Islamic Studies ,Certificate
Arabic, Culture, Islam, Middle East, Muslim, history, religion
Explore the history and politics of Islam, from the Great Wall of China to the Islamic Center of America in Michigan. Develop a nuanced understanding of Muslims and their many contributions to world culture.
Islam, the fastest growing religion in the world, plays an increasingly significant role in shaping international politics, culture, law and business. The certificate program in Islamic studies and its required coursework in two different regions enables you to gain an appreciation of Islam's multiculturalism and contemporary relevance in multiple disciplines and geographic settings.
- College/school:
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
- Location: Tempe
2026-2027 Catalog Year
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
|
The certificate in Islamic studies requires a minimum of 18 credit hours, of which at least 12 must be upper division. At least six upper-division hours must be in courses offered by The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. A minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) is required in each course used toward the certificate. |
||
|
Students must complete a minimum of three credit hours in a language relevant to the study of Islam, chosen from Arabic, Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian, French, Indonesian or Russian (typically offered in Fall and Spring semesters) or Farsi, Kazakh, Tatar, Turkish or Uzbek (these courses are offered by the Critical Languages Institute and are typically only available in summer terms under the SLC prefix; availability may vary). Students who are native speakers of these languages or other Islamic languages, or who have other equivalent knowledge may substitute three credit hours of additional coursework selected from the list of approved electives. See program coordinator.
3 - 6 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 - 6 |
|
Students must complete two of the three Islamic Studies core courses. At least one course must be upper division.
6 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 6 |
|
Students must choose electives that represent at least two of three geographic regions. The available geographic regions are Africa and the Middle East, America and Europe, and Asia. No more than one course from the "non-geographic" list may apply toward the certificate. It is recommended that students work with an academic advisor in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies to select appropriate elective courses. Africa and the Middle East America and Europe Asia Non-geographic HST/REL 260, HST 336/REL 365, or HST 339/REL 366 may be used as a non-geographic elective if not already used to fulfill the Islamic Studies core requirements.
6 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 6 |
|
Students must choose electives that represent at least two of three geographic regions. The available geographic regions are Africa and the Middle East, America and Europe, and Asia. No more than one course from the "non-geographic" list may apply toward the certificate. It is recommended that students work with an academic advisor in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies to select appropriate elective courses. Africa and the Middle East America and Europe Asia Non-geographic HST/REL 260, HST 336/REL 365, or HST 339/REL 366 may be used as a non-geographic elective if not already used to fulfill the Islamic Studies core requirements. Students must complete a minimum of 12 upper-division hours within the certificate. If HST/REL 260 was taken as one of the core courses, students will need to choose upper-division courses for all nine hours of certificate electives (unless the language requirement was satisfied with an upper-division course).
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
|
C | 3 |
|
Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
|
||
|
ASU Language Placement: Only true beginners are eligible for 101-level courses. All other students are required to take a placement exam, regardless of prior credit earned. Students already proficient in a second language may take a proficiency exam. |
||
|
Not all courses for this program are available every term. Students should consult the class schedule prior to each term to confirm course availability.
|
There are no specific admission requirements other than a student's desire to learn about Islam and Islamic societies and culture.
A student pursuing an undergraduate certificate must be enrolled as a degree-seeking student at ASU. Undergraduate certificates are not awarded before completion of an undergraduate degree. A student who already holds an undergraduate degree may pursue an undergraduate certificate as a nondegree-seeking graduate student.
Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:
- Will be able to analyze an academic issue in Islamic studies.
- Will be able to compose a critical argument about an academic issue related to Islamic studies.
- Identify and summarize important features of the major periods of Islamic civilization from the seventh century to the present.
Graduates who have completed the certificate in Islamic studies may be more marketable to employers. They have successfully pursued employment in education, law, tourism, international law, business, journalism, international relations, humanitarian service, diplomacy, the military, public advocacy, politics, medicine and the intelligence service.
The program is also designed to prepare students for graduate programs in history, religious studies, Islamic studies and area studies, and cultural anthropology, and for any academic discipline or career that focuses on the global Muslim society.
Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.
Historical, Philosophical & Religious Studies, Sch
|
COOR 4591
SHPRSadvising@asu.edu
480-965-8364
Program term definitions
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
