Persian Studies focuses on the cultures, histories, and languages shaped by Persianate civilization, spanning Iran and extending across Central Asia, the Caucasus, South Asia, and the broader Middle East. For over two millennia, Persian has served as a major language of literature, administration, and intellectual life, leaving a lasting imprint on societies well beyond modern national boundaries.

The Persianate world encompasses a rich array of cultural, religious, and artistic traditions, including Islam, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, and Bahāʾīsm. It is renowned for its contributions to poetry, philosophy, art, architecture, and political thought, as well as its enduring influence on neighboring languages and cultures.

Whether your interests lie in language and literature, history and religion, art and aesthetics, or contemporary Iranian society and politics, Persian Studies offers critical perspectives for understanding a region of deep historical continuity and contemporary relevance. Affiliated faculty offer interdisciplinary courses that allow students to shape the minor in alignment with their academic and professional goals.

Changes to the requirements for fulfilling the Persian Studies Minor will go into effect at the start of the 2019/2020 Academic Year. Students who entered OSU prior to the Autumn 2019 semester can choose to fulfill either the old "Persian Minor" requirements or the new program requirements, in consultation with the NESA Academic Advisor. Students who enroll during or after the Autumn 2019 semester will be required to fulfill the new program requirements. 

The previous major and minor program requirements can be seen here: https://nesa.osu.edu/persian-old-program-requirements

Students with questions about any of NESA's undergraduate programs should contact the departmental undergraduate advisor Tommy Beyl at beyl.1@osu.edu or call (614) 292-8485 to make an appointment.