Middle Eastern Studies and Islamic World Minor

Summary

Interdisciplinary in nature and allows students from a variety of academic backgrounds to focus on studying the Middle East and the Islamic World. The minor is useful for anyone working with Muslim populations locally, nationally, and internationally, including  teachers, law enforcement, health care specialists, and social workers. 

Catalog Year

2023-2024

Degree

Minor

Total Credits

16

Locations

Mankato

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Program Requirements

Core

This course provides an historical and interdisciplinary approach to the study of the Islamic world. The course examines Islam and Islamic cultures within a global context, from its beginnings through the contemporary period.

Prerequisites: none

Goal Areas: GE-07, GE-08

Diverse Cultures: Gold

Restricted Electives

Choose 12 Credit(s).

A survey of the people and cultures of Sub-Saharan Africa examining the rich sociocultural diversity of the continent over time.

Prerequisites: none

Historical survey of art and architectural developments from Islam's origins through the twentieth century. Course focuses on contextualizing monuments, paintings, and other arts from various regions around the world.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

Investigation of developments in sacred and secular art and architecture in various regions of the world, exploring themes such as nation-building, modernization vs. tradition, post colonialism among others, since the 19th century.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

This course critically examines a wide array of literature, non-fiction essays and articles, film and art to explore the historical experiences of diverse Arab American communities. The course will begin by discussing major issues in the field, the history of immigration and citizenship, and developments in Arab American writing. Students will learn about waves of immigration from the 1880s onward, the literary communities that formed, and their contemporary legacy. The course will enable the students to better comprehend the historical and cultural contexts in which Arab American literature has evolved and the diverse perspectives of individual writers and artists.

Prerequisites: none

Diverse Cultures: Purple

A history of western monotheistic religions and their interactions with the secular world and each other from the beginnings of Judaism to the Crusades.

Prerequisites: none

How do we define the Middle East? In our popular culture and media sources that we are exposed to daily, the Middle East is one of the more discussed and yet, one of the most misunderstood topics. Our goal is to both to unlearn misconceptions and to create an accurate representation of the region. Our class will start with an introduction to the region and its history and the misconceptions that are attached to it. It will then proceed from the late 18th century to the revolutionary events of recent years dubbed the Arab Spring and their aftermaths.

Prerequisites: none

This class explores the dynamics that determine politics and effect change in the region. Using a comparative perspective for the major countries in the region, we examine such issues as Islam, nationalism, resources, regional conflicts, impact of the international system, and political development.

Prerequisites: POL 241