Student Engagement through SSiMS
The faculty who collaborate with SSiMS are interested in engaging with students about scientific ideas in Muslim societies.
Hampshire College students may register for classes at any of the Five Colleges institutions.
Courses of Interest
The courses listed below may be of interest to students interested in modern Muslim societies. See the Five-College course catalog for more information. The courses are not necessarily offered every year; email the instructor for more information about when a particular course might be offered in the future.
Course title, institution, course number, and instructor:
"History of Science in the Muslim World," Hampshire College CS 0180, Salman Hameed
"Science and Religion: Biological Evolution in the Public Sphere" Hampshire College CS 0215, Salman Hameed
"Science and Muslims 1800-Now," Hampshire College CS 0291, Salman Hameed
"Evolution, Islam and Modernity," Hampshire College CS 0308, Salman Hameed
"Religion and Science Fiction," Mount Holyoke College 110SF, Amina Steinfels
"Debating Muslims," Amherst College Rel. 382, Tariq Jaffer
"Nature of Religion," Amherst College Rel. 210, Tariq Jaffer
"Knowledge Triumphant," Amherst College Rel. 284, Tariq Jaffer
"Islamic Thought and Modernity," Smith College Rel. 246, Suleiman Mourad
Student Research Projects
Hampshire College student engagement is often through development of projects that the students do in conjunction with faculty. Students take part in faculty research through paid work and self-directed project participation. Undergraduate students participated in the research funded by Dr. Hameed's grant in 2008-2009 as well as in cataloging videos through the 2014-15 grant. Students interested in the intersections of Islam and science may work with faculty across the Five College system to tailor their studies. Students are encouraged to present their research at conferences, such as the "Darwin and Evolution in the Muslim World" conference.
Division III projects (similar to a capstone project) that students have done with Center faculty:
- Donald Everhart, "Coherence in Science and Religion"
The project had two parts. The first part consisted of an analysis of texts in order to determine how the authors were using constructs of "science" and "religion" to see whether they were presented as being in harmony or discordant. The second part laid the groundwork for the interview study, survey, and coding systems for the research on Pakistani physicians done as a part of the NSFÂ grant in 2008-2009. Don reports that "it was a terrific opportunity for an undergraduate that is still yielding fruit six years after its inception."