BA in Islamic World Studies in Chicago United States | DePaul University

The Islamic World Studies (IWS) program provides an interdisciplinary examination of both Muslim-majority and minority communities worldwide. This curriculum delves into the political systems, geographical contexts, historical developments, and cultural expressions of these societies, offering students a comprehensive education that reflects the multifaceted nature of its focus. Drawing from diverse academic fields such as Finance, Geography, History, Art History, International Studies, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, and Gender Studies, the program covers regions spanning Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Europe, and the Americas. As the world's second-largest and fastest-growing faith with nearly 2 billion followers—including about 3.5 million in the U.S. and 300,000 in Chicago—Islam remains widely misunderstood in American society. IWS seeks to address this knowledge gap by equipping students to formulate historically contextualized, regionally nuanced, and analytically sophisticated questions relevant to today's pressing issues. Ultimately, the program cultivates globally aware citizens in an Islam-influenced world and prepares graduates for professional paths in government, international relations, social work, healthcare, education, banking, law, cultural preservation, research institutions, and creative fields.