Creating a New Minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at CSUN

FAIN: AC-50089-11

California State University, Northridge, University Corporation (Northridge, CA 91330-8316)
Nayereh Tohidi (Project Director: June 2010 to April 2017)

A two-year project to establish a minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.

The College of Humanities at California State University, Northridge (CSUN) is seeking funding to establish a minor in Middle East and Islamic Studies. As an interdisciplinary program, the minor will offer the study of Islamic and Middle East cultures, politics and societies. An important component of the minor will be training in languages widely spoken in the Middle East and other Muslim majority countries. In Year One (2010/2011 academic year), CSUN will establish three new courses: an Arabic language class, Women in Islamic Literature, and Gender Issues among the Muslim Community of North America. The addition of these three courses to the existing course offerings in the area of Muslim and Middle Eastern studies will allow for the establishment of a new minor in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies. In Year Two (2011/2012 academic year), the following courses will be added: Sufism, Turkish language, intermediate Farsi and advanced Farsi.

Media Coverage

Middle Eastern culture becomes Americana (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Ivette Lopez
Publication: Daily Sundial
Date: 11/15/2011
Abstract: “The Middle East has become a brand name in the U.S.,” Friedlander said during the second session of a symposium on Middle Eastern studies Tuesday. “You put the pyramid in front, the camel in front of it, and it will sell.” Friedlander presented the group with a portion of his 6,000-item digital collection of Middle Eastern portrayals in American films, music, magazines, books and marketing. The full collection is stored at UCLA... Many people are curious to study about the Middle East but, unfortunately, “they fall in thin cracks,” said Mehdi Bozorgmehr, co-director of the Middle East and Middle Eastern American Center at City University of New York.
URL: http://sundial.csun.edu/2011/11/middle-eastern-culture-becomes-americana/

CSUN to gain Middle Eastern and Islamic studies minor (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Karlee Johnson
Publication: Daily Sundial
Date: 9/5/2011
URL: http://sundial.csun.edu/2011/09/csun-to-gain-middle-eastern-and-islamic-studies-minor/

A New Center for Middle Eastern Studies in "Tehrangeles" (Review)
Author(s): Amir-Mossadegh Katouzian
Date: 1/3/2012
Abstract: An interview with Nayereh Tohidi, Director of the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies minor about the goals and significance of this new program in Southern California.
URL: http://www.radiofarda.com/content/f3_iran_study_in_california/24441152.html

CSUN to Offer Minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in the Fall (Media Coverage)
Author(s): Carmen Ramos Chandler
Publication: News Room of California State University, Northridge
Date: 3/5/2012
Abstract: CSUN to Offer Minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in the Fall The new program is scheduled to debut fall 2012 as part of an interdisciplinary program housed in the College of Humanities. The program will provide students access to courses in the languages, histories, religions, cultures, sociology and politics of the Middle East. Program officials say this is particularly important at CSUN, which serves Los Angeles, home to the largest Middle Eastern American community in the country.
URL: http://http://blogs.csun.edu/news/2012/03/middle-eastern-studies/

(Media Coverage)
Date: 4/13/2017

(Media Coverage)
Date: 4/13/2017

(Review)
Date: 4/13/2017

Associated Products

GWS315: Gender, Sexuality and Islam in the US (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: GWS315: Gender, Sexuality and Islam in the US
Author: Nayereh Tohidi
Abstract: This interdisciplinary course examines the gender dimension of social contours of Islamic communities in North America with an emphasis on the United States. After a brief review of the geopolitics and historical background, immigration trends, and acculturation process of communities, the course will explore what it means to be a Muslim person in the United States today. Special attention will be paid to social activism and feminist discourse among the diaspora Muslims and their cross-pollination or transnational impacts on the processes of globalization, reformation, and democratization in the Muslim-majority countries
Year: 2011
Primary URL: http://www.csun.edu/meis
Primary URL Description: This interdisciplinary course examines the gender dimension of social contours of Islamic communities in North America with an emphasis on the United States. After a brief review of the geopolitics and historical background, immigration trends, and acculturation process of communities, the course will explore what it means to be a Muslim person in the United States today. Special attention will be paid to social activism and feminist discourse among the diaspora Muslims and their cross-pollination or transnational impacts on the processes of globalization, reformation, and democratization in the Muslim-majority countries
Secondary URL: http://www.csun.edu/ws
Audience: Undergraduate

JS496: Israel's History and Peoples (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: JS496: Israel's History and Peoples
Author: Jody Myers
Abstract: A history of the modern State of Israel, from the emergence of modern Jewish nationalism to the present time. The conflicts between Jews, Palestinians, and imperial and regional powers will be examined, as well as the relations between the diverse peoples that constitute Israel’s multicultural, multireligious, and multinational society
Year: 2011
Primary URL: http://www.csun.edu/meis
Primary URL Description: A history of the modern State of Israel, from the emergence of modern Jewish nationalism to the present time. The conflicts between Jews, Palestinians, and imperial and regional powers will be examined, as well as the relations between the diverse peoples that constitute Israel’s multicultural, multireligious, and multinational society
Secondary URL: http://www.csun.edu/religious.studies/
Audience: Graduate

PERS202: Intermediate Persian II (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: PERS202: Intermediate Persian II
Author: Homa Esfarjani
Abstract: Intermediate course designed to strengthen existing communicative skills and cultural knowledge developed in PERSIAN 201. Emphasis on oral expression, vocabulary expansion, spelling, grammar, composition and, more specifically, reading and writing and culture. Conducted in Persian.
Year: 2011
Primary URL: http://www.csun.edu/meis
Primary URL Description: Intermediate course designed to strengthen existing communicative skills and cultural knowledge developed in PERSIAN 201. Emphasis on oral expression, vocabulary expansion, spelling, grammar, composition and, more specifically, reading and writing and culture. Conducted in Persian.
Secondary URL: http://www.csun.edu/mcll/
Audience: Undergraduate

