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 students 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
2025-2026 Catalog Year
| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
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| Requirement | Minimum Grade | Credit Hours |
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The certificate in Islamic studies requires a minimum of 21 credit hours. At least 12 upper-division hours are required. 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 the Class Search. A minimum grade of "C" (2.00 on a 4.00 scale) is required in each course used toward the certificate.
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| Language Requirement | ||
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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.
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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. Please go to: https://silc.asu.edu/student-life/academic-advising/language-testing. Students already proficient in a second language may take a proficiency exam.
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The number of credit hours for the language requirement will vary from 3-6 hours, depending on the specific language and course chosen.
3 - 6 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
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C | 3 - 6 |
| Core | ||
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HST 260 Introduction to Islam
(GCSI)
or
REL 260 Introduction to Islam
(GCSI)
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
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C | 3 |
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HST 336 Islamic Civilization
(HUAD)
or
REL 365 Islamic Civilization
(HUAD)
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
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C | 3 |
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HST 339 Islam in the Modern World
(GCSI)
or
REL 366 Islam in the Modern World
(GCSI)
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
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C | 3 |
| Islamic Studies Electives | ||
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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.
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AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
AMERICA AND EUROPE
ASIA
NON-GEOGRAPHIC
6 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
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C | 6 |
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AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST
AMERICA AND EUROPE
ASIA
NON-GEOGRAPHIC
3 Credit Hours
Minimum
Grade:C
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C | 3 |
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Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this certificate.
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Not all courses for this program are available every term. Students should consult the class schedule prior to each term to confirm course availability.
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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 has the following program outcomes:
- 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
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COOR 4591
SHPRSadvising@asu.edu
480-965-8364
3 year programs
These programs allow students to fast-track their studies after admission and earn a bachelor's degree in three years or fewer while participating in the same high-quality educational experience of a 4-year option. Students should talk to their academic advisor to get started.
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. Acceptance to the graduate program requires a separate application. 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.
