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Core Curriculum

Islamic Studies

Islamic Studies

Facilitator: Daniel Morgan, Religious Studies

Courses in the Islamic Studies Pathway investigate Islam not only as a religion but also as a civilization and as a variety of cultural traditions, which have taken diverse forms in Muslim societies worldwide from the seventh century to the present. Students will have the opportunity to select courses from a variety of disciplines to investigate topics such as:

Theological interpretations of Islam as a religious tradition
The interplay of politics and religion in our contemporary world
Anthropological perspectives on Muslim populations
The history of Islam as a civilization and cultural phenomenon
Islamic themes in literature and the arts
Interreligious and cross-cultural contacts among Muslim and non-Muslim traditions

Associated Courses

Foundations Courses 
(Please note that only the specific Foundation course topics qualify for the Pathway requirements, and only one Foundations course may be applied to a Pathway)
ENGL 12A Cross Cultural Contact (effective 9/1/09)
HIST 12A Cultures of Islam (effective 9/1/09)
Anthropology (ANTH)
188 People, Culture, and Change in the Middle East (effective 9/1/09)
Art History (ARTH)
24 From Damascus to Dubai: A Survey of the Visual Culture of the Middle East (effective 9/1/09)
English (ENGL)
156 Global Literatures (effective 9/1/09)
156A Global Literatures: Postcolonial Lit & Theory (effective 9/1/09)
156B Global Literatures: African Literature (effective 1/1/21)
128 Studies in the Literature of the Middle Eastern and Islamic World (effective 9/1/09)
165 Studies in African Literature (effective 9/1/09)
Gender and Sexuality Studies (GNSX)
120 Middle East: Gender & Sexuality (cross-listed with ANTH 187; effective 9/1/09)
123 Francophone Culture & Civilization: Black African and Caribbean Women Writers (cross-listed with FREN 113; effective 9/1/09)
History (HIST)
107 Spain and Morocco: Jews, Christians, and Muslims, 1300-1800 (effective 9/1/09)
142 Modern Middle East and North Africa (effective 9/1/09)
144S Islam in Africa (formerly HIST 144; effective 2/21/2017)
145 Islam in the Modern World (effective 9/1/09)
Modern Languages and Literatures (ARAB, FREN)
ARAB 137 Arabic Culture and Identity (effective 9/1/09)
ARAB 171 Reading the Quran (effective 03/25/16)
FREN 113 Francophone Culture & Civilization: Black African and Caribbean Women Writers (cross-listed with GNSX 123; effective 9/1/09)
FREN 114 Literature & Cultures of the Maghreb (effective 9/1/09)
*FREN 116 Major Works: French Lit II (topic: French Orientalism only; offered Winter 2011)
FREN 117 French Orientalism: The Representation of Otherness in Literature, Cinema & Visual Arts (effective 9/1/09)
*FREN 173 Immigration, Race, & Identity in Contemporary France (effective 9/1/09)
Political Science (POLI)
*142 Politics in Middle East (effective 9/1/09)
Religion, Theology, and Culture
Religion and Society (RSOC)
19 Egyptian Religious Traditions (effective 9/1/09)
19H Egyptian Religious Traditions: Honors (effective 11/25/2015)
*81 Islam (effective 9/1/09)
*81H Islam: Honors (effective 11/25/2015)
*126 Sufi Islam/Christian Mysticism (effective 9/1/18)
*154 Islamic Jesus (effective 9/1/09)
*182 Shia Islam in the Contemporary World (effective 9/1/09)
*190 Islam: Reformation and Modernity (effective 9/1/09)
Scripture and Tradition (SCTR)
19 Religions of the Book (effective 9/1/09)
19H Religions of the Book: Honors (effective 11/25/2015)
*119 Law in Judaism, Christianity and Islam (effective 9/1/09)
*125 Qu'ran Interpretation (effective 2/3/2016)
*126 Sufi Mysticism (effective 2/3/2016)
The Middle East & World Affairs (SIS)
319-900T The Middle East & World Affairs Seminar I (American University Washington Semester Program)

* Indicates Course Has Prerequisites