<p>From a December 18th Middlebury College press release:</p>
<p>A new program in Middle East studies joins four other areas of focus in
the international studies curriculum this year. Four new faculty members have
been recruited for the program, two in Arabic, the others in the history and the
politics of the Middle East, supplementing existing offerings in languages,
political science, history, religion, geography, and history of art and
architecture, which also support the program. Five students have declared
themselves international studies majors with a Middle East area focus.
In 2003-04 Arabic language was offered for the first time at Middlebury
as an undergraduate course. With the addition, this year, of a second faculty
member in Arabic language, students may now take Arabic language in three levels
of courses. Students in Middle East studies courses have also benefited from
public lectures and colloquia on Middle East topics, and a film series in Arabic
with English subtitles. The College plans eventually to establish an Arabic
house, and locations for a Middlebury study abroad program are being evaluated.</p>