Indian Ocean Studies Minor
- Curricular Field Chair: Professor Rogaia Abusharaf
- Curricular Dean: Dean Christine Schiwietz
The Indian Ocean Minor is a dynamic and interdisciplinary field of study that encompasses a vast array of disciplines spanning the Indian Ocean rim. This academic pursuit offers a unique lens through which to examine the intricate web of connections that have shaped the region’s history, culture, and geopolitics for millennia. The minor will help students navigate the rich cultural connections, circulations and complexities along the Ocean’s littoral. This emerging focus reflects a growing recognition of the Indian Ocean’s crucial role in global history and contemporary international relations.
Stretching from the eastern coast of Africa to the western shores of Australia, and from South East Asia to the Antarctic, the Indian Ocean has been a vital conduit for trade, migration, and cultural exchange for over 5,000 years. This vast maritime space has facilitated the movement of people, ideas, and goods, fostering the development of complex societies and intricate trade networks that have left an indelible mark on world history. Our key areas of study within the Indian Ocean Minor include:
- Maritime Trade and Economic Network
- Cultural Exchange and Diaspora Studies: Analyzing the movement of peoples, languages, and cultural practices across the ocean rim
- Religious Interactions: Exploring the spread and adaptation of major world religions, including Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity, throughout the Indian Ocean world
- Environmental History and Marine Ecology
- Geopolitics and International Relations: Studying historical and current political dynamics, conflicts, and collaborations among nations bordering the Indian Ocean
- Literature and Arts: Examining the rich literary traditions and artistic expressions that have emerged from and been influenced by Indian Ocean cultures
Interdisciplinary Focus
Our Interdisciplinary Approach at GUQ comports with the important scholarship about the Indian Ocean by drawing from existing and ongoing curriculum offerings.
Students at Georgetown University in Qatar (GUQ) minoring in Indian Ocean Studies have the opportunity to draw from a diverse range of existing courses across multiple disciplines, including Anthropology, History, Economics, Literature, and Political Science. Also, students are strongly encouraged to expand their studies, incorporating selective coursework from the respective Education City institutions. This process is completed in consultation with the Curricular Chair.
Minor Requirements
- An introductory course, CULP 2270: Introduction to the Indian Ocean World
- Five elective courses to build regional expertise in African and Asian Studies on transregional connections in the Indian Ocean
**Please note that fifty percent (50%) of course content must be related to a specific country, set of countries, or cultures within the Indian Ocean rim. Thematic relevance, temporal scope, and research must be considered**
Relevant Sample Coursework
- ANTH 4129: Indian Ocean Research
- ARTH 2820: Theorizing Art in Qatar
- CULP 3371: Public Knowledge-Digital Deep
- CULP 3374: Thinkers of the Global South
- CULP 3470: Pearling Worlds
- HIST 1301: History of China I
- HIST 2107: Global Oceans: Themes and Connections
- HIST 4610: Sufism – A Social History
- IPOL 3574: Energy in Sub-Saharan Africa
- IPOL 4481: Resistance, Rebellion, Revolution
Affiliated Faculty
The faculty spans an array of disciplines and expertise. To learn more, visit the Indian Ocean Working Group affiliated faculty page.