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Arabic, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies

Director: Mohammed Kadalah, Ph.D.

The Arabic, Islamic, and Middle Eastern Studies (AIMES) minor offers a unique opportunity to explore the languages, cultures, histories, and traditions of a dynamic region that has shaped our world.

Students enrolled in this interdisciplinary minor have the opportunity to sample a variety of methodologies and academic disciplines—including anthropology, art history, classics, ethnic studies, history, philosophy, political science, and religious studies—that address the Middle East in particular and the Islamic world at large. The AIMES interdisciplinary minor is ideal for students who are passionate about global affairs, history, religion, or language, and want to develop the intellectual resources for thoughtful and informed engagement with current issues in the Middle East and the Islamic world. The minor prepares students for diverse career paths, including - but not limited to -  work with overseas aid organizations.

Requirements for the Minor

Students must complete a total of nine courses—six culture courses and three Arabic language coursesâ€Äìor a minor in AIMES. Details concerning these requirements are as follows:

Culture Courses

Students must take a total of six culture courses relating to AIMES (two lower-division and four upper-division) from at least three different departments. No more than two courses may be counted for AIMES credit from the department in which a student majors. A maximum of three courses for AIMES credit may be taken from any one department.

Arabic Language

Three quarters of Arabic are required. Students with prior knowledge of a relevant language may take a test that certifies that they have fulfilled this requirement.

Senior Project

In lieu of one of the six required courses in Middle Eastern and Islamic cultures, students may elect to do an independent study/reading course on a project in consultation with a member of the AIMES Faculty Advisory Council. This project may entail fieldwork with local Muslim and diaspora Arab or Middle Eastern communities in the Bay Area.

Students enrolled in the AIMES minor are strongly encouraged to participate in SCU-approved study abroad programs that pertain to Arabic, Islamic, and Middle Eastern studies. Before enrolling in any such program, students should check with the director and faculty members of the AIMES minor as well as the Global Engagement Office.

Course list

Anthropology Courses

ANTH 188. Middle East: Culture and Change (Taught occasionally)

Art History Courses

ARTH 24. From Damascus to Dubai: A Survey of the Visual Culture of the Middle East

ARTH 165. Islamic Art in the Age of Empire.

Classics  Courses

CLAS 64. Sacred Treasures of the Ancient Mediterranean and Middle East

History Courses

HIST11/12A: Cultures and Ideas: Cultures of Islam (Fall-Winter and Winter-Spring)

HIST 97: War and Peace in the Modern Middle East (Fall)

HIST 145: Islam in the Modern World (Fall)

HIST 120: The Crusades: Christian and Muslim Perspectives (not offered in 2025-26)

Modern Languages and Literatures Courses

ARAB 1. Elementary Arabic I (Fall)

ARAB 2. Elementary Arabic II (Winter)

ARAB 3. Elementary Arabic III (Spring)

ARAB 11A/12A: The Arab Speaking World: Media, Culture, and Politics (Winter/Spring)

ARAB 137. Arabic Language, Culture and Identity (Fall)

ARAB 171. Reading the Quran (Spring)

ARAB 199. Directed Reading

FREN 114. Literatures and Cultures of the Maghreb

FREN 173. Immigration, Race, and Identity in Contemporary France

Philosophy Courses

PHIL 178. Arabic Philosophy

Political Science Courses

POLI 142. Politics in the Middle East (Winter)

POLI 192. Senior Seminar: Contemporary Politics of the Middle East (Winter + Spring)

POLI 196. Senior Seminar: US Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East (Fall + Spring)

Religious Studies Courses

RSOC 7 South Asian Religious Traditions (Fall)

RSOC 7 South Asian Religious Traditions (Fall)

RSOC 7 South Asian Religious Traditions (Fall)

SCTR 19 Religions of the Book (Fall)

SCTR 19 Religions of the Book (Fall)

RSOC 7 South Asian Religious Traditions (Winter)

RSOC 7 South Asian Religious Traditions (Winter)

SCTR 19 Religions of the Book (Winter)

SCTR 19 Religions of the Book (Winter)

SCTR 48 Racializing Jesus (Winter)

RSOC 8 Jews, Judaism & Film (Winter)

RSOC 8 Jews, Judaism & Film (Winter)

RSOC 190 Islam: Reformation & Modernity (Spring)

SCTR 19 Religions of the Book (Spring)

SCTR 48 Racializing Jesus (Spring)

RSOC 133 Sufism (Spring)