Upcoming Classes for Spring 2026
For more information on the term offerings, check the course schedule for more details. Note: course details are subject to change. For questions, reach out at meis@gmu.edu.
| Instructor, Meeting Time, & Credits | Course Description |
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Maria M Dakake In person on Mondays from 7:20 PM - 10:00 PM 3 credits |
Critical Issues and Debates in Middle East and Islamic Studies introduces the interdisciplinary study of the Middle East and the Islamic world through an examination of recent seminal works and debates in the field, representing the disciplinary perspectives of history, religious studies, political science, and sociology. May not be repeated for credit. Core Course |
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Sumaiya A. Hamdani Online on Wednesdays from 4:30 PM to 7:10 PM 3 credits |
Approaches to Middle East and Islamic History introduces students to the central issues and debates surrounding the study of the Middle East, Islam, and Muslim societies. Covers key methodological issues, including the role of area studies vis-à-vis disciplinary approaches and debates on the politics of knowledge production and historiography. May not be repeated for credit. Core Course |
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Bassam S. Haddad Online on Thursdays from 4:30 PM to 7:10 PM 3 credits |
Politics and Societies of the Middle East Studies the Middle East is a comparative perspective, using social scientific categories of analysis. Topics include: regime types, their basis and causes; influential political trends such as Arab nationalism, Ba'athism, and political Islam; the role of kinship, religion, and tribe in opposition and regime politics; the regional oil economy and economic crisis; democratic liberalization; and the growth of civil society. May not be repeated for credit. Core Course |
Foreign Language ProfiencyPrior to graduating, students must demonstrate professional competency in one of five major languages of the Middle East and Muslim world: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, or Urdu. Foreign language courses offered: |
Students are required to take only ONE methods course from the list below.ANTH 650: Methods in Anthropology reviews and examines major research methods commonly employed in cultural anthropological field study, with emphasis on ethnographic research design and the use of standard ethnographic techniques. Equivalent to ANTH 586...
GLOA 605: Interdisciplinary Research Methods is designed to provide students with an overview of basic techniques in quantitative and qualitative methods with special attention to epistemological and ethical concerns in global studies research...
GOVT 500: The Scientific Method and Research Design grounds students in the principles of the scientific method as the framework for investigating all research questions in political science, whether qualitative or quantitative in character (or both).
HIST 610: The Study and Writing of History is the methodology of the historian including techniques of research, use of documentation and other sources, development of bibliography, and synthesis of material. Offered by History & Art History.
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Select five electives from the following list:Electives may include special topics courses when relevant, directed readings and research, study abroad courses, internships, and other courses with the approval of the program director. Students choosing to complete a research project/ thesis will take 3 or 6 fewer elective credits. ARTH 599-001: Gender, Sex & Religion: Ancient Art students will learn the most recent advances in the field of gender studies in antiquity and learn how to apply that knowledge to several examples in the ancient Egypt where gender was a significant factor in the creation of a power dynamic. For example students will study the power inherent in the divine nature of the Egyptian Queen...
CONF 653: World Religions, Diplomacy, and Conflict Resolution analyzes ways world religions play role in conflicts, war, diplomacy, peacemaking, and conflict resolution.
ENGH 591-001: Folklore, Migration & Dsplcmnt when people move from one place to the other, settle temporarily or permanently in new locations, and (for some) return to their original homes, art, culture, and storytelling are an inextricable part of their lives. This course explores how folklore approaches, theories, methods, and scholarship can contribute to a greater understanding of displacement along with informed policy-making and services for migrants in locations across the world
GOVT 733: Islam and Politics Provides an overview and understanding of the multifaceted nature of political Islam in the contemporary world. Covers brief history of Islam, formation of modern states in the post-colonial Muslim world, nature of contemporary Islamic radicalism and militancy and the future of Islamism.
HIST 585-001: Modern Middle East analyzes selected problem. Emphasizes reading and discussion of historical interpretations, and development of bibliography. Notes: May be repeated for credit when topic is different.
RELI 591-001: Critical Issues/Debates MEIS topics in religious studies selected by importance in the field and pertinent to the role of religion in society and culture. Emphasis on historical, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural issues.
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| Instructor, Meeting Time, & Credits | Course Description |
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David Dakake (RELI 312-001) in person on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM Sarwar Alam (RELI 312-002) in person on Tuesdays from 4:30 PM to 7:10 PM 3 credits |
Islam introduces basic religious beliefs and practices of Islam, with view to diverse manifestations of Islamic culture in different ethnic and social contexts. Provides overview of essential rituals of Islamic life, mystical practices of Sufis, certain popular forms of religious practice, sources and application of Islamic law, and distinctive Islamic artistic and literary forms. Offered by Religious Studies. Limited to three attempts.
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Foreign Language ProficiencyPrior to graduating, students must demonstrate professional competency in one of five major languages of the Middle East and Muslim world: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, or Urdu. Foreign language courses offered: |
Select three electives from the following.No more than 6 credits of foreign language or 3 credits of Experiential Learning can be applied to the minor. ARAB 440: Topics in Arabic Religious Thought and Texts
ANTH 308-001: Peoples/Culture of Middle East explore contemporary issues concerning the Middle East region through a diversity of cultural practices and life experiences. Cover salient themes in the history, politics, culture, and economics of the region, and examine the key conceptual debates raised in and by the field.Situate the Middle East within the histories of colonialism, state-building, nationalism, and globalization and address new questions introduced by current global developments.
GOVT 332: Politics of the Middle East and North Africa examines political governance and socio-economic conditions of countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Topics include history and political systems; economic, social and political issues and challenges; and international relations of the countries in the MENA region.
HIST 282: Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization this course will provide an understanding of the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the turn of the 20th century. The course will cover Islam during the Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime, its expansion and consolidation during the period of Arab hegemony, Turkish migration and resulting Turkic states like the Ottoman empire, and other events that form the background to the contemporary Middle East.
HIST 387-001: Modern Middle East where is the Middle East, how did it come about, and why does it continue to stay at the center stage of world politics? In quest to explore such questions, this course treats the Modern Middle East in the twentieth century by focusing on Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Arab Spring. Major themes include colonialism, state formation, the Cold War, modernity, popular culture, religion, ideological currents, and political economy
RELI 338-002: Qur'an and Hadith explores two primary sources of Islamic belief and practice: Qur'an and Hadith. Discusses thematic structure and literary quality, and examines theological and moral issues. Also introduces various methods of interpretation and critical analysis applied to texts in both Islamic and Western scholarship
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| Instructor, Meeting Time, & Credits | Course Description |
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Sumaiya A. Hamdani In person on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:30 AM to 11:45 AM 3 credits |
Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization tracks the history from the rise of Islam to the present, emphasizing processes that led to the emergence of economic, cultural, social, and political institutions that characterize the region today. Surveys the medieval period to the present. May not be repeated for credit. Core Course |
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Bassam S. Haddad Online asynchronys
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GOVT 332: Politics of the Middle East and North Africa |
Foreign Language ProficiencyPrior to graduating, students must demonstrate professional competency in one of five major languages of the Middle East and Muslim world: Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Hebrew, or Urdu. Foreign language courses offered: |
Select three electives from the following.No more than 6 credits of foreign language or 3 credits of Experiential Learning can be applied to the minor. ARAB 440: Topics in Arabic Religious Thought and Texts
ANTH 308-001: Peoples/Culture of Middle East explore contemporary issues concerning the Middle East region through a diversity of cultural practices and life experiences. Cover salient themes in the history, politics, culture, and economics of the region, and examine the key conceptual debates raised in and by the field.Situate the Middle East within the histories of colonialism, state-building, nationalism, and globalization and address new questions introduced by current global developments.
GOVT 332: Politics of the Middle East and North Africa examines political governance and socio-economic conditions of countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Topics include history and political systems; economic, social and political issues and challenges; and international relations of the countries in the MENA region.
HIST 282: Survey of Middle Eastern Civilization this course will provide an understanding of the history of the Middle East from the rise of Islam to the turn of the 20th century. The course will cover Islam during the Prophet Muhammad’s lifetime, its expansion and consolidation during the period of Arab hegemony, Turkish migration and resulting Turkic states like the Ottoman empire, and other events that form the background to the contemporary Middle East.
HIST 387-001: Modern Middle East where is the Middle East, how did it come about, and why does it continue to stay at the center stage of world politics? In quest to explore such questions, this course treats the Modern Middle East in the twentieth century by focusing on Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the Arab Spring. Major themes include colonialism, state formation, the Cold War, modernity, popular culture, religion, ideological currents, and political economy
RELI 338-002: Qur'an and Hadith explores two primary sources of Islamic belief and practice: Qur'an and Hadith. Discusses thematic structure and literary quality, and examines theological and moral issues. Also introduces various methods of interpretation and critical analysis applied to texts in both Islamic and Western scholarship
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