Minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
Program Description
The Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (MEIS) Program at CSUN is a new interdisciplinary minor established in 2013. It offers courses in the languages, histories, religions, cultures, sociology and politics of Middle Eastern peoples. It also seeks to enhance students’ understanding of Islamic cultures and the Muslim communities both internationally and within the United States.
In addition, MEIS provides an academic home for the study of the intellectual, cultural and material conditions that have shaped our current understandings of and relationships with the Middle East and Islamic societies. Among the primary beneficiaries of this program are students interested in becoming scholars, journalists, translators, interpreters, diplomats, businesspersons, negotiators, and personnel in foreign offices. Some of the courses in the MEIS program satisfy General Education (GE) requirements or may be used as electives in several majors.
Through offering the minor, sponsoring courses, organizing conferences, film and lecture series, MEIS brings together interested students, faculty, and Middle Eastern communities in larger Los Angeles.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students who complete the MEIS Minor will be able to:
- Demonstrate an ability to speak, comprehend, and write one of the major Middle Eastern languages at an elementary level.
- Identify the major events of Middle Eastern and Islamic history, and articulate the internal and external forces that led up to and shaped these events.
- Explain the current cultural, political, and religious challenges facing Middle Eastern peoples.
- Describe and analyze significant Islamic religious beliefs, ethics, practices, philosophies and cultural expressions.
- Describe the principal social contours of Islamic communities, families, and gender relations, and explain the complex and multifaceted forms of identities
- Have knowledge of minorities (ethnic, cultural, religious) within the larger Middle Eastern societies, as well as the dynamics of relationships among diverse groups.
Total Units for Minor: 19 Units
Course Requirements for MEIS Program:
I. Language Requirement:
Select one course [3 or 4 units] MUST BE 102 OR HIGHER*
- Arabic 102. Elementary Arabic II and Lab
- Hebrew 102. Elementary Hebrew II and Lab
- Persian 102. Elementary Persian II and Lab
- Persian 202. Intermediate Persian II and Lab
*Other course may be substituted with consultation with the Program Coordinator
II. MEIS Electives
Students must take 15 more units with at least one course from each category and one additional course from any of the categories listed below:
History Requirement:
Select one course from the following list [3 units]*
- History 426: History of Modern Middle East, 1798-present
- History 185: History of Middle Eastern Civilization (GE)
- History 425: History of the Early Modern Middle East
- History 424: History of Medieval Middle East, 600-1258
- Hist/JS 427: Israel's History and Peoples
*Other course may be substituted with consultation with the Program Coordinator
Politics Requirement
Select one course from the following list [3 units]*
- POLS 420D: International Relations of the Middle East
- POLS 438: Government and Politics in the Middle East
*Other course may be substituted with consultation with the Program Coordinator
Religion Requirement:
Select one course from the following list [3 units]*
- RS 363: Islam in the Modern World
- RS 365: Introduction to Islam
- RS 346: Sufism
- RS 384: Approaching the Qur'an
*Other course may be substituted with consultation with the Program Coordinator
Culture Requirement:
Select one course from the following list [3 units]*
- GWS 315: Sexuality, Gender and Islam in the US
- GWS 420: Women and Gender in Islamic Societies
- JOUR495MAM: Muslims and the Media
- ANTH 356: Peoples and Cultures of the Mediterranean
- ANTH 338: Peoples of Africa
- ART416: Near Eastern Art
*Other course may be substituted with consultation with the Program Coordinator
