Jewish, Islamic and Middle East Studies

A young woman with dark hair and a pink sweater looks down while writing as light streams through the windows behind her.
A young woman with dark hair and a pink sweater looks down while writing as light streams through the windows behind her.

Course Offerings for Fall 2024 (PDF)

Jewish, Islamic and Middle East studies (JIMES) illuminates the general questions of our liberal arts and sciences curriculum from the purview of Jews, Muslims, and other Middle Easterners. The program allows students interested in Jewish and Islamic religion and Middle Eastern history, politics, and culture to focus on a deeper understanding of the contribution of Judaism and Islam to the development of world civilizations. Part of what distinguishes this program from others like it nationally is that it requires students to understand the entangled and interconnected histories, cultures, and politics of Jews, Muslims, and other religious groups over time and in different contexts, as well as the similarities and conflicts between these groups. Furthermore, this program seeks to incorporate college-wide conversations about integration and diversity on campus with the rigors of academic investigation.

The wide-ranging curriculum draws from the departments of history, religion, and international studies, with courses ranging from Terrorism, Torture, and Anti-Colonialism to Sex, Gender, and Religious Identity in the Medieval World. Other program highlights include:

  • Islamophobia
  • Modern Islamic Thought
  • Israel-Palestine Conflict
  • US Foreign Policy in the Middle East
  • Religion & Politics
  • Rise of Authoritarianism
  • The Bible and Islam
  • Women in Islam
  • Islamic History and Civilization
  • Women in the Bible
  • Jews, Money, and Finance

This program houses three different minors in (1) Jewish Studies; (2) Islamic and Middle East Studies; and (3) Jewish, Islamic and Middle East Studies.

 

book jacket for Modern Things on Trial
JIMES Program Hosts Dr. Leor Halevi for Inaugural Event

The new Jewish, Islamic and Middle East Studies Program (JIMES) at Rhodes College hosted Dr. Leor Halevi for its first lecture. Halevi, associate professor of history at Vanderbilt University, spoke about his new book, Modern Things on Trial: Islam's Global and Material Reform in the Early 20th Century. 

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Faculty Accompishments

Learn more about recent publications and accomplishments of the JIMES faculty.

Related Links

Faculty & Staff

Sarah Ifft Decker
Assistant Professor of History
John Kaltner
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Virginia Ballou McGehee Professor of Muslim and Christian Relations, Chair of Religious Studies
Esen Kirdis
Associate Professor of International Studies, J.S. Seidman Research Fellow
Etty Terem
Professor of History and J.J. McComb Chair of History

Departmental News and Events

image of Sarah Ifft Decker standing outside on the Rhodes College campus
A book by Dr. Sarah Ifft Decker, assistant professor of history at Rhodes College, has been recognized with the La corónica International Book Award for best monograph on medieval Iberian literatures, languages, and cultures.
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head and shoulder image of Molly O'Shea
The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.
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image of a book in a library
Rhodes College faculty continuously explore topics in their areas of expertise and produce publishable work. The roundup shares some of their research and creative activity in the last three months.
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