Course description
* Thesis 12,000 words (37.5 points)
* one compulsory subjects (12.5 points)
* four core/elective subjects, two of which must be core (50 points)
Total 100 points - subjects are 12.5 points each, unless indicated otherwise.
Thesis subject
Subject Semester Credit Points
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
Compulsory subject
Subject Semester Credit Points
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
Core subjects
Students must select two of the following 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
110-482 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
110-483 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
110-485 Methods of Islamic Law
This subject will not be available in 2009 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
Elective subjects
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
110-448 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
110-081 Contemporary Middle East & Central Asia
This subject focuses on the contemporary political landscape of the Middle East and Central Asia. It explores the interplay of international relations and domestic politics, especially in the wake of the war on terror. It traces the challenge of Isla... Summer 12.50
