Masters of Arts in Islamic Studies (MAIS) – Coursework

From its inception to its place among contemporary nations and religions, Islam and its global identity are central areas of study in this unique master’s program. You will examine leading Islamic scholars and gain a broad understanding of its scriptural texts.

A focus on the development of Islamic thought through the primary domains of Islamic literature will enable you to understand the religion’s socio-historical, political, and cultural frameworks; a holistic view merging past and present perspectives.

The IOU’s Master of Arts in Islamic Studies is a two-year degree for students possessing substantial knowledge of the subject and can work with pre-modern Arabic primary sources as appropriate to their particular research interests.

The MA Islamic Studies program offers students the opportunity to concentrate on the Quran and Hadith, along with other Islamic texts, and provides unique training in the interpretation and translation of Islamic religious material.

The degree is designed to benefit academics and researchers, teachers of Islamic Studies, translators of Islamic material into English, and researchers at government departments and Da’wah centers. It provides excellent research training and is a useful qualification for those who wish to progress to higher postgraduate degrees.

This program adopts an approach that exposes students to a careful selection of taught modules exploring advanced studies of Fiqh, Hadeeth, Islamic creed, Islamic thought, and Quranic Studies; as well as a research component fulfilled via the minor dissertation. You will receive specialized teaching in the taught modules during the first two semesters of the program.

You will have the opportunity to engage with material at the forefront of contemporary academic research in Islamic Studies and explore a range of topics in Islamic Studies that reflect the expertise of academic staff including content with historical, sociological, contextual, legal, textual, or philosophical emphases.

In the minor dissertation module completed in the program’s second year, you will undertake independent research under the supervision of a faculty member. The minor dissertation must demonstrate sound scholarship and contribute to the existing knowledge in the field.

The MA Islamic Studies program is based on world-renowned texts and curricula approaches of leading international universities in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Kingdom, and South Africa. This program provides excellent background preparation for a doctoral degree in Islamic Studies or to pursue careers in government, international corporations, media outlets, and non-profit organizations.

Upon completion of the program, the student will be awarded the Master of Arts degree in Islamic Studies.
Career paths for graduates of this program include Islamic studies lecturer/professor, teacher, researcher, writer, and translator.

Upon completion of the MA in Islamic Studies, students should be able to

• PLO1     conduct research competently and responsibly on advanced levels
• PLO2     produce a research report/manuscript/dissertation in the field of Islamic Studies
• PLO3     demonstrate advanced familiarity with classical Islamic literature
• PLO4     demonstrate advanced familiarity with specialized fields in Islamic Studies
• PLO5     demonstrate mastery of Islamic Studies
• PLO6     demonstrate professional and effective oral and written communication skills

The MA 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
• committing to creating diverse, scholarly communities where students are encouraged to engage in intellectual rigor, high ethical standards, and critical evaluation