of occupations available, your working hours will depend on whether you are self-employed, employed by a company with set business hours or if you are contracted to various businesses or companies. Expect to work unsocial hours if employed at visitor attractions or other facilities that are open on weekends or in the evenings.
Related jobs include:
- Diplomatic service officer
- Government social research officer
- Intelligence analyst
- International aid/development worker
- Policy officer
- Political risk analyst
- Public affairs consultant
- Civil Service administrator
- Armed Forces operational officer
- Border Force officer
- Broadcast journalist
- Higher education lecturer
- Secondary school teacher
- Academic researcher
- Archivist
- Heritage manager
- Historic buildings inspector/conservation officer
- Museum education officer
- Museum/gallery curator
- Museum/gallery exhibitions officer
- Academic librarian
- Archaeologist
Further study
After completing a course on the Middle East in a Global Context you may choose to pursue further study in a specialist field to increase your knowledge base and skill set. Postgraduate study can also be used as a means to change career focus or to gain professional qualifications required to practice in certain career areas such as accountancy, journalism, law, librarianship, museum studies and even teaching.
FAQ
What is the importance of the Middle East in a Global Context?
The Middle East is a geographical region that has been of great importance in history since ancient times.
Strategically located, it is a natural land bridge connecting the continents of Asia, Africa, and Europe. It was the site of some of the world’s earliest civilizations and the birthplace of three major religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Since the 1930s the Middle East has emerged as the world’s most important source of energy and the key to the stability of the global economy. This tumultuous region produces today 37% of the world’s oil and 18% of its gas.
Where can I study the Middle East in a Global Context?
Explore your options here
Did You Know?
- Widely spoken languages in the Middle East and North Africa include Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Berber, Kurdish, French, and English.
- Three of the seven wonders of the ancient world are in the Middle East: the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, and the Lighthouse of Alexandria.
- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are the three largest monotheistic and Abrahamic religions in the world, each of which originates in the Middle East.
- Arabic is the most commonly spoken language in the Middle East. It is the official language of more than 20 countries and is spoken by approximately 300 million people worldwide.
- Arabic is the world’s 5th most widely spoken language after Chinese, Spanish, English, and Hindi.
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