Website for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies (Database/Archive/Digital Edition)
Title: Website for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies
Author: Nayereh Tohidi & Sheena Malhotra
Abstract: This is the primary website constructed under the NEH grant support to serve as the Internet homepage for the new minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program at CSUN (California State University, Northridge). This website would serve as the main Internet source of information about the program, its courses, minor requirements, faculty, events and resources.
Year: 2011
Primary URL: http://www.csun.edu/meis
Primary URL Description: This is the primary website constructed thanks to the NEH grant support to serve as the Internet homepage for the new minor in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program at CSUN (California State University, Northridge). This website would serve as the main Internet source of information about the program, its courses, minor requirements, faculty, events and resources.
Access Model: Open access

THE MIDDLE EAST ACROSS THE CURRICULUM (Conference/Institute/Seminar)
Title: THE MIDDLE EAST ACROSS THE CURRICULUM
Author: Nayereh Tohidi
Abstract: On November 9 and 15, 2011, over 100 scholars, students, ethnic community leaders, activists, representatives of the media and interfaith groups from SoCal gathered along with CSUN faculty from the new minor initiative in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program (MEIS) at the MEIS Symposium. The symposium was to discuss with 12 distinguished experts invited to CSUN. This symposium was funded by an NEH grant and directed by Dr. Nayereh Tohidi. It aimed to help CSUN faculty with curriculum development and provided the participants with an opportunity for exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices concerning pedagogical challenges in MEIS. Selected parts of the proceedings of this symposium will be featured on this website later.
Date Range: November 9 & 15, 2011
Location: California State University in Northridge, California
Primary URL: http://www.csun.edu/meis
Primary URL Description: On November 9 and 15, 2011, over 100 scholars, students, ethnic community leaders, activists, representatives of the media and interfaith groups from SoCal gathered along with CSUN faculty from the new minor initiative in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program (MEIS) at the MEIS Symposium. The symposium was to discuss with 12 distinguished experts invited to CSUN. This symposium was funded by an NEH grant and directed by Dr. Nayereh Tohidi. It aimed to help CSUN faculty with curriculum development and provided the participants with an opportunity for exchange of ideas, experiences, and best practices concerning pedagogical challenges in MEIS. Selected parts of the proceedings of this symposium will be featured on this website later. Speakers were:

RS346: Sufism (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: RS346: Sufism
Author: Mustafa Ruzgar
Abstract: A historical and critical study of emergence and development of the mystical tradition of Islam, Sufism, with particular attention to literary and artistic works that are informed by Sufism as well as the relevance of Sufism to the modern world.
Year: 2011
Primary URL: http://www.csun.edu/meis
Primary URL Description: A historical and critical study of emergence and development of the mystical tradition of Islam, Sufism, with particular attention to literary and artistic works that are informed by Sufism as well as the relevance of Sufism to the modern world.
Secondary URL: http://www.csun.edu/religious.studies/
Audience: Undergraduate

JOUR495MAM. Muslims and the Media (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: JOUR495MAM. Muslims and the Media
Author: Melissa Wall
Abstract: In this course we will create multimedia news content, which can include audio, video, photographs, text and social media content about Muslims. In creating this content, students will learn how Muslims and Islam have been traditionally covered in the news media and what the challenges with this coverage have been. The goal is to overcome the common stereotypes and problems with such coverage while learning online journalism skills.
Year: 2011
Primary URL: http://www.csun.edu/meis
Primary URL Description: n this course we will create multimedia news content, which can include audio, video, photographs, text and social media content about Muslims. In creating this content, students will learn how Muslims and Islam have been traditionally covered in the news media and what the challenges with this coverage have been. The goal is to overcome the common stereotypes and problems with such coverage while learning online journalism skills.
Secondary URL: http://www.csun.edu/journalism/index.html
Audience: Graduate

ARAB 101: Elementary Arabic (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: ARAB 101: Elementary Arabic
Author: Ahmed Bouguarche
Abstract: This course is an introduction to the Arabic language. The focus will be on the Arabic alphabet and on the linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking, and culture. Basic conversational skills will deal with everyday life and concrete topics such as family and friends, likes and dislikes, exchange of common courtesies, places of origin, etc.
Year: 2012
Primary URL Description: NA
Secondary URL Description: NA
Audience: K - 12

ARAB 102: Elementary Arabic (Course or Curricular Material)
Title: ARAB 102: Elementary Arabic
Author: Dr. Ahmed Bouguarche
Abstract: This course is an introduction to the Arabic language. The focus will be on the Arabic alphabet and the linguistic skills of reading, writing, listening, speaking, and culture. Basic conversational skills will deal with everyday life and concrete topics such as family and friends, likes and dislikes, exchange of common courtesies, places of origin, weather, etc. This section is mostly lab work.
Year: 2012
Primary URL Description: NA
Secondary URL Description: NA
Audience: K - 12

What is MEIS (Film/TV/Video Broadcast or Recording)
Title: What is MEIS
Writer: Jesse Ickler and Melissa Wall
Director: Jesse Ickler, Melissa Wall & Nayereh Tohidi
Producer: Jesse Ickler
Abstract: A brief description of what Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program is and how students can benefit from a minor in MEIS. Some voices of students, professors and community members are represented who encourage students to chose MEIS as their minor.
Year: 2015
Primary URL: https://youtu.be/gpXGHGPvP4Y
Secondary URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJqtBXHFVZI
Access Model: Open access through the MEIS website and Youtube
Format: Video
Format: Web

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