Islamic Studies

Requirements

1. The 5 required courses must cross at least 3 different academic departments.
2. Only 1 of the total 5 credits required by the Islamic studies minor may overlap with the student’s major.
3. Students must successfully complete Arabic 004 (and its prerequisites) or the equivalent. This requirement is waived for native speakers of Arabic and for students who demonstrate sufficient competence by passing an equivalency exam. Alternate fulfillment of the language requirement may also be approved by the Islamic Studies Committee if a student demonstrates competence in another language that is relevant to the study of a Muslim society and is directly related to the student’s academic program. Only Arabic courses beginning at the level of Arabic 004 or its equivalent will count toward the total 5 credits in Islamic studies required for the minor.

To supplement classes offered at Swarthmore, students are encouraged to explore and take classes at other nearby colleges, especially Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and the University of Pennsylvania. Students are also strongly encouraged to spend a minimum of one semester abroad in a program approved by both Islamic studies and Swarthmore’s Off-Campus Study Office. In addition to furthering the student’s knowledge of Islam and Muslim societies, studying abroad is a unique opportunity for personal and intellectual growth.

Acceptance Criteria

Students interested in Islamic studies are invited to consult with members of the Islamic Studies Committee before developing a proposal for a minor. The proposal should outline and establish how a minor in Islamic studies relates to the student’s overall program of undergraduate study and should provide a list of the courses to be taken. The minor is open to students of all divisions.

Students will be admitted to the minor after having completed at least two Islamic studies courses at Swarthmore in different departments with grades of B or better. Applications to the program must be submitted by March 1st of the sophomore year, and all programs must be approved by the Islamic Studies Committee. Deferred students will be re-evaluated at the end of each semester until they are either accepted or they withdraw their application.

The Following Courses

The following courses may be applied to an academic program in Islamic studies. See individual departments to determine specific offerings in 2018 - 2020.