Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - HUM 347 B100

Religion, Culture, and Society (4)

Intersecting Cultures: Islam in Europe and NA

Class Number: 4726

Delivery Method: Blended

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines how religious beliefs, cultural expressions, and social structures interact to shape identities and public life. Through an interdisciplinary approach, students critically analyze historical and contemporary influences to uncover the profound impact of faith and culture on societal change. May be repeated for credit when a different topic is taught. Students with credit for HUM 360 under the title "Islam and Muslims in the West" may not take this course for further credit. Breadth-Humanities.

COURSE DETAILS:

Intersecting Cultures: Islam in Europe and North America 


Embark on an engaging journey through "Intersecting Cultures: Islam in Europe and North America." Traverse the historical corridors of the complex interplay between Muslim and Western societies, from the spread of Islam across the Mediterranean and Europe to Western colonial expansion into Muslim-majority lands, and the consequent wave of Muslim migration across the globe.  

Uncover the pivotal role of Islam and the "Muslim Other" in shaping Europe and the "West" as distinct cultural and political entities. Begin your exploration through the lens of medieval Spanish and Byzantine epics, recounting the first encounters between Muslims and Europeans. Venture forth into the chronicles of Arab conquests, the Ottoman expansion into Europe, and the shared existence of Christians, Muslims, and Jews in Europe.  

Explore the coexistence and conflict between Muslims and Christians, reflected vividly in popular, literary, visual, and artistic culture from those initial encounters to the present. Join us as we peel back layers of history to understand our intertwined world better. 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

This course empowers students to understand the complex relationship between Islam and the “West,” with particular attention to the presence of Muslim communities in, and their encounters with, European and North American societies. By the end of the course, students will be able to:

  1. Grasp the social and cultural constructs of Islam and the "West," enabling them to analyze these constructs from different perspectives, considering historical, social, and cultural contexts.
  2. Engage in critical discussions about the relationship between Islam and the "West." This includes debates on historical interactions, cultural exchanges, conflicts, and coexistence.
  3. Acquire an extensive knowledge of various authors, texts, and cultural products that explore the relationship between Islam and the "West." This familiarity will allow students to understand the various societal manifestations of these concepts.
  4. Gain proficiency in using academic sources efficiently. Students will learn to craft persuasive, logical, and well-structured arguments that contribute to the development of a thesis or the structuring of a paper. This will enhance their academic writing skills and enable them to present cogent arguments with clarity and conviction.

Grading

  • Participation 20%
  • Five short diary entries (600-800 words each) 50%
  • One in-class exam  30%

NOTES:

This course fulfills the Global Humanities requirements for the

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

The material we will use includes sociological and historical sources, literary texts from medieval, early modern, and contemporary periods, as well as spoken word, visual records, films, and TV series. The course also includes a day’s fieldwork in places related to Islam and the Muslim communities of Metro Vancouver.  

You will not need to buy a textbook.

REQUIRED READING:

Michel Houellebecq (2016). Submission: A Novel. Picador. 

Sherene Razack (2008). Casting Out: The Eviction of Muslims from Western Law and Politics. University of Toronto Press.  

Edward Said (1979). Orientalism. Vintage Books. 

Spyros A. Sofos and Roza Tsagarousianou (2013). Islam in Europe: Public Spaces and Civic Networks. Palgrave Macmillan. 

We will read selected passages from academic monographs and excerpts from all manner of primary sources written in the period under study. All books and assigned primary source materials will be available online on Canvas or freely accessible on the SFU library website. 

Additional material will be posted on Canvas.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.