Programs in the United Kingdom: 1. University of Birmingham, UK 2. University of Exeter, UK ------------------------------ 1. Centre for the Study of Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations (CSIC), University of Birmingham, UK While Islamic studies has been taught at Birmingham since the 1930s, the Centre was founded in 1976 for both graduate teaching and research. The program website emphasizes its commitment to the postgraduate teaching programs, as well as formal cooperation with universities and institutions in multiple Muslim countries and in Europe. The Centre emphasizes in its materials its “respect for the various Christian traditions in their own terms,” and its rejection of “polemics and proselytism.” It also seeks “to give equal attention to the theoretical dimensions of Christian-Muslim Relations and the lived situations of communities in plural contexts, and to understand the relationships between the two spheres.” The M.A. program lasts twelve months and requires a 12,000 word dissertation in addition to coursework. The program offers over twenty course options, including ‘Contemporary Islamic Movements,’ ‘Islam in Africa and Europe,’ and ‘Hadith’. In addition, students may combine studies with a program in Islamic Education, or do Islamic Law as part of their law degree. Modern Arabic and Qur’anic Arabic are also available. There is no language prerequisite or requirement for graduation. The program has a considerably larger faculty than most other programs surveyed, with ten full-time or part-time professors. There is also a near-equal representation of Muslim and Christian professors and several female faculty. Research at CSIC emphasizes Islam in Europe and a “transnational Sufi order.” The Centre also organizes conferences and seminars in cooperation with its international partner schools.
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2. Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies (IAIS)
University of Exeter, UK
The IAIS seeks to be thorough in the study of the world of Islam, “covering almost every aspect of Islamic studies from medieval to modern Islam, and from Sufism and Islamic law to contemporary Islamic movements.” The Institute works within the School of Humanities and Sciences and has wide resources to draw on from the University itself. Two professors are on faculty, plus four scholars who are not identified as professors within the Islamic Studies department.
The M.A. in Islamic Studies is an 11-month (full-time) program, requiring coursework and a 15,000 word dissertation. Coursework includes two core modules of “Islam in Practice: Contemporary Methodological Approaches” and “Approaches to Islamic Thought.” A research methodology course and additional 2-3 optional courses round out the program. Through the resources of the University, the program also provides a career advisory service.
An exceptionally well-developed list of program goals and desired student outcomes is on the Institute’s website. Noteworthy among the outcomes is that all students should have gained “a familiarity with key figures and foundational texts in at least two major traditions of Islamic thought.”
Pedagogy includes seminar format combining background lectures and guided discussions of primary texts, student- guided discussions and oral presentations; and independent study and group work.
Knowledge of Arabic is not a requirement prior to admission, although language study is an expected program outcome. Arabic, Persian, and Kurdish are available as options for those who do not already possess language skills.