Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies (BAIS)

The Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies (BAIS) provides students with a rich exposure to religious and theology studies that is firmly rooted in the classical works of Islam. IOU’s BAIS draws on the classical teachings of Islam; and through sound pedagogical approaches, relates these teachings to contemporary affairs and the modern world, allowing students to extend the theoretical study of Islam to informed practice in their lives and engagements.

The program has been carefully formulated and developed to provide students with a deep understanding of the various sub-areas of inquiry housed in Islamic studies, ranging from Aqeedah (Islamic creed) and Fiqh (jurisprudence), to Tafseer (Quranic exegesis) and Seerah (biography of Prophet Muhammad PBUH). The program includes modules that provide a foundational understanding of communicative Arabic, to complement the study of certain Arabic Islamic texts, namely, verses of the Quran and Hadeeth (narrations of Prophet Muhammad PBUH). The degree also includes applicable academic, linguistic and digital literacies incorporated into its module offerings that prepare students to succeed in their studies.

The BAIS is ideal for students that are interested in gaining a deeper understanding of Islam, whether to inform their practice of it as Muslims, or to complement another field, discipline or profession with Islamic teachings. While the degree is broadly categorised and structured as in-depth religious and theology studies that provide self-enrichment opportunities, it may be complemented with additional studies for career purposes (education studies and training for teaching, economic studies for the finance sector, advanced Islamic studies for Islamic clerical and religious leadership, postgraduate studies for academia, and so forth).

The degree has been benchmarked against leading universities in the Middle East, Africa and the United Kingdom, to ensure IOU students are afforded a contextually relevant education in accordance with international standards.

Upon completion of the program, the student will be awarded the Bachelor of Arts degree in Islamic Studies.

The BAIS is structured as a formal, theoretically-based qualification. Individuals who have completed non-formal and informal studies in the area of Islamic studies are welcome to apply for recognition of their prior learning. The BAIS provides access to further study at HEQF Level 8, Honours or Masters.

While the BAIS is not structured to be a professional degree, a graduate of this program may complete additional studies and/or training (as required by local authorities in students’ countries) to pursue any of the following career paths: Islamic and religious studies school teacher, Islamic chaplain/cleric, lecturer/professor, Islamic legal advisor, Islamic finance advisor.

Upon completion of the program, students would be able to

• PLO1 – Demonstrate a comprehensions of the historical origins, basic beliefs, theology, central teachings and major practices of Islam.
• PLO2 – Demonstrate sufficient familiarity with diverse areas of inquiry within Islamic studies, and relate fundamental teachings to culture and practice.
• PLO3 – Acquire and develop basic reading and writing competence in Arabic for Islamic textual interpretation and discussion.
• PLO4 – Apply Islamic teachings and evaluate their function in social, cultural, economic and political contexts, and articulate the roles of religiosity in secular democratic societies to cultivate characteristics of engaged citizenship.
• PLO5 – Demonstrate an appreciation for Quran and Prophetic tradition-based moralities and teachings, and diverse accounts of wisdom articulated by other Islamic texts.
• PLO6 – Acquire and further develop core humanities skills that are transferable to a variety of careers, which includes critical thinking, professional communication, digital literacy, textual analysis, expository and persuasive writing, and organized research, that displays academic knowledge of Islamic studies.

The BA in Islamic Studies program aligns with the vision and mission of IOU by:

• providing facilitated access to quality higher education to all students around the world, particularly in the field of Islamic studies,
• promoting the Islamic values of peace, harmony and tolerance, embedded in the curriculum, pedagogical practices and teaching approaches of this program,
• contributing to the establishment and strengthening of knowledge-based communities globally through the teaching and learning activities of the program, and
• committing to creating diverse, scholarly communities, where students are encouraged to engage in intellectual rigor, high ethical standards and critical evaluation.

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