The Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Lowa University

The Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies track will enable students to learn about the geography, cultures, languages, literature, arts, religions, politics, law and governments of Islamic societies and the Middle East.

About

The Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies track will enable students to learn about the geography, cultures, languages, literature, arts, religions, politics, law and governments of Islamic societies and the Middle East. As a multidisciplinary area of inquiry, Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies aims to help students develop critical skills to understand the rich cultures, complex ideas, and extensive history that shape modern Islamic and Middle Eastern societies.

Examples of post-graduation opportunities for International Studies graduates who have completed the Islamic and Middle Eastern track include: 

•  Commnications Assistant/ International Programs (University of Iowa)
•  Case Manager/ US  Commitee for Refugees and Immigrants (Des Moines, Iowa)
•  Grant Writer & Developer/ Grace Hills Settlement House (North St. Louis, Missouri)
•  Diplomatic Intern/ Kurdistan Regional Government – Iraq (Washington DC)
•  Director of Outreach and Communications/ The List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies (Washington DC)
•  Fulbright English Language Teaching Assistantship (Turkey)
•  MPA/MA Arts Administration dual program/ School of Public and Environmental Affairs (Indiana University)
•  PhD program in Government and Politics (University of Maryland)

Coursework

Students completing the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies track are expected to gain deep and broad knowledge about historical as well as contemporary events that helped shape modern Islamic and Middle Eastern societies throughout the world. Today, Muslims are a majority in more than 50 countries and there are significant Muslim minorities in other countries adding up to about 1.7 billion people around the world. The Middle East consists of numerous ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups including Arabs, Kurds, Turkmen, Persian, Jews, Christians, Zoroastrians, Sunnis, Shi`ias, Druze, Alawites, Maronites, and Copts just to name few. This cultural, social, and ideological diversity within Islamic and Middle Eastern societies makes its academic study both rewarding and challenging. Students interested in this track will be guided to take a combination of courses that focus on historical as well as on contemporary issues.

Courses

• ARAB:1050 (195:050)
• ARAB:1001 (195:101): Elementary Arabic
• ARAB:2001 (195:111):Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic
• ARAB:2030 (195:120) Formal Spoken Arabic
• ARAB:3011          (195:130) Advanced Modern Standard Arabic I
• ARAB:3012(195:131) Advanced Modern Standard Arabic I
• Other content courses within research interest area
• HIST:1010 Global Jewish History
• HIST:1014 The Israel-Palestine Conflict
• IS:3560 Global Food Migrations

• Introduction to Islamic civ.
• Human rights in law, religion and culture
• Women in Islam & the Middle East
• Arab Spring in context
• Islamic law and government
• Islam in public sphere
• Introduction to Islamic Psychology (RELS:2570/ GHS:2570/ IS:2570)

• SPAN:4870/RELS:4870, Islamic Cultural Presence in Spain
• Ancient Mediterranean Religions (CLSA: 2482/RELS:2182);
• Early Christianity (CLSA:3443/RELS:3242);
• Abrahamic Religions (course to be developed)
• Prof. Dilley regularly teaches Coptic as an independent study

Faculty

Ahmed Souaiaia

Professor of Legal and political theory; Associate Professor, Religious Studies, International Studies, College of Law, Islamic law, human rights, dissent in Islamic Societies, Islamic civilization, comparative law

Contact

Address: International Studies Program
305N Communications Center/ University of Iowa
Iowa City, Iowa 52242

Phone: 319-384-1328

Email: intlstudies@uiowa.edu

Website: clas.uiowa.edu