Islamic Studies at Columbia University

Columbia is a leading institution in the field of Islamic Studies. This distinguished history of scholarship at the university dates to the 19th century and includes innovative faculty research and publication on such venerable topics as Islamic law and the study of the Qur’an, alongside instruction in regional languages. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Columbia University was the academic home of Professor Edward Said, who elaborated a critique of “Orientalism” and inspired succeeding generations of scholars and students at the university and elsewhere to develop new ways of studying Islamic traditions and Muslim communities in a global context.

To continue this rich history of Islamic studies at Columbia, in 2018, MEI helped found the Center for the Study of Muslim Societies (CSMS). This emerging collective acts as an umbrella for faculty collaborations in cutting-edge research, integrated programming, innovative teaching and new forms of public outreach across the related fields of research on Islam and Muslim societies at Columbia University. CSMS addresses majority and minority Muslim societies, and their intersections with other religions, cultures and secular outlooks. It crosses disciplines, area specializations and schools to create an institutional venue for faculty to collaborate on scholarly projects, build new initiatives and develop pedagogical tools. CSMS draws together over 80 Columbia scholars and 14 language lecturers concerned with aspects of Muslim societies, including those in the Middle East, Africa, South and Southeast Asia, Europe and the Americas. CSMS also benefits from strong student engagement and leadership in developing new programming and undertaking new research in the field. Learn more about CSMS here.

You can find more details on the range of faculty affiliated with the Middle East Institute here.