Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies

The Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies is an interdisciplinary unit within the UIUC College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Illinois focusing on the cultures, societies and countries of the Middle East and South Asia. CSAMES organizes lectures, cultural events, symposia, community events and conferences to bring together faculty, visiting researchers and students who share a common interest in these areas.
The center oversees a Master of Arts in Asian Studies with a concentration in South Asian or Middle Eastern Studies, and undergraduate minors in South Asian and Islamic studies.
CSAMES is also engaged with communities outside the University of Illinois. The outreach program aims to provide assistance, resources, and materials to K-12 teachers and other educational programs to enrich their curricula with information about the Middle East and South Asia. In the last one year, the Center has partnered with institutions such as Urbana Free Library, Champaign Public Library, First Mennonite Church,
Central Illinois Mosque and Islamic Center and Spurlock Museum as well as student bodies on campus like Muslim Students Association] and Arab Students Association to increase awareness about South Asia and Middle East through cultural tools like films, documentaries, food, folktales, stories and discussions.
The Center has also received a grant from Social Science Research Council (SSRC) as part of the New York-based organization’s project. The SSRC grant enables CSAMES to organize film screenings, radio shows, talks and lectures that engage the community.
Masters of arts program
The Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies administers the South Asian and Middle Eastern specialization of the MA in Asian Studies, which is offered through the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures. Students in this specialization focus on either South Asian Studies or Middle Eastern Studies. Admissions, advising, and evaluation of students’ progress in the South Asian and Middle Eastern specialization are the responsibility of CSAMES.
The MA program provides basic preparation in language and area training for students intending either to continue in a Ph.D. program in a related field or to enter a career not requiring a doctorate.
Islamic world studies minor
The Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies offers an interdisciplinary minor in Islamic World Studies. The minor is designed for students interested in developing an expertise in one or more parts of the Islamic World or in Islamic culture generally, as a complement to their disciplinary major. Completion of the minor requires 20 credit hours in applicable courses with a minimum grade-point average of 2.75. The courses selected by students for the Minor should form a coherent program of study and must meet the approval of the Director in the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
South asian studies minor
The Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies offers an interdisciplinary minor in South Asian Studies. The minor is especially suited for students with a South Asia focus as a complement to their disciplinary study. The structure of the minor provides students a great amount of flexibility; possible areas of emphasis include language and literature, as well as history and social sciences.
A minimum grade-point average of 2.75 in South Asian Studies courses is required for completion of the minor. The 18-20 hours of courses selected by students for the South Asian Studies Minor should form a coherent program of study and must meet the approval of an advisor in the Center for South Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. The program must include at least 6 hours at the advanced level (400 or approved 300). A student’s plan of courses for the minor must be approved by the Center. The Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences will verify that students have completed the program, on the recommendation of the Director of the Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies.
Current staff
* Director: Valerie Hoffman
* Associate Director: Angela Williams
Former directors
* Hadi Salehi Esfahani
* Marvin Weinbaum
* Hans Henrich Hock
* Kenneth Cuno
* Marilyn Booth
Research professors
* Eric Calderwood
* Rajmohan Gandhi
Further reading
* Peterson's Guide

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