Loyola's Islamic World Studies minor introduces students to the Middle East, the birthplace of Islam, and the Islamic civilization. The minor offers a unique opportunity to think differently about the Middle East, Islam, Muslim societies, and their influence around the world. Through a rigorous interdisciplinary approach, students explore history, culture, politics, and religion in Muslim societies in a variety of regions including the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. Students are strongly encouraged to study abroad in a Muslim country and enhance their academic knowledge through real life exposure to Muslim people and cultures.

Curriculum

The Islamic World Studies minor requires six courses (18 credit hours), including an introductory course on Islamic religion or history.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours
Required Course		3
HIST 209	Survey of Islamic History
or THEO 295	Islam
Electives (Select 5 of the following)		15
ANTH 213	Culture in Africa 1
ANTH 220	Contemporary Cultures of the Middle East
ANTH 361	Issues Cultural Anthropology 1
ARAB 101	Arabic I
COMM 203	Topics in Cinema History
ENGL 315	South Asian Literatures in English
FNAR 352	Islam and Visual Culture
HIST 209	Survey of Islamic History 2
HIST 213	Introduction to African History
HIST 300	Topics in History 1
HIST 311B	The Crusades: Christianity and Islam
HIST 327A	The Balkans: History, Fiction, Film
HIST 340B	Introduction to Islamic History
HIST 341	Modern Middle East
HIST 341B	Arab-Israeli Conflict
HIST 342B	African History Post-1600
HIST 342C	The History of Islam in Africa
HIST 343	Modern South Asia
HIST 359D	The Ottoman Empire: A Global Perspective
HIST 380A	Islam in the African-American Experience
HNDI 101	Hindi-Urdu I
HNDI 102	Hindi-Urdu II
HNDI 103	Hindi-Urdu III
HNDI 104	Hindi-Urdu IV
HONR 212A	Encountering the Middle East
HONR 212B	Encountering the Middle East
HONR 212C	Encountering the Middle East
LITR 238	Arabic Literature in Translation
LITR 243	South Asian Literature
LITR 280	World Masterpieces in Translation 1
PHIL 308	Islamic Philosophy
PLSC 300B	Contemporary Political Issues: Political Theory
PLSC 340	International Relations of Africa
PLSC 342	African Politics
PLSC 368	Politics of the Middle East
SOCL 280	Topics in Contemporary Sociology 1
THEO 295	Islam 2
THEO 350	Topics in Islam
THEO 365	Women, Gender and Embodiment in Islam
THEO 366	Contemporary Islamic Thought and Movements
URDU 101	Introductory Urdu I
URDU 102	Introductory Urdu II
Total Hours		18

¹

These are topics courses.  Only selected sections can count toward the minor.

²

Cannot apply toward electives if used as a required course.

Additional Requirements

No more than four courses may be taken from any one department.  Language courses such as Arabic or Hindi-Urdu at any level may count for up to six units (two courses) of the minor. Up to nine units (three courses) may be shared with any Major or Minor program. Waiver will be offered for courses taken during study abroad in a Muslim country.

Suggested Sequence of Courses

Students can begin the Islamic World Studies minor at any point in their undergraduate studies, in consultation with their advisor. While there is no set sequence of classes, students are encouraged to take either HIST 209: Survey of Islamic History or THEO 295: Introduction to Islam, early on, to gain a general understanding of Islamic history and culture. Once students have declared the minor, they are encouraged to contact their academic advisor or the Islamic World Studies Program Director for further guidance on how best to progress with their studies.

Learning Outcomes

The minor enables students to appreciate the complexities of the Islamic civilization, understand the regional specificities while considering the past and present global networks linking these regions to the rest of the world. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students take courses on history, literature, art, language, philosophy, politics, and religion to gain knowledge about the Middle East and contemporary Islamic world.