The creation of the Institute for the Study of Muslim Societies and Civilizations at Boston University reflects the university's long-standing commitment to the advancement of scholarship of the Muslim world. The Institute will act as an interdisciplinary meeting point for scholars and researchers in diverse fields - ranging from anthropology, history, religion, politics, literature, language, and the arts - across the regions in which Muslims live - from the Americas to Europe, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia. Through this scholarship the institute seeks to protect and preserve the heritage of the Muslim world.

The Institute is committed to educating a new generation of exceptional scholars in the varied and cross-disciplinary fields of Muslim studies. In support of this commitment, the University recently acquired four major Middle Eastern and Central Asian libraries to significantly expand Boston University's holdings. The Institute will continue to build on these resources, by acquiring additional books, journals, periodicals, and works of art - making Boston University a major center of research on the Muslim world.

The Institute intends to design, with existing departments, unique academic programs at both the masters and doctoral level that are tailored to individual students' disciplines and interests. In addition to existing fellowships and other resources provided by the University, the Institute will attract external support for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships, for visiting lecturers, and for endowed professorships.