Summer 2026 Courses

* Approved DEI Course *

This course explores the history and lived experiences of Muslims in the United States from the colonial era to the present. Beginning with the arrival of enslaved African Muslims through the Atlantic slave trade, the course traces the development of Muslim communities across American history, including Arab and Muslim immigration to industrial centers such as Detroit and Dearborn during the rise of the automobile industry in the early twentieth century. The course also examines the transformative impact of the 1965 Hart-Celler Immigration Act, which opened the door to new waves of immigration from Muslim-majority societies. Drawing on historical, sociological, and religious perspectives, students will study how Muslims in America have practiced their faith, built communities, and navigated changing political and social conditions, particularly in the post-9/11 era. The course pays special attention to influential figures such as Malcolm X, Sharifa Alkhateeb, and Mahmood Mamdani, while also examining broader questions of race, citizenship, belonging, and religious identity. Students will explore contemporary issues, including Islamophobia, the “Muslim Ban,” media representation, surveillance, and the rise of Trumpism, analyzing how Muslim Americans have responded to exclusion and racism over national identity in modern America.