穆斯林社会的历史和文化计划重点研究穆斯林社会的历史，文学，哲学，宗教思想和法律制度。它的主要优势在于涵盖了近现代和现代时期的广泛研究领域，尤其是近东和中东的伊斯兰文明。由于人们越来越认识到，对伊斯兰教和穆斯林社会的研究必须包括对已经成为世界不同地区穆斯林文化组成部分的不同种族，种族和宗教群体的更广泛，更具包容性的研究，该计划还提供学生有机会参与对穆斯林社会的比较研究，特别是在南亚和非洲以及与近东的复杂联系中。
The Histories and Cultures of Muslim Societies program focuses on the histories, literatures, philosophy, religious thought, and legal institutions of Muslim societies. Its primary strength lies in the coverage of a broad range of fields of study in pre-modern and modern periods, particularly with regard to Islamic civilizations in the Near and Middle East. As a result of a growing recognition that the study of Islam and Muslim societies must embrace wider, more inclusive study of the diverse ethnic, racial, and religious groups that have been constituents of Muslim cultures in different parts of the world, the program also provides students the opportunity to engage in the comparative study of Muslim societies, particularly in South Asia and Africa and their complex connections with the Near East.