College of Arts and Science Vanderbilt University

Islamic Studies

at Vanderbilt University
 

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.

Affiliated Faculty: 

     

Phillip Ackerman-Lieberman – Jewish Studies

Katherine Carroll – Political Science

Julia P. Cohen -  Jewish Studies & History

Lenn E. Goodman – Philosophy

Leor Halevi - History

Bushra Hamad – Religious Studies (Arabic Language)

Richard McGregor – Religious Studies (DUS-Islam) and advisor to all IMST students.

Beverly Moran – Law School

Jack M. Sasson– Divinity School

Samira Sheikh – History

Tony K. Stewart – Religious Studies (On-campus contact for AY 2012-13)

David J. Wasserstein – History



Requirements and Courses:


The IMST minor 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
  • 262 Culture, Religion and Politics in the Arab World (Maymester)
  • 294-2 Religion and Culture of Egypt/Morocco (Maymester)
Arabic:
  • 210a-210b Introductory Arabic (5hrs) *
  • 220a-220b Intermediate Arabic (4hrs)
  • 230a-230b Advanced Arabic (3hrs)
  • 240 Media Arabic (3hrs)
  • 250 Qur'anic Arabic (3hrs)
History:
  • Freshman Seminar (where topic is appropriate)
  • 116 Modern South Asia
  • 119 A History of Islam
  • 120 The Arab Spring and Its Contexts
  • 127 Sub-Saharan Africa: 1400–1800
  • 128 Africa Since 1800
  • 211a The Mughal World
  • 212a India and the Indian Ocean
  • 213 Muhammad and Early Islam
  • 216 Medicine in Islam
  • 217 Islam and the Crusades
  • 219 Last Empire of Islam
  • 287c Cities of Europe and the Middle East
  • 288c Muslims, Christians and Jews in Medieval Spain
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
English:
  • 288 Transnational Encounters with Islam in 18th and 19th Cent. British Literature
Classical Studies:
  • 223 From Late Antiquity to Islam
  • 224 Ancient Origins of Religious Conflict in the Middle East