ObjectivesStudents who complete the Master of Islamic Studies will have an understanding of: * Methodological issues in several key areas of Islamic studies; * Current issues and challenges in each of the selected specialised areas of the course; * The philosophical and theoretical underpinnings of Islamic perspectives on the social sciences such as education, economics, anthropology, politics and sociology; * Major trends of contemporary Islamic thought and the social, political, and historical context within which this thought is shaped; * Contemporary attempts at reform; * How to design and write a preparatory research dissertation on an Islamic studies topic; * Key issues that arise in interdisciplinary contexts of research in Islamic studies.
Academic titleMaster of Islamic Studies
Course description200-point program:
Duration: 2 years full-time / up to 4 years part-time
First 100 points:
* two compulsory subjects (25 points)
* six elective subjects (75 points)
Second 100 points: Refer to the 100-point program below.
Total 200 points - subjects are 12.5 points each, unless indicated otherwise.
150-point program:
Duration: 1.5 years full-time / up to 3 years part-time
* two compulsory subjects (25 points)
* two elective subjects (25 points)
Final 100 points: Refer to the 100-point program below.
100-point program:
Duration: 1 year full-time / up to 2 years part-time
* two compulsory subjects (25 points)
* six elective subjects OR
* three elective subjects (37.5 points) and a thesis (37.5 points)
Total 100 points - subjects are 12.5 points each, unless indicated otherwise.
Compulsory subjects
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-480 The Qur'an and its Interpretation
This subject will explore the development of Qur'anic sciences from the emergence of Islam to the modern era, the history of the Qur'anic text, the theories of revelation in Islam and the contribution of Muslim and Western scholars of the Q... Semester 2 12.50
110-481 Methodologies of Hadith
This subject will survey the development of Hadith literature from its earliest times exploring the methodologies of scholars of Hadith and their ways of dealing with the Sunnah of the Prophet. It will elaborate on salient features of these methodolo... Semester 2 12.50
110-483 Muslim Philosophical Traditions
This subject will focus on the rich heritage of Muslim philosophy, especially in metaphysics, epistemology and logic. It will survey the development of Islamic philosophy, from the period of translation in the Abbasid era till present. Students will ... Semester 2 12.50
110-590 Critical Asian Perspectives
This subject aims to consolidate and develop fourth year and postgraduate coursework students' intellectual conception of the interdisciplinary field of Asian Studies. Students will deepen their understanding of their chosen field through readin... Semester 1 12.50
110-593 Conflict Resolution in the Middle East
This subject will explore the patterns of civil and international conflict in Islamic societies in the Middle East and attempts at its resolution. Specifically, it will highlight how a variety of formal and informal conflict resolution mechanisms hav... Semester 1 12.50
110-594 Islam and Politics
This subject will explore the origins of "political Islam" or "Islamism"- a backlash against the economic, political and cultural dominance of the ‘West’. It will survey the gamu... Semester 2 12.50
Islamic Studies electives
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-405 Topics in Arabic & Islamic Studies
This subject involves a series of seminar presentations and discussions on a topic or topics of contemporary or special interest in Arabic and Islamic Studies. Topics will vary from year to year, depending on current events and the interests of the p... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
110-482 Islamic Theology: Schools and Methods
This subject looks at the history and development of Islamic "theology" from its origins to the present day. Students will explore early religio-political and theological debates within a socio-historical context. The rise of ... Semester 1 12.50
110-485 Methods of Islamic Law
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
110-539 Islamic Studies Thesis
A thesis of 12,000 words on a topic chosen by the student, in consultation with the supervisor. Semester 1, Semester 2 37.50
110-561 Islamic Education: Philosophy & Methods
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
131-415 Middle Eastern Wars: Jihad & Resistance
The basic meaning of the word Jihad is 'effort,' one to achieve a positive goal. The effort can be personal and spiritual, to achieve piety and moral integrity, or collective and physical participation in warfare to protect or advance a mor... Semester 2 12.50
Other electives
Subject Semester Credit Points
110-448 Supervised Reading (Asia Institute)
This subject offers students the chance to undertake independent research in their respective disciplines in areas of interest to them, and present the findings in a scholarly manner. Topics might include aspects of regional history, ethnic groups, l... Semester 1, Semester 2 12.50
110-553 Human Rights in Southeast Asia
This seminar will focus on human rights and its critics from a historical and comparative perspective. We will explore the factors that have given rise to radically different conception of rights and justice (i.e. political, economic, cultural, relig... Semester 2 12.50
100-570 Global Media: Theory and Research
This subject provides students with a foundation of advanced understanding of global and international media communication in respect of both the recent past and contemporary world. The subject will encourage students to engage with empirical case st... Semester 2 25
131-706 Diplomacy & Cross-Cultural Communication
This subject will not be available in 2009 12.50
166-511 US Foreign Policy
This subject will address key questions for evaluating American leadership since 1989. We will look specifically at the leadership offered by George Bush snr., Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. How different is the approach taken by these presidents t... Semester 2 12.50