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Academic Program
The Minor and Concentration offered by
the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies enable students to acquire a basic
grounding in Arabic in addition to a wide range of interdisciplinary courses on
the Arab and Islamic world that is of critical importance to our understanding
of the contemporary world.
The study entails an interdisciplinary approach that reflect the
complexity of the Arab and Islamic world and provides a background for advanced professional studies, as well
as careers in government or business related to the Middle East. The program
is open to students in all the colleges. Students are also welcome to enroll in
individual courses. Villanova University established the Center for Arab and Islamic Studies in
1983 in recognition of the critical importance of the Middle East. Arab and
Islamic cultures have had a profound impact on the arts and sciences for
centuries.
Today, international politics and economics are deeply affected by the
dynamics in the Arab and Islamic world. Government officials, members of
Congress, corporations, banks, the media and researchers stress the need for
professionals who have the specialized knowledge essential for comprehending the
geostrategic, socioeconomic, religious and intellectual dimensions of the
region.
The Center's interdisciplinary program serves undergraduates who wish to
emphasize Arab and Islamic studies in conjunction with a regular major. The
course of studies enables students to add an Arab and Islamic dimension to their
understanding of international issues and world cultures. The program also
prepares students for work in government or business related to the region and
for advanced graduate studies.
The Center organizes lectures, film series, conferences and outreach programs
for the University and the Greater Philadelphia communities, in addition to
hosting academic seminars by well-known scholars in the field.
The
Journal of South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies published at the University, features articles by
highly regarded critics and scholars on issues pertinent to modern Islamic
societies.
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