Islamic World Studies
Delve into Islamic studies through historical and contemporary lenses
In the Islamic world studies degree program, you’ll develop an understanding of the diverse Muslim communities and their interconnections by exploring their primary texts, history and cultural traditions. You will study Islam as a worldview, civilization and living reality, and examine global communities as well as regional issues.
As you work towards your Islamic world studies degree, you’ll take courses from various departments, including history, religious studies, political science, international studies, modern languages and women’s and gender studies to help you develop an understanding of the Islamic world from multiple perspectives.
We offer the 3+3 BA/JD Program, which allows high-achieving first-year undergraduate students to be admitted simultaneously to the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences (LAS) and the College of Law (LAW). You’ll complete your first three years in LAS and your final three years in LAW.
Classes
Coursework
- Islam in the United States
- Cairo: Mother of the World
- Islamic World Studies
- Islamist Political Movements
- Nature as Resource: Mining & Extraction’s Impact on Environment & Society
- Religion and Conflict in South Asia
- Women in the Middle East: Beyond the Veil
- Religion, Nationalism, and Politics
Resources
Career Options
Common Career Areas
- Public policy
- International business
- Education
- Immigration work
- Social services
- Law
- Human rights
91%
of Interdisciplinary Program graduates were employed, continuing their education or not seeking employment after graduation.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
Core
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IWS 116 | INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM | 4 |
| IWS 192 | ISLAMIC WORLD STUDIES | 4 |
| Select one Senior Capstone 1 | 4 | |
1
Consult with the Director of IWS for recommended Capstone options.
Historical Requirement
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IWS 266 | ISLAM IN THE UNITED STATES | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| IWS 141 | THE MUSLIM WORLD, 600 - 1100 | 4 |
| IWS 142 | THE MUSLIM WORLD, 1000-1500 | 4 |
| IWS 143 | THE MUSLIM WORLD, 1400-1920 | 4 |
Arabic Language Requirement
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARB 101 | BASIC ARABIC I | 4 |
| ARB 102 | BASIC ARABIC II | 4 |
| ARB 103 | BASIC ARABIC III | 4 |
Electives
Students must complete five electives from amongst IWS offerings, or related courses as approved by the Program Director. Of these electives, two must be at the 300-level.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 200-Level Electives (select three) | ||
| IWS 201 | GEOPOLITICS | 4 |
| IWS 203 | RELIGIOUS GEOGRAPHY | |
| IWS 204 | CULTURAL ANALYSIS (with Director approval) | 4 |
| IWS 215 | MUSLIMS IN AMERICAN FICTION AND FILM | 4 |
| IWS 217 | ISLAMIC CULTURES AND SOCIETIES | 4 |
| IWS 230 | ISLAMIC FINANCE | 4 |
| IWS 231 | INDIA FROM 900-1750 - SULTANS, MUGHALS, AND ISLAMIC EMPIRES | 4 |
| IWS 232 | INDIA FROM 1700-1950 - RISE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH RAJ | 4 |
| IWS 233 | THE ART OF CRUSADING | 4 |
| IWS 234 | COMPARATIVE URBANISM | 4 |
| IWS 240 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN ISLAMIC WORLD STUDIES | 4 |
| IWS 242 | AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY (with Director approval) | 4 |
| IWS 251 | ISLAMIC ART | 4 |
| IWS 255 | MIDDLE EAST POLITICS | 4 |
| IWS 261 | RELIGION AND CONFLICT IN SOUTH ASIA | 4 |
| IWS 263 | RELIGION AND POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST | 4 |
| IWS 265 | ISLAMIST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS | 4 |
| IWS 270 | ISLAMIC ETHICS | 4 |
| IWS 272 | GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN MUSLIM CULTURES | 4 |
| IWS 278 | HADITH: TRADITIONS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD | 4 |
| IWS 294 | MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY (with Director approval) | 4 |
| IWS 295 | SHI'ITE ISLAM | 4 |
| 300-Level Electives (select two) | ||
| IWS 301 | ARAB BROADCAST MEDIA | 4 |
| IWS 302 | AFRICAN ISLAM: ISLAMIC ART & ARCHITECTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA | 4 |
| IWS 303 | ARABIC PRINT MEDIA | 4 |
| IWS 306 | GLOBAL EMPIRES (with Director approval) | 4 |
| IWS 307 | WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST: BEYOND THE VEIL | 4 |
| IWS 308 | NATURE AS RESOURCE: MINING & EXTRACTION'S IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT & SOCIETY | 4 |
| IWS 311 | ARABIC SHORT STORIES | 4 |
| IWS 313 | ARABIC FILM | 4 |
| IWS 316 | RELIGION, NATIONALISM AND POLITICS (with Director approval) | 4 |
| IWS 318 | SOCIETY, POLITICS AND CULTURE IN THE MIDDLE EAST | 4 |
| IWS 340 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN ISLAMIC WORLD STUDIES | 4 |
| IWS 341 | POLITICAL ISLAM AND AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | 4 |
| IWS 350 | ARABIC LITERATURE | 4 |
| IWS 372 | CAIRO: MOTHER OF THE WORLD (WORLD CITIES) | 4 |
| HST 364 | PALESTINE UNDER THE BRITISH MANDATE | 4 |
| HST 365 | THE CRUSADES | 4 |
| MOL 340 | ARAB CULTURE | 4 |
| MOL 341 | MEDIA IN THE ARAB WORLD | 4 |
| MOL 342 | MODERN ARABIC LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION | 4 |
