Islamic Studies Minor

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Banner Code: ISLM

Phone: 703-993-5404

Web: islamicstudies.gmu.edu

Faculty

Amireh, Bakhash, Butler, Dakake (director), DeCaroli, Haddad, Hamdani, 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, D.C. 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 Undergraduate Policies section of this catalog.

Course Work

Students pursuing this minor must complete 21 credits with a minimum GPA of 2.0. Eight credits of course work must be unique to the minor.

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) chosen from:

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

ARAB 420 - Survey of Arabic Literature Credits: 3
ARAB 440 - Topics in Arabic Religious Thought and Texts Credits: 3
ANTH 308 - Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East Credits: 3
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
ARTH 386 - The Silk Road Credits: 3
ENGH 309 - Topics in Literature Credits: 1-3 (when topic is Arab and Arab-American writers)
FREN 453 - Topics in North African Francophone Literature and Culture 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
GOVT 340 - Central Asian Politics Credits: 3
HIST 282 - Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization Credits: 3
HIST 462 - Women in Islamic Society Credits: 3
HIST 460 - Modern Iran Credits: 3
HIST 465 - The Middle East in the 20th Century Credits: 3
RELI 355 - Sufism Credits: 3
RELI 359 - Muslims in the United States 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 be required to take 3 additional elective credits.

Total: 21 credits