Islamic Studies

Overview

Welcome to the Interdisciplinary Program in Islamic Studies at Vanderbilt. The purpose of this site is to offer information to students and faculty with interests in the Islamic world.

Vanderbilt University offers an undergraduate minor in Islamic Studies (IMST). Graduate studies may be pursued within the "History and Critical Theories of Religion" area of the Graduate Department of Religion, and within the graduate wing of the History Department.

The IMST minor is offered through the Department of Religious Studies, and consists of 20 hours. The following are required courses: RLST 113, RLST 254, ARA 210b.

Note that in the College of Arts and Science each minor must contain 15 hours counted solely for the minor (not applied to any other major or minor).

The maximum number of hours from Arabic language courses is nine. No hours will be counted for ARA 210a.

The remaining hours can be taken from among the following courses:

Religious Studies:

• Freshman Seminar (where topic is appropriate)
• 113 Introduction to Islam *
• 251 Islamic Mysticism
• 254 Qur'an & Its Interpreters *
• 252 Reformers of the Islamic Tradition
• 292 Readings in Arabic Literature
• 293 Readings in Islamic Tradition
• 294 Religion and Culture of Egypt (Maymester)

Arabic:

• 210a-210b Introductory Arabic (5hrs) *
• 220a-220b Intermediate Arabic (4hrs)
• 230a-230b Advanced Arabic (3hrs)

History:

• Freshman Seminar (where topic is appropriate)
• 127 Sub-Saharan Africa: 1400–1800
• 128 Africa Since 1800
• 213 Muhammad and Early Islam
• 287 Cities of Europe and the Middle East

Political Science:

• Freshman Seminar (where topic is appropriate)
• 230 Middle East Politics
• 284 Political Islam

Jewish Studies:

• 120 Islam and the Jews
• 256 Power and Diplomacy in Modern Middle East

Philosophy:

• 211 Medieval Philosophy
• 262 Islamic Philosophy

Classical Studies:

• 224 Ancient Origins of Religious Conflict in the Middle East

Affiliated Faculty:

Richard McGregor – Religious Studies
Program coordinator and advisor to all IMST students.

Lenn E. Goodman – Philosophy

David J. Wasserstein – History & Jewish Studies

Jack M. Sasson– Divinity School

Leor Halevi - History

Julia P. Cohen - History & Jewish Studies

Katherine Carroll – Political Science

Bushra Hamad – Religious Studies (Arabic Language)

Beverly Moran – Law School

For related information see Dr. K. Carroll's web page "Studying the Middle East at Vanderbilt" -- http://www.vanderbilt.edu/psci/middleeast/studyingtheme