Islamic Art and Architecture Courses

IAA375 Introduction to Islamic Art (650-1650)

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is an introduction to the arts of the Muslim world from the rise of Islam until the advent of the early modern period. This course comprises a selective survey of artifacts drawn from a variety of media that represent the pinnacles of artistic accomplishment across the vast expanse of the Islamic world. Paintings, textiles, coins, ceramics, metal work, jewelry, and woodcarving will be investigated in the context of cultural history and examined in terms of their evolving forms, multiple meanings, and the development of a distinctively Islamic aesthetic. Particular emphasis will be placed on the spiritual content of Islamic art, the role of the artist in Islamic society, and the effect of religious pronouncements on the production of art.

IAA375H Introduction to Islamic Art (650-1650)

[3–0, 3 cr.]

Introductory course to the arts of the Muslim world from the rise of Islam until the advent of the early modern period. This course will comprise a selective survey of artifacts drawn from a variety of media which represent the pinnacles of artistic accomplishment across the vast expanse of the Islamic world. Paintings, textiles, coins, ceramics, metal work, jewelry, and woodcarving will be investigated in the context of cultural history and examined in terms of their evolving forms, multiple meanings, and the development of a distinctively Islamic aesthetic. Particular emphasis will be placed on the spiritual content of Islamic art, the role of the artist in Islamic society, and the effect of religious pronouncements on the production of art.

IAA376 Introduction to Islamic Architecture (650-1650)

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces Islamic architecture through a series of discussions of key monuments and types of architectural work in the Islamic world from the beginning of Islam in the seventh century to the eighteenth century. It provides the student with an overall presentation of various architectural types and styles that shaped the distinct nature of Islamic architecture that expand from Spain in the west to India in the east, and from central Asia in the north to central Africa in the south, including the development of the architectural traditions in Arab, Persian and Turkish speaking countries. In addition to surveying these monuments, in a chronological order, some aspects of contemporary methodology will be addressed in providing ways of analyzing and understanding Islamic work of art in broader social, intellectual and historical contexts. The lectures also touch upon the relevance of Islamic architecture to our contemporary urban and architectural culture, both in its western and eastern aspects.

IAA481 Contemporary Art in the Islamic World

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course will explore contemporary artistic developments in the Islamic world, with a focus on recent artistic works in the Middle East. It will also focus on the critical reception of such artworks in their original settings, as well as internationally.

Pre-requisite: IAA375 Introduction to Islamic Art

IAA595 International Studio

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course involves a study abroad program, covering specific works of art and architecture in the Islamic world or reflecting Islamic culture, supported by a preparatory series of lectures/presentations about the study abroad program . Students would be required to analyze and document specific works and study their relationship to the area’s urban history and culture, to be documented and presented in a portfolio.

Pre-requisite: IAA375 Introduction to Islamic Art, or IAA376 Introduction to Islamic Architecture

IAA711 Graduate Survey of Islamic Architecture

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This reading intensive lecture course surveys the development of Islamic architecture from the middle of the 7th century to the 18th century. Emphasis will be on contextualizing the architectural development within the development of various politics and cultures in Islamic societies.

IAA712 Graduate Survey of the Islamic Arts

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This lecture-and reading- intensive course explores the arts in Islamic history across all media. It strives  to provide various methods of studying the art objects, as well as relating the visual analysis to various contexts including textual, social, scientific, and technological parameters. It offers selected in depth readings into the formation of visual culture in Islamic societies.

IAA721 Field Research & Studies

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This is a course in the practices of critical reading, thesis-driven writing, and scholarly research methods in Islamic art history. This course will consist of independent study and on-site research at a historical site relevant to Islamic Art & Architecture. The course provides a forum for students to share their research and writing, leading to the completion of their MA Thesis proposal.

IAA722 Special Topics

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course will be given on a topic of contemporary relevance, that would explore new areas of research, accommodate students’ areas of focus, location of the research, or pertinent to the expertise of a visiting professor. The selected topic would focus on specific themes, periods, or a particular medium.

IAA731 Graduate Seminar

[3–0, 3 cr.]

The graduate seminar introduces students to advanced research methods and critical analysis in a specialized area of Islamic art and architecture. It provides a forum for developing independent research, refining scholarly writing, and cultivating the analytical and methodological skills required for original academic work.

