Students who earn a BA in MENAS will be able to identify the major historical periods, figures, and movements that have shaped the Middle East and North Africa from 600 C.E. to the present. Students who earn a BA in MENAS will be able to compare and contrast the various social, cultural, religious, geographic and linguistic milieus of the Middle East and North Africa. Students who earn a BA in MENAS will be able to critically evaluate popular, political and/or media discussions of the Middle East and North Africa. Students who earn a BA in MENAS will be able to analyze and synthesize information from primary and secondary sources in order to develop and write a research paper. Students who earn a BA in MENAS will be able to achieve proficiency at the intermediate level in one of the languages of the Middle East and North Africa (Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Turkish). Communicative proficiency is defined in accordance with the Standards for foreign language learning as developed by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). These are further analyzed below: i. To communicate in Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) languages, both orally and in writing, by engaging in interpersonal, interpretative, and presentational communication activities (Communication). ii. To demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the MENA cultures through language activities such as written essays and oral presentations on cultural topics (Culture). iii. To make meaningful cross-cultural comparisons between two or more of the MENA cultures (Comparisons).