What does the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard do?

Established in 1954, Harvard University’s Center for Middle Eastern Studies supports research and teaching on a broad range of topics related to the region. At the core of the Center’s mandate is the pursuit of firsthand knowledge about the Middle East based on literacy in its languages and understanding of its diverse politics, cultures, and histories. Approximately 900 students have graduated from CMES’s degree programs over the years, with careers spanning academia, government, business, journalism, NGOs, and law. 

CMES encompasses the humanities, social sciences, arts, and natural sciences, and CMES engages with faculty, departments, professional schools, and other regional studies centers across Harvard. CMES’s academic community includes over 50 core and affiliated faculty, a cohort of more than 50 graduate students (PhD and AM), and a 15-20 visiting researchers and postdoctoral associates. CMES also operates an office in Tunisia, established in 2017. CMES scholars study the countries in Southwest Asia and North Africa.