
Waterfront and Museum of Islamic History in Sharjah, UAE, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons (user Oleg1959)
See the world from a new perspective.
The Islamic and Mediterranean Studies (IslaMed) program at URI gives you the chance to explore the politics, culture, history and language that define the Mediterranean, with a focus on the Islamic World.
While the core IslaMed faculty teach courses in Islamic History, Islamic Philosophy, Religion, and Arabic Language and Culture, you are also encouraged to take courses in a French, Gender and Women’s Studies, History, and Political Science to better understand how how the Islamic world connects with its neighbors across the Mediterranean. The IslaMed program transcends both geographical borders and borders among academic disciplines, opening up a world of opportunities for you when you graduate.
Why Islamic and Mediterranean Studies?
Learning about another culture and language will broaden your horizons and help you succeed in a global world. Whether you want to be a politician, journalist or archaeologist, whether you want to work as an engineer or to get ahead in business, you can benefit by understanding the Islamic and Mediterranean worlds.
The Middle East is a center of commerce and industry, with engineers laying pipelines and building skyscrapers. Global businesses, with headquarters in Europe and the US, have major operations in the hubs of Dubai, Qatar and Casablanca. At home, Arab-American and Muslim populations are growing quickly, and the American government has numerous ties and links to the Middle East.
By understanding the history, politics and languages of the Middle East, you will be able to take a leading role in transforming our world.