Aligarh Muslim University

Department of West Asian Studies

and North African Studies

Faculty of International Studies  |  Established 1967

Vision  ·  Mission  ·  PEOs  ·  Program Outcomes (POs)

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The Department of West Asian Studies and North African Studies (formerly the Centre of West Asian Studies, CWAS) was established in 1967 as an independent, interdisciplinary area study centre at the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh. On the recommendation of the UGC Expert Committee Report, the status of the Centre was subsequently converted into a full-fledged Department of Studies in 1996. The geographic area under the Department’s study encompasses Iran, the Fertile Crescent, Turkey, the Arabian Peninsula, and the North African region, a vast and culturally diverse arc that has been central to the course of human civilisation and continues to shape global geopolitics, economics, and culture in the twenty-first century.

The Department’s faculty represents a variety of disciplines, including Geography, Political Science, Economics, History, Sociology, Arabic, and International Relations, enabling a rich, multidisciplinary approach to the study of the region. Besides multi-disciplinary research, the Department is actively engaged in teaching, training, and evaluation at both the graduate and postgraduate levels.

Since 1991, the Department has significantly expanded its academic activities by introducing full-fledged teaching programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Further, in the academic session 2025–26, an undergraduate major programme in International Studies was also launched. In addition to these programmes, the Department offers a one-year part-time Diploma course. The Department has further proposed the establishment of a specialised programme in International Migration as an independent Centre, reflecting its commitment to emerging academic and policy-relevant areas.

Alongside its teaching responsibilities, the Department actively engages in in-depth research and regularly organises conferences, seminars, symposia, workshops, and group discussions on diverse aspects of the region.

The Department has been actively contributing to academic scholarship through its publications. The Department has been publishing the Journal of West Asian Studies since 1983, establishing itself as a pioneer in the field. This journal (annual; ISSN: 0975-7856) is recognized as the only Indian journal devoted exclusively to research on the West Asian region, and all issues since 1983 are also available online in the Journal section of the Department’s website. Building on this legacy, the Department has initiated the bi-annual publication of the Journal of West Asian Studies since 2025 to meet the growing demand for research in West Asian Studies. These publications collectively contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and advancement of research in the field. In addition, the Department also brought out the West Asia Bulletin (bi-annual; ISSN: 0975-7856), a classified documentation bulletin covering periodicals, journals, magazines, and newsletters available in the Department’s library.

Since its inception in 1967, the Department functioned under the Faculty of Social Sciences. However, through sustained efforts of the Department of West Asian Studies, a new faculty was established, and since 2015, the Department has been functioning under the Faculty of International Studies, one of AMU’s premier academic faculties.

VISION

• To provide quality, interdisciplinary education on the region’s languages, history, politics, economy, and society.

• To train skilled social scientists for academic, research, and administrative roles in India and abroad.

• To promote critical and advanced research on the WANA region.

• To foster interdisciplinary collaboration across social science disciplines.

• To introduce innovative programmes addressing emerging regional and global challenges.

• To uphold values of intellectual integrity, intercultural respect, and global citizenship.

MISSION

​To expand the Department of West Asian and North African Studies both vertically and horizontally, strengthening its academic and research profile.

• To continuously update and introduce new courses and programmes in response to emerging academic and global developments.

• To significantly enhance the Department’s global academic footprint by fostering sustained collaborations with world-class universities and institutions through joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, academic visits, and active participation in international conferences, seminars, and workshops.

• To promote and strengthen India–West Asia relations for mutual academic, economic, and strategic benefit.

Program Educational Objectives (PEOs)

The Program Educational Objectives describe what graduates of the Department are expected to achieve within a few years of their graduation. The PEOs of the Department of West Asian Studies and North African Studies, AMU, are:

PEO 1: Demonstrate specialised, interdisciplinary knowledge of the political, economic, historical, and socio-cultural dimensions of the WANA region.

PEO 2: Attain proficiency in Arabic/other regional languages and communicate effectively in academic, professional, and cross-cultural contexts.

PEO 3: Produce and contribute original research to national and international academic and policy discourse.

PEO 4: Apply conflict and peace studies frameworks to analyse regional issues and engage with policy challenges.

PEO 5: Perform effectively in diverse professional roles with ethical responsibility, global citizenship, and cultural sensitivity.

Program Outcomes define the knowledge, skills, and attributes that students are expected to attain by the time of graduation from each programme offered by the Department.

5.1  BA International Studies (Major)

Upon successful completion of the BA International Studies programme, students will be able to:

PO 1: Understand core theories of International Relations and apply them to analyze global events and conflicts.

PO 2: Demonstrate foundational knowledge of world history, politics, economy, and culture.

PO 3: Develop basic to intermediate proficiency in Arabic as a foreign language for global engagement.

PO 4: Compare political systems and governance structures across different countries.

PO 5: Trace major historical developments shaping the modern international system.

