Islamic Studies Minor
Coordinator: Associate Professor Marcus-Sells
The Islamic Studies program at Elon University promotes the study of Islam in contemporary and historical periods as a worldwide tradition encompassing Muslims of diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural backgrounds. Islamic Studies courses encourage students to think about the diversity and complexity of Muslim identities and experiences while examining the diverse ways that Muslims have interacted with other peoples and have shaped, and been shaped, by world history. The program aims to dismantle harmful stereotypes about Muslims while building critical thinking, encourages the study of Arabic at Elon, and offers a range of study abroad opportunities.
Minor Requirements
No more than 12 total credit hours from one department may count towards the minor, with the exception of language study. A student may count up to 16 credit hours of Arabic language study towards the minor.
No more than 12 credit hours may be applied to both the Middle Eastern Studies and the Islamic Studies Minors.
With the approval of the program coordinator, up to 12 credit hours of study abroad courses in Islamic Studies may count for the minor.
Required Course: 4 sh
Electives: 20 sh
| ARB1010 | Elementary Arabic I | 4 sh |
| ARB1020 | Elementary Arabic II | 4 sh |
| ARB2010 | Intermediate Arabic I | 4 sh |
| ARB3110 | Arabic Language Tutorial | 1-4 sh |
| ARB4110 | Arabic Language Tutorial | 1-4 sh |
| ARH3330 | Jewish, Christian, & Islamic Cultures: Contact & Conflict | 4 sh |
| COR3630 | History, Culture and Art of Iraq | 4 sh |
| GBL2330 | Mediterranean: Where East Meets West | 4 sh |
| GBL2440 | Spain and Morocco: Historical & Contemporary Encounters | 4 sh |
| GEO3640 | Middle East: People and Place | 4 |
| HST3130 | Modern Africa | 4 sh |
| HST3160 | The Modern Middle East | 4 sh |
| REL1410 | African Gods | 4 sh |
| REL2860/GBL2860 | India's Identities: Religion, Caste and Gender in Contemporary South India | 4 sh |
| REL3630 | Women in Islam: Veneration, Veils and Voices | 4 sh |
| REL3900 | Love and Ecstacy | 4 sh |
| REL3910 | Beyond Jihad: Encounters with Islam | 4 sh |
| POL3620 | India and South Asia | 4 sh |
| POL3660 | Middle East Politics | 4 sh |
Total Credit Hours: 24
Program Outcomes
Students will be able to develop awareness of the complexity and diversity of Muslim peoples and Islamic institutions while identifying the similarities and differences among them.
Students will be able to identify cultural and linguistic experiences, ideas, and institutions that have connected Muslim peoples across the world.
Students will be able to explain some of the diverse ways that Muslims have related to other peoples.
Students will be able to recognize how Islam as a religion interacts and intersects with cultural traditions and national, political, and ethnic identities.
Students will be able to discuss the importance of social institutions and identities such as gender and race for understanding Muslim people, communities, and societies.