BRINGING MENA OUT OF THE BOX A Case for Diversification of American Study Abroad in the Middle East & North Africa Region Jodi L. Sanger June 2016 Master’s Thesis Submitted to the Sociology Department Paris-Sorbonne University, Abu Dhabi Abstract: This paper analyzes existing longitudinal country-level data to determine macro trends among American students studying in the MENA region, as well as collects individual- level student data in order to conduct a multi-level analysis to determine obstacles and opportunities for a diversification of study abroad in the MENA region.