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Program Requirements
This Minor Concentration permits students to explore the development and diversity of Islam through courses that focus on Islamic history, religion and civilization in the premodern period (pre-19th century) as well as through courses that focus on the dynamics of modern and contemporary (19th and 20th centuries) Muslim societies and cultures.
Required Courses (6 credits)
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ISLA 200 Islamic Civilization (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : An introduction to, and survey of, the religious, literary, artistic, legal, philosophical and scientific traditions that constituted Islamic civilization from the 7th Century until the mid-19th Century.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Massoud, Sami Gabriel (Winter)
- Winter
- Note: All readings are in English.
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ISLA 210 Muslim Societies (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : An introduction to the different, often disparate, ways in which Muslims live and think in the modern world (19th-21 centuries). Muslim social contexts across the globe and cyberspace.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Medani, Khalid; Sachs, Jeffrey; Spannaus, Nathan (Fall)
- Fall
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits selected from:
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ISLA 345 Science and Civilization in Islam (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : History of scientific traditions and ideas in Islamic civilization, from the origins of Islam to the early modern period. Emphasis is on the derivation, development and transmissions of Islamic science, as well as on the assimilation and influence of science within Islamic culture.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Fazlioglu, Ihsan; Ragep, Sally (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ISLA 200 or permission of the instructor.
- Note: All readings are in English.
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ISLA 350 From Tribe to Dynasty (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : The political and intellectual developments shaping Arab and Persian societies from the rise of Islam in the 7th century until the early mid 8th century, including the major social changes, political revolts, religious schisms, and the consolidation of lasting cultural institutions.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: ISLA 200 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to U0 or U1 students.
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ISLA 355 Modern History of the Middle East (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Assessment of the historical transformation of the modern Middle East concentrating on its internal socio-economic changes, as well as the colonial experience and encounters with the West since the early 19th century. Examination of the historical conditions that led to the rise of nationalism, the nation-state, the Arab-Israeli conflict.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Abisaab, Malek; Bahgat, Fadia; Graham, Pascale (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 360 Islam and Politics (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Assessment of the relationship between Islam and politics in the contemporary Middle East and Africa through various analytic themes, including political economy, social movement and gendered analysis.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 365 Middle East Since the 1970's (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Changes that have occurred in the Middle East since the 1970's, viewed through the lens of themes such as migration, consumerism, war, communications, and ideology.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 380 Islamic Philosophy and Theology (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : A survey of the most important philosophers and theologians in Islamic intellectual history, with a focus on the theories they articulated and the movements they engendered. The impact of European thought on 19th and 20th century Islamic intellectual history is also examined.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Pourjavady, Reza; Ibrahim, Bilal (Fall)
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ISLA 200 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to U0 or U1 students.
- Note: Reading and discussion in English.
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ISLA 383 Central Questions in Islamic Law (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : An integrative view of Islamic law in the past and present, including landmarks in Islamic legal history (e.g., sources of law; early formation; intellectual make-up; the workings of court; legal change; legal effects of colonialism; modernity and legal reform) and a structured definition of what it was/is.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Young, Walter Edward; Seedat, Fatima (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ISLA 200 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 385 Poetics & Politics in Arabic Literature (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Major issues in classical and modern Arabic literature; how poetics and politics interact in classical and modern, popular folktales and high literature, novels and poetry. The politics of translation from Arabic into English.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to U0 or U1 students.
- Note: Reading and discussion in English.
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ISLA 388 Persian Literature (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Examination of literature produced in the Persian-speaking world from the mid 10th to the late 20th century C.E. A broad selection of texts (prose and poetry) will be studied in translation.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Keshavmurthy, Prashant (Fall)
- Fall
- Prerequisite: ISLA 200 or permission of instructor.
- Note: Readings in English.
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ISLA 392 Arabic Literature as World Literature (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Consideration of Arabic literature as part of world literature, including exploration of tensions between reading Arabic literature as local, discrete and self-contained and as part of larger global phenomena.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 415 Modern Iran: Anthropological Approach (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : The modern history, social, and cultural anthropology of contemporary Iran.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ISLA 210 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 420 Indo-Islamic Civilization: Medieval (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : The rise of Islam in South Asia in the 8th Century and its subsequent expansion; evolution of Indo-Islamic civilization and its apogee during Mughal rule up to 1707. Themes include state and religion; ruling institutions; political theory, Sufism and the process of conversion, as well as the formation of a composite culture.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Keshavmurthy, Prashant (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ISLA 200 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 421 Islam in South Asia: 1757 to Present (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Pre-colonial eighteenth century; colonial disruption: "ulama" and litterateurs as reformers, protagonists of modernism and traditionalism, and social activists; the challenges of modernity and search for Islamic solutions; minority identity and political separatism; Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indian Muslims.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ISLA 420 or permission of instructor.
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ISLA 511D1 History: Islamic Civilization - Mediaeval Era (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : The Seljuks, and the medieval synthesis. The Moors in Spain and North Africa. The Crusades. The Mongols and the destruction of the Baghdad Caliphate. The Mamluk, Persian, Turkish and Indian Empires until 1700.
Terms: Fall 2010
Instructors: Abisaab, Rula (Fall)
- Fall and Winter
- 3 hours
- Prerequisite: Either ISLA 200 or ISLA 350
- Students must register for both ISLA 511D1 and ISLA 511D2.
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 511D1 and ISLA 511D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ISLA 511D2 History: Islamic Civilization - Mediaeval Era (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : See ISLA 511D1 for course description.
Terms: Winter 2011
Instructors: Abisaab, Rula (Winter)
- Winter
- Prerequisite: ISLA 511D1
- No credit will be given for this course unless both ISLA 511D1 and ISLA 511D2 are successfully completed in consecutive terms
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ISLA 585 Arab Women's Literature (3 credits)
Overview
Islamic Studies : Explorations of writings by Arab women. Issues include: translation/reception, gender and genre, categories of knowledge about Arab women, feminist and post-colonial theories/methodologies.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2010-2011 academic year.
- Prerequisite: ISLA 392 or permission of instructor.
- Note: Readings in English translation.
Faculty of Arts—2010-2011 (last updated Jan. 19, 2011) (disclaimer)