Islamic Studies Minor

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Banner Code: ISLM

Phone: 703-993-1261

Web: islamicstudies.gmu.edu

Faculty

Amireh, Aydin (director), Bakhash, Butler, Dakake, DeCaroli, Haddad, Hamdani, Hammer, Katz, Lukacs, Mandaville, McGlinchey, Paden, Salawdeh

The minor in Islamic studies is designed for students interested in the societies, cultures, history, and politics of the Islamic world. It offers students the opportunity to study the many societies that have significant Muslim populations. These societies are not just in the Middle East. They stretch from North Africa to Southeast Asia and beyond. They include Europe as well as North America. To fulfill the requirements for the minor, students take a wide variety of courses from a range of departments. These courses provide students with a broad and well-rounded understanding of Islam.

The minor will enhance students’ opportunities for future study and employment, especially in the Washington, DC area.

This program of study is an interdisciplinary minor offered by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences .

For policies governing all minors, see the Academic Policies chapter of this catalog.

Course Work

Three core courses (9 credits):

GOVT 345 - Political Islam Credits: 3
HIST 281 - Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization Credits: 3
RELI 272 - Islam Credits: 3

Three elective courses (9 credits):

Special topics courses, when relevant, may be used to fulfill this requirement with prior written approval of the director.

ANTH 309 - Peoples and Cultures of India Credits: 3
ANTH 311 - Peoples and Cultures of Mainland Southeast Asia Credits: 3
ARTH 320 - Art of the Islamic World Credits: 3
ARTH 382 - Arts of India Credits: 3
FREN 453 - Francophone Literature from North Africa Credits: 3
GGS 325 - Geography of North Africa and the Middle East Credits: 3
GGS 330 - Geography of the Soviet Succession States Credits: 3
GOVT 328 - Non-Western Political Theory Credits: 3
GOVT 332 - Government and Politics of the Middle East and North Africa Credits: 3
HIST 282 - Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization Credits: 3
HIST 462 - Women in Islamic Society Credits: 3
HIST 465 - The Middle East in the 20th Century Credits: 3
RELI 374 - Islamic Thought Credits: 3
RELI 375 - Qur'an and Hadith Credits: 3

One course (3 credits) in a foreign language of any country with a significant Muslim population

Arabic may be used to fulfill this requirement, but other languages of the Islamic world may be substituted with prior written approval of the director. This requirement may be waived for students who can demonstrate proficiency in a relevant foreign language. Contact the college Office of Undergraduate Affairs. Such students will have 3 additional elective credits.

Total: 21 credits