PO 6: Explain global economic geography, resources, and international trade dynamics.

PO 7: Understand key principles of global economics and international trade.

PO 8: Appreciate cultural diversity and demonstrate intercultural competence in a global context.

PO 9: Apply research skills and academic writing for analysing international issues.

PO 10: Explain the structure and functioning of major international and regional organizations.

PO 11: Develop ethical reasoning and a sense of global citizenship in international affairs.

Table 1: Mapping of Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) with Programme Outcomes (POs) in BA Major (International Studies)

The PEO–PO mapping reflects a strong alignment between interdisciplinary knowledge, research capability, policy engagement, and ethical professional development.

MA (International and West Asian Studies)

Upon successful completion of the MA programme, students will be able to:

PO 1: Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the political, economic, and socio-cultural dynamics of West Asia and North Africa.

PO 2: Attain advanced proficiency in Arabic for engaging with original regional sources and documents.

PO 3: Apply theoretical frameworks and research methodologies to analyze regional and international issues.

PO 4: Use conflict resolution and peace studies approaches to assess and address regional conflicts.

PO 5: Evaluate the political economy, development models, and economic transformations of WANA states.

PO 6: Analyze geopolitical and strategic dynamics, including energy politics and global power relations.

PO 7: Conduct independent research and produce scholarly work suitable for academic publication.

PO 8: Compare political, economic, and social trends across WANA sub-regions.

PO 9: Communicate effectively through academic writing, policy briefs, and scholarly engagement.

PO 10: Demonstrate professional readiness with ethical responsibility and global citizenship.

Table 2: Mapping of Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) with Programme Outcomes (POs) in  MA West Asian and International Studies Programme

The integrated PEOs–POs
matrix ensures alignment between programme objectives, learning outcomes, and course delivery, fostering knowledge, research, policy engagement, and professional competence.

Ph. D Program

Upon successful completion of the Doctoral programme, scholars will be able to:

PO 1: Demonstrate expert-level mastery of the political, economic, historical, and socio-cultural dimensions of the WANA region.

PO 2: Produce original and significant doctoral research suitable for peer-reviewed publication.

PO 3: Critically engage with and contribute to advanced theoretical frameworks across relevant disciplines.

PO 4: Design and execute rigorous research using advanced qualitative and quantitative methodologies.

PO 5: Disseminate research through publications, conferences, and scholarly outputs.

PO 6: Utilize advanced language skills to engage with primary sources and archival materials.

PO 7: Apply interdisciplinary and comparative approaches in scholarly research.

PO 8: Demonstrate academic leadership through teaching, supervision, and curriculum development.

PO 9: Translate research into policy insights and contribute to public and academic discourse.

PO 10: Uphold the highest standards of academic integrity and ethical research practices.

Table 3: Mapping of Programme Educational Objectives (PEOs) with Programme Outcomes (POs) in  Ph.D. Programme

The Ph.D. PEO–PO mapping ensures strong alignment between advanced research, theoretical innovation, academic leadership, and ethical scholarly practice.

Programme Outcomes (POs) for a One-Year Part-Time Diploma in West Asian Studies

PO 1: Understand the basic geography, history, and regional setting of West Asia.

PO 2: Explain key political systems, governance structures, and regional dynamics.

PO 3: Describe the economic features, including oil economies and trade patterns.

PO 4: Analyse social and cultural aspects of West Asian societies.

PO 5: Develop basic Arabic language skills for elementary understanding and communication.

PO 6: Demonstrate awareness of contemporary regional issues and their global relevance.

PG Diploma in Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies (Discontinue)

Established on 01 April 2010 under the UGC’s Innovative Programme in interdisciplinary and emerging areas, this one-year autonomous programme draws faculty from Political Science, Economics, International Relations, History, and Geography. Upon completion, students will be able to:

PO 1: Analyse the sources, types, and dynamics of conflicts using a multidisciplinary approach.

PO 2: Evaluate frameworks of peace, security, and conflict resolution including mediation and peacebuilding.

PO 3: Examine the role of cultural, religious, and political identities in conflicts and reconciliation processes.

PO 4: Apply practical conflict resolution, negotiation, and peacebuilding skills in real-world contexts.

PO 5: Assess policy responses to conflicts and develop evidence-based recommendations for sustainable peace.

Generic Elective (GE) and Minor Courses

The Department offers Generic Elective and Minor courses accessible to students from all disciplines across Aligarh Muslim University. Upon completion, students will be able to:

PO 1: Identify key political, geographical, historical, and cultural features of the WANA region.

PO 2: Develop basic Arabic language skills for elementary communication and understanding.

PO 3: Demonstrate awareness of major contemporary regional and global issues.

PO 4: Understand the historical and strategic dimensions of India’s relations with West Asia.

PO 5: Appreciate cultural and religious diversity with intercultural sensitivity.

PO 6: Develop a sense of global citizenship regarding peace, development, and international cooperation.