The various aspects of Islam as a religion, a culture, and a civilization will be covered in this course. After a brief historical survey, students will study the core religious beliefs on which Islamic civilization is built, then focus on the many manifestations of the culture that embody these beliefs: ethics and the law; family and women; social and political structures; sects and mysticism; visual arts and music. Some of the contemporary issues that face the Muslim world will be reviewed and discussed.