Prospectus

nl en

First year

Course EC Semester 1 Semester 2
MA Empirical Study of Islam in the West: The Phenomenon of Conversion 5
MA European policies and jurisprudence concerning muslims and Islam 5
MA Islamic Jurisprudence for Muslims in Europe. The Role of Fatwas 5
MA Piety, Modernity, and Gender in Islam: Anthropological Perspectives 5
MA Required General Course Religious Studies 5

Optionals:
Anthropology of Muslim Societies 10
Fatwa's and