Islamic World Studies (IWS) offers a unique and interdisciplinary study of Muslim majority and minority societies. The program explores the politics, geographies, histories, and cultures of these societies, and provides students with an education that matches the complexity of its subject. This education is drawn from a variety of disciplines, including Finance, Geography, History, History of Art and Architecture, International Studies, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Women’s and Gender Studies. The regional focus of these courses includes Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Americas.
With nearly 2 billion adherents—approximately 3.5 million of whom are in the United States and 300,000 in Chicago—Islam is the world’s second largest and fastest growing religion. Despite these impressive facts Islam, Islamic societies, and Islamic history remain poorly understood in the United States. The IWS curriculum aims to remedy this. Its students will be able to ask questions that are historically situated, regionally specific, analytically rich, and grounded in urgent contemporary realities. In short, IWS is structured to produce engaged and informed citizens of a world that is affected by Islam in ways big and small and graduates who are better prepared for careers in politics, public policy, diplomacy, social services, medicine, education, finance, development, law, cultural heritage, academia, museums, or the arts.
| Program Requirements | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|
| Liberal Studies Requirements | 76 |
| Major Requirements | 52 |
| Open Electives | 64 |
| Total hours required | 192 |
Learning Outcomes
Students will be able to:
- Articulate the central beliefs of the religion of Islam, recognizing its various interpretations and practices and how they change across time and place.
- Identify, evaluate, and synthesize primary and secondary sources related to Islam, Islamic history, Islamic culture, and/or the politics of Muslim societies.
- Recognize and describe the ways in which Muslim societies have impacted other cultures and communities around the world.
- Recognize and describe the ways in which Muslim societies have been shaped by wider social, geographic, political, economic, and/or cultural factors and processes.
- Describe the historical and contemporary tensions around pluralism within societies that have both Muslim majority and Muslim minority populations.
College Core Requirements
Study in the Major Field
The student’s course of study in the College consists of three parts: Liberal Studies, the major field, and electives. Together these three parts contribute to the liberal education of the student which is the common purpose of all study in the College. By “liberal education” the College understands not only a deep and thorough knowledge of a particular area of study but a knowledge of the diverse areas of study represented by criticism, history, the arts, the behavioral and social sciences, philosophy, religious studies, the natural science, and mathematics.
The major field program generally is built upon a set of core courses and a specialized “concentration.” The number of courses required for a major varies by department. Most students go beyond the minimum requirements, electing additional courses which both broaden and deepen their understanding of their chosen discipline.
Because no academic major program is built in isolation, students are required to pursue a number of electives of the student’s choice. The inherent flexibility of this curriculum demands that the student consult an academic advisor at each stage in the total program and at least once prior to each registration.
Students will be prompted to visit the College Office for their official graduation check early in their senior year.
Declaration of Major, Minor and Concentration
All students in the College are required to declare a major field prior to beginning their junior year. The student will then be assigned a faculty advisor in the major field department or program and should make an appointment to see that advisor at his or her earliest convenience.
Students must declare or change majors, minors, and concentrations, via Campus Connection. However, for the purpose of exploring the possibility of changing a major field, the student should consult an academic advisor in the Office for Academic Advising Support.
The Modern Language Requirement (MLR)
All students will be required to demonstrate competence in a modern language (i.e., a language other than English) equivalent to the proficiency attained from one year of college-level language study. This Modern Language Requirement (MLR) may be demonstrated by:
- placing into 104 or above on the DePaul language placement exam
- completing the last course or earning AP/IB credit for the last course in the first-year college sequence of any language (e.g. 103 for DePaul language classes)
- completing a college course or earning AP/IB credit for a college course beyond the first-year level in any language (e.g. 104 or above for DePaul language classes)
- completing the final course of a four-year sequence of the same modern language in high school*
- completing a proctored exam by BYU and passing the exam (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
- completing a proctored Written Proficiency Test (WPT) by Language Testing International (LTI) and achieving a score of Beginner High or above (see the Department of Modern Languages website for registration details)
*Students are strongly encouraged to take the DePaul language placement exam even if they have met the MLR via study of a language in high school. This will ensure continuation of language study at the proper level.
