Islamic
studies in M.A. Programs in Religious Studies
The
following list is a brief summary of options for pursuing Islamic
studies in M.A. programs in Religious Studies in North American
universities. Frequently
this option is attractive for students who need to develop expertise in
languages important for the study of Islam, or for students trained an
area studies who need to develop their exposure to religious studies as
a discipline.
This
list does not include area studies programs based in departments of
Near Eastern or Middle Eastern area studies, theological programs
oriented towards Christian missions aimed at Muslims, or stand-alone
Islamic
studies programs unrelated to a religious studies department. For full
details, it is necessary to go to each department
to determine the nature of the program, the interests of relevant
faculty, and the extent to which these programs can call upon the
resources of related area studies programs. The program descriptions
here are taken from publicly available sources; please communicate any
corrections or suggestions to cdeisi@unc.edu.
Related
Links:
Islamic studies
in Ph.D. Programs in Religious Studies
Directory
of Graduate and Undergraduate Programs in Middle East Studies, from
the Middle East Studies Association
Current
Academic Job Openings in Islamic Studies, from the Carolina Center
for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations
Claremont
Graduate University, School of Religion
MA program in Islamic Studies. The MA in Islamic Studies is
designed to give students a foundation in Islamic Studies through the
study of Arabic and courses on the Qur'an, Islamic Philosophy, Theology
and Mysticism, Islamic Law, History of Islam and modern developments in
the Muslim world. Students will also be trained to address the
relation of Islam to other religions through comparative courses in
Christianity and Judaism.
The degree will provide excellent preparation for a PhD in Islamic
Studies, for PhDs in other areas of the study of religion (philosophy,
theology, history of religions) and for PhD Studies outside of religion
(politics, economics, history, communications) and for work and service
in Muslim communities.
Faculty relevant to Islamic studies: Hamid Mavani, Zayn Kassam,
and Arash Khazeni.
University
of Georgia,
Department of Religion
Washington University in St. Louis, The Jewish,
Islamic and Near Eastern Studies Program
Master of Arts
in Islamic and Near Eastern Studies. This M.A. program offers an
opportunity for interdisciplinary study of the languages, history, and
cultures of the Near East. It is designed for students with little or
no previous undergraduate training in Near Eastern societies and
languages. It is intended for those holding or seeking careers in
secondary education, law, business, government, and private agencies
whose work touches upon some aspect of the Near East or for individuals
planning to pursue a subsequent doctoral program in some aspect of
Islamic and Near Eastern Studies. In the latter case, the program
assists students in selecting the disciplinary orientation needed for
more advance study.
Faculty relevant to
Islamic studies: Asad Ahmed, John Bowen,
Ahmet T. Karamustafa, Fatemeh Keshavarz
Institute
for the Study of Muslim Civilisations, Aga Khan University (London)
MA in Muslim Cultures. The
MA
in Muslim Cultures provides a distinctive way of understanding the
cultures of Muslims as they have evolved over time. The course
will
use the theories and methods of the humanities and social sciences as a
framework for study.
Faculty relevant
to
Islamic studies: Abdou
Filali-Ansary, Moncef Ben Abdeljelil, Sarah Bowen Savant, Arif Jamal,
Farid Panjwani, Modjtaba Sadria, Stefan Weber