Armenian Studies

About the Center for Armenian Studies

The UCI Center for Armenian Studies, based in the School of Humanities, supports teaching, research, and community engagement. Its emphasis on the study of Armenians and Armenia within a regional and world context reflects the global and interactive nature of Armenian history. As it works to expand into a multi-disciplinary, endowed academic Center, it seeks to cultivate further a distinctive focus on the Armenian Diaspora and Armenian Women and Gender. With a strong programming history and demonstrated community support, the Center contributes to the diverse intellectual and cultural life of the campus and the wider community.

Message from the Director

Welcome to the Center for Armenian Studies at University of California, Irvine.

Welcome to the Center for Armenian Studies at University of California, Irvine. The Center, launched in 2020 and based in the School of Humanities, supports teaching, research, and community engagement with an emphasis on the study of Armenians and Armenia within a regional (i.e., Middle East and Caucasus) and world context, thus reflecting the global and interactive nature of Armenian history. With a strong programming history and demonstrated community support, the Center seeks to contribute to the diverse intellectual and cultural life of the campus and the wider community.

The Center augments and strengthens UCI Armenian Studies. Since the launching of the Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies, UCI Armenian Studies has grown on campus to include the teaching of Armenian history courses and two levels of Armenian language, an Armenian Studies Minor, an expanded collection of Armenian-language and Armenian-related books at Langson Library, and vibrant graduate program.

The program has also garnered recognition and visibility nationally and internationally in the Armenian Studies field through its programming and leadership. The Center for Armenian Studies works to facilitate and solidify the work already taking place in Armenian Studies in the School of Humanities by bringing Armenian Studies to the university community as well as the larger community through its programming as well as undergraduate teaching and graduate training. The Center seeks to further propel interdisciplinary research, teaching, and outreach towards the ambitious broader goal of establishing an endowment to meet the priorities and facilitate and expand the work of the Center for Armenian Diaspora Studies.

Houri Berberian,
Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies
Director, UCI Center for Armenian Studies

The Minor in Armenian Studies

The minor in Armenian Studies encourages undergraduate students to acquire the academic breadth and depth to comprehend the major issues, themes, and concepts of Armenian culture and heritage. The interdisciplinary minor consists of courses in various disciplines, particularly Armenian history and language. Students will expand their understanding of the broader dynamics of the Armenian experience through different eras and geographic settings, both in Armenia and the Diaspora.