Please note: Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Requirement.
Students who complete an Inter-College Transfer (ICT) to the College will abide by the MLR in place on the effective date of the ICT, regardless of when they first matriculated at DePaul.
Students who have met the MLR and wish to pursue further work in the language may elect the “Modern Language Option” (see below).
The Modern Language Option (MLO)
The Modern Language Option is available to all BA students who wish to study a modern language beyond the level required by their College, and to all other undergraduate students without a modern language requirement who wish to study a language at any level.
Students selecting the MLO may substitute a sequence of three courses in the same language for three domain courses.
The three MLO substitutions must be made in three different domains, and any substitutions must be consistent with the principle that students complete at least one course in each learning domain.
MLO substitutions may not be used to replace requirements in the Math & Computing, and Scientific Inquiry, domains.
Students majoring in one modern language may use the Modern Language Option for study of a second language at the Intermediate level or above.
Modern Languages courses with an E-designation are taught in English and may not be applied to the Modern Language Option.
NOTE: Please contact your college/school regarding additional information and restrictions about the Modern Language Option.
External Credit and Residency
A student who has been admitted to the College begins residency within the college as of the first day of classes of the term in which the student is registered. Students in residence, whether attending on a full-time or part-time basis, may not take courses away from DePaul University without the written permission of the college. Permission must be obtained in advance of registration to avoid loss of credit or residency in the college; see the LAS website for more information.
Liberal Studies Requirements
Honors program requirements can be found in the individual Colleges & Schools section of the University Catalog. Select the appropriate college or school, followed by Undergraduate Academics and scroll down.
| First Year Program | Hours | |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Quarter | ||
| LSP 110 or LSP 111 | DISCOVER CHICAGO or EXPLORE CHICAGO | 4 |
| Focal Point | ||
| LSP 112 | FOCAL POINT SEMINAR | 4 |
| Writing | ||
| WRD 103 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I 1 | 4 |
| WRD 104 | COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC II 1 | 4 |
| Quantitative Reasoning | ||
| MAT 120 | QUANTITATIVE REASONING 2 | 4 |
| Sophomore Year | ||
| Race, Power, and Resistance | ||
| LSP 200 | SEMINAR ON RACE, POWER, AND RESISTANCE | 4 |
| Junior Year | ||
| Experiential Learning | ||
| Required | 4 | |
| Senior Year | ||
| Capstone | ||
| Required 1 | 4 | |
- 1
Students must earn a C- or better in this course.
- 2
Readiness for MAT 120 is determined by the math placement test taken online after admission. Students may need to take developmental coursework prior to MAT 120. The MAT 120 requirement may be waived by passing a dedicated proficiency exam, or by credit earned for advanced math coursework at DePaul (MAT 135, MAT 136, MAT 147, MAT 148, MAT 149, MAT 150, MAT 151, MAT 152, MAT 155, MAT 156, MAT 160, MAT 161, MAT 162, MAT 170, MAT 171, MAT 172, or equivalent) or any transfer, CLEP, IB, or AP Calculus credit. Calculus course(s) may be used to fulfil any of the three QR/MCD requirements.
Learning Domains
Arts and Literature (AL)
- 2 Courses Required
Historical Inquiry (HI)
- 1 Course Required
(Note: Course must be in an area other than the study of Islam)
Math and Computing (MC)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 CR Course and 1 SR Course]
Philosophical Inquiry (PI)
- 2 Courses Required
Religious Dimensions (RD)
- 1 Course Required
(Note: Course must be in an area other than the study of Islam)
Scientific Inquiry (SI)
- 2 Courses Required
[1 Lab Course and 1 SWK Course]
Social, Cultural, and Behavioral Inquiry (SCBI)
- 2 Courses Required
Notes
Please consult an advisor about using the Modern Language Option.
Courses offered in the student's primary major cannot be taken to fulfill LSP Domain requirements. If students double major, LSP Domain courses may double count for both LSP credit and the second major. Students who choose to take an experiential learning course offered by the major may count it either as a general elective or the Experiential Learning requirement.
In meeting learning domain requirements, no more than one course that is outside the student’s major and is cross-listed with a course within the student’s major, can be applied to count for LSP domain credit. This policy does not apply to those who are pursuing a double major or earning BFA or BM degrees.
Major Requirements
Course Requirements
Core
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IWS 116 | INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM | 4 |
| IWS 192 | ISLAMIC WORLD STUDIES | 4 |
| Select one Senior Capstone 1 | 4 | |
- 1
Consult with the Director of IWS for recommended Capstone options.
Historical Requirement
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| IWS 266 | ISLAM IN THE UNITED STATES | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | ||
| IWS 141 | THE MUSLIM WORLD, 600 - 1100 | 4 |
| IWS 142 | THE MUSLIM WORLD, 1000-1500 | 4 |
| IWS 143 | THE MUSLIM WORLD, 1400-1920 | 4 |
Arabic Language Requirement
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| ARB 101 | BASIC ARABIC I | 4 |
| ARB 102 | BASIC ARABIC II | 4 |
| ARB 103 | BASIC ARABIC III | 4 |
Electives
Students must complete five electives from amongst IWS offerings, or related courses as approved by the Program Director. Of these electives, two must be at the 300-level.
| Course | Title | Quarter Hours |
|---|---|---|
| 200-Level Electives (select three) | 12 | |
| GEOPOLITICS | ||
| RELIGIOUS GEOGRAPHY | ||
| CULTURAL ANALYSIS (with Director approval) | ||
| MUSLIMS IN AMERICAN FICTION AND FILM | ||
| ISLAMIC CULTURES AND SOCIETIES | ||
| ISLAMIC FINANCE | ||
| INDIA FROM 900-1750 - SULTANS, MUGHALS, AND ISLAMIC EMPIRES | ||
| INDIA FROM 1700-1950 - RISE AND FALL OF THE BRITISH RAJ | ||
| THE ART OF CRUSADING | ||
| COMPARATIVE URBANISM | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN ISLAMIC WORLD STUDIES | ||
| AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY (with Director approval) | ||
| ISLAMIC ART | ||
| MIDDLE EAST POLITICS | ||
| RELIGION AND CONFLICT IN SOUTH ASIA | ||
| RELIGION AND POLITICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST | ||
| ISLAMIST POLITICAL MOVEMENTS | ||
| GENDER AND SEXUALITY IN MUSLIM CULTURES | ||
| HADITH: TRADITIONS OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD | ||
| MEDIEVAL PHILOSOPHY (with Director approval) | ||
| SHI'ITE ISLAM | ||
| 300-Level Electives (select two) | 8 | |
| ARAB BROADCAST MEDIA | ||
| AFRICAN ISLAM: ISLAMIC ART & ARCHITECTURE IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA | ||
| ARABIC PRINT MEDIA | ||
| GLOBAL EMPIRES (with Director approval) | ||
| WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST: BEYOND THE VEIL | ||
| NATURE AS RESOURCE: MINING & EXTRACTION'S IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT & SOCIETY | ||
| ARABIC SHORT STORIES | ||
| ARABIC FILM | ||
| RELIGION, NATIONALISM AND POLITICS (with Director approval) | ||
| SOCIETY, POLITICS AND CULTURE IN THE MIDDLE EAST | ||
| SPECIAL TOPICS IN ISLAMIC WORLD STUDIES | ||
| POLITICAL ISLAM AND AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY | ||
| ARABIC LITERATURE | ||
| CAIRO: MOTHER OF THE WORLD (WORLD CITIES) | ||
| PALESTINE UNDER THE BRITISH MANDATE | ||
| THE CRUSADES | ||
| ARAB CULTURE | ||
| MEDIA IN THE ARAB WORLD | ||
| MODERN ARABIC LITERATURE IN TRANSLATION | ||