The undergraduate minor in Islamic and Arabic Studies, developed in 2002, is a program of study offered by the Center of Islamic and Arabic Studies, that brings together the fields of Political Science, Religious Studies, History, and Arabic Language Studies in an interesting and enriching combination of classes. To obtain this undergraduate minor students have to complete a minimum of 15 units, or 5 classes which all have a 100% focus on Islamic and Arabic topics.

Requirements:
All students are required to take:

Political Science 363: Governments and Politics of the Middle East (3 units)
Political identity, state formation, challenges of democratic governance in the Middle East.

and must complete one of the following:

Religious Studies 310: The Qur’an (3 units)
Prerequisites: Three units of religious studies; and completion of the General Education requirement in Foundations II.C., Humanities required for nonmajors.
Major themes of Qur’an including cosmology, eschatology, good and evil, gender, God and monotheism, People of the Book (Jews and Christians), and role of religion in society. Attention to historical period in which the Qur’an was compiled.

Religious Studies 328: Islam (3 units)
Islamic religion and culture in Asia, Africa, and Near East. History, doctrines, practices, literatures, social and intellectual movements, the role of Mohammed, and gender relations within Islam as understood in global context.

Two classes (6 units) can be chosen from:

History 473: Middle East History from the Advent of Islam to 1500 (3 units)
Middle Eastern history, 600 A.D. to 1500 C.E.; spread of Islam through rise of Ottoman Empire.

History 474: The Middle East Since 1500 (3 units)
Middle Eastern history since 1500 C.E.; Islamic empires, European colonialism, nationalism, and modernization.

History 574: Arab-Israeli Relations-Past and Present (3 units)
Arab--Israeli conflict and diplomacy over Palestine from perspectives of Zionism, Arab nationalism, and Great Power relations from nineteenth century to present.

One additional class (3 units or 4 units) has to be chosen from the following classes:

History 473 (3 units), History 474 (3 units), History 574 (3 units), History 596: History of the Islamic World,

Religious Studies 310 (3 units), Religious Studies 328,
(for class descriptions see above)

Arabic 101: Elementary Arabic I (4 units):
Introduction to Arabic, with emphasis on language of everyday conversation. Focus on vocabulary and structures needed for elementary speaking, listening, and reading. Not open to students who have completed three years of high school Arabic unless the third course was completed five or more years ago. Not open to students with credit in Arabic 102, 201, or 202.

Arabic 102: Elementary Arabic II (4units):
Prerequisite: Arabic 101.
Continuation of Arabic 101. Develops vocabulary and structures needed for elementary speaking, listening, and reading, with emphasis on the language of everyday conversation. Not open to students who have completed four years of high school Arabic unless the fourth course was completed five or more years ago. Not open to students with credit in Arabic 201 or 202.

Arabic 201: Intermediate Arabic I (4units):
Prerequisite: Arabic 102.
Further development of speaking, reading, and writing skills, with emphasis on the language of everyday conversation.

Arabic 202: Intermediate Arabic II (4units):
Prerequisite: Arabic 201.
Further development of speaking, listening, and reading skills, with emphasis on the language of everyday conversation.

Arabic 330: Arabic Culture (3 units):
Cultures of Arabic speaking peoples of the Near East, Middle East, and North Africa, as reflected in literature, the arts, history, political and social institutions. Taught in English.

Other Courses may be substituted for the minor with approval of the advisor.

How do I learn more about the minor?
Contact Ghada Osman, Ph.D.
CIAS Director and Undergraduate Advisor
Associate Professor
Department of Linguistics and Oriental Languages
Phone: (619) 594-7137
Email: gosman@mail.sdsu.edu
Office: AL-378