Islamic Studies MA

Core modules

You will study three core modules:

This module focuses on the core disciplines of traditional Islamic religious thought: Qur’an, Hadith, sira, tafsir, Shari’a and fiqh. It also examines modern academic critical approaches to them. Through the study and discussion of key texts, you will engage with significant traditional and modern scholarship, be able to navigate critically through the relevant academic literature, and be able to argue coherently for your own particular points of view.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

This module focuses on 19th and 20th century trends in the study of societies and politics of the Muslim world, including debates around orientalism and women’s studies. Again, you will engage with significant traditional and modern scholarship, be able to navigate critically through the relevant academic literature, and be able to argue coherently for your own particular points of view.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

This module unpacks the core issues of researching in theology and religious studies. It addresses debates surrounding the design, conduct, ethics and evaluation of research in a multidisciplinary subject area. It prepares you to carry out independent research and to critically assess others’ research across a wide spectrum of approaches.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

You will also choose three optional modules from a range offered by both the University of Birmingham and the Al-Mahdi Institute (AMI). Options available typically include:

Options available in the Department of Theology and Religion:

• Feminism in the Muslim World
• Islam in Europe
• Islamic Philosophy
• Muslim Thinkers of the Western World
• Political Islam

It is also possible to select one of your options from others available in the School of Philosophy, Theology and Religion, by prior agreement with the programme and module leader.

Please note that these modules are only available to UK/EU students.

Focussing on the philosophical and theological ideas of mediaeval Arabic thinkers, this module provides you with an opportunity to study a range of thinkers and their ideas, ranging from topics such as the Graeco-Arabic translation movement during the so-called Islamic ‘Golden Age’, to the impact of Neoplatonism on Islamic philosophy, the proofs of God’s existence, political philosophy, theological reactions to Hellenistic philosophy, ethics and philosophical Sufism. It aims to give you the ability to navigate original texts in their historical context, the ability to unpack and assess philosophical arguments, to appreciate the ecumenical nature of shared philosophical and theological concerns among Jews, Christians and Muslims, and the ability to assess the compatibility or lack thereof of faith and reason during the Islamic middle ages.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

This module will you with an opportunity to review an extensive list of Western scholarship (in English) on key themes that have formed and continue to form the unique identity of Shi’ism within Islam. These themes could include: beginnings of Shi’ism; theological doctrines of Shi’ism; legal doctrines of Twelver Shi’ism; authority structures within Shi’ism; and contemporary issues of the Twelver Shi’i world.
Assessment: 4,000-word essay

This module provides students with an opportunity to explore Muslim’s scholarly debates on governance, public law and political theories. Debates on the question of governance occupy a significant place in Muslim philosophical, theological and legal literature, and thus, need special attention by students of Islamic studies. By discussing various aspects of governance in Islamic sources, this module offers prospective applicants the chance to study Muslim views and voices on the early emergence of Islam to the current contemporary time. In particular, more attention will be paid to the examination of classical jurisprudential sources dealing with questions exploring governance, public law and political theories in Islamic thought.
Assesment: 4,000 word assignment

In addition to your taught modules, you will conduct a piece of independent research with the support of a supervisor, culminating in a 15,000-word dissertation.

Please note that the optional module information listed on the website for this programme is intended to be indicative, and the availability of optional modules may vary from year to year. Where a module is no longer available we will let you know as soon as we can and help you to make other choices.