IAA741 Byzantine and Early Islamic Art and Architecture

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course examines the formation and developments of several periods in Western Asia from the founding of Constantinople in the middle of the 4th century to the middle of the 9th century. It explores the influences of Hellenistic culture in the development of the Late Antique, Byzantine and Early Islamic periods. Emphasis will be on culture interruption, continuity, appropriation, and influences.

Pre-requisite: ARCH371 History of Architecture I

IAA742 The Art and Architecture of the Ayyubids and the Mamluks

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores the development of Ayyubid and Mamluk art and architecture, drawing on ongoing scholarship in the field. It surveys the development of art and architecture between 1171 and 1516, with a special emphasis on field studies in Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. The lectures would also address the various methods to approach the arts and architecture of this period. Essential to the course is reading primary sources- historical texts and documents- and exploring the complexity of relationships between the various social aspects and art and architecture of the period.

Pre-requisite: ARCH371 History of Architecture I, or IAA375 Introduction to Islamic Art, or IAA376 Introduction to Islamic Architecture

IAA743 Identity and Modernity in the Middle East

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course will trace architectural developments in the Middle East from the end of the Nineteenth century to the present. It addresses issues of architectural design in the Middle East in the twentieth century. Emphasis will be on the flux between modernist architecture and regional identity, with special consideration of the revival of Islamic architecture in 20th century. The impact of Modernism on urban development and the expansion of major cities, including  Beirut, Damascus, Cairo, Baghdad, Tehran, and Istanbul will also be discussed.

IAA744 Ornament in Islamic Art and Architecture

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course explores the significance of ornament in Islamic art and architecture through historical, theoretical, and methodological perspectives. It introduces major theories of ornament from the nineteenth century to the present. It examines their relevance to Islamic art. Students will conduct independent research based on archival sources, fieldwork, and visual analysis to investigate the production, meaning, and use of ornament across different media and periods.

Pre-requisite: ARCH371 History of Architecture I, or IAA375 Introduction to Islamic Art, or IAA376 Introduction to Islamic Architecture

IAA745 Calligraphy in Islamic Art and Architecture

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course provides an intensive survey of the historical development of the Arabic script and its application across a wide range of artistic and architectural media. It examines the central role of calligraphy in Islamic cultures, exploring its aesthetic, religious, intellectual, and cultural significance. Emphasis is placed on the communicative, decorative, and symbolic functions of calligraphy in both religious and secular contexts, including manuscripts, architecture, ceramics, metalwork, textiles, and other artistic media. Through close visual analysis and selected case studies, students will investigate the evolution of Arabic scripts and the diverse ways calligraphy has shaped the visual culture of the Islamic world.

IAA746 Geometry in Islamic Art and Architecture

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course examines the role of geometry in Islamic art and architecture within the broader context of the history of science in the Islamic world. It explores the rich body of scholarship on geometric design, introducing major theories concerning its origins, construction, function, and meaning. Through a series of case studies, students will analyze geometric patterns across a variety of artistic and architectural media, investigating their aesthetic, mathematical, symbolic, and structural dimensions. The course combines theoretical inquiry with close visual analysis to examine the enduring significance of geometry in Islamic visual culture.

Note: This course has not been taught since Fall 2024 and will not be taught in this academic year 2026–2027.

IAA747 Figural Representation in Islamic Art

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course surveys the development of figural representation in Islamic art across a wide range of artistic media. It examines the production, function, and reception of images in manuscripts, portable objects, and architectural contexts, with particular attention to the relationship between text and image in illustrated manuscripts. Through selected case studies, students will explore diverse modes of visual representation, narrative strategies, iconography, and patronage, while considering the social, cultural, and religious contexts in which images were created and viewed. The course also addresses major scholarly debates concerning the role and meaning of figural imagery in Islamic visual culture.

IAA799 Master’s Thesis

[6–0, 6 cr.]

The Master’s Thesis is the culminating requirement of the MA program and consists of an original research project conducted under the supervision of a faculty advisor. The thesis is completed by submitting a substantial scholarly study prepared in accordance with the program’s guidelines. It is not an expanded term paper, but a carefully structured, multi-chapter investigation of a significant topic that demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent research and present a sustained analytical argument. The thesis should normally be between 20,000 and 30,000 words (excluding footnotes, bibliography, and appendices), and must include a complete scholarly apparatus, including footnotes, bibliography, illustrations, and other relevant documentation.