Undergraduate Programs

Minor in Islamic Studies

The College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a minor in Islamic Studies designed for students interested in the societies, cultures, history, and politics of the Islamic world. It offers students the opportunity to study the many societies that have significant Muslim populations. These societies are not just in the Middle East. They stretch from North Africa to Southeast Asia and beyond. They include Europe as well as North America.

Students in Islamic studies are strongly encouraged to study abroad in one of the many programs offered by George Mason's Center for Global Education. The exposure and interactions of such experiences greatly enhance the learning in the classroom. Study abroad courses are as short as a week or as long as a semester. Mason offers programs in several Muslim-majority countries, including Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey.

Minor in Middle East Studies

The interdisciplinary Middle East Studies Program at George Mason provides students with a firm grounding in the history, politics, and culture of this important region. At George Mason University's Middle East Studies Program, students develop an understanding of the diverse dynamics and complex forces that shape modern Middle East realities. Going beyond security concerns, the program emphasizes the need for an understanding of the region’s history as a foundation for further in-depth inquiry.

Students have the opportunity to examine new Middle East diasporas and transnational communities in the West. They learn about the role of the Middle East in a changing geopolitical environment marked by the rise of China, India, and the re-emergence of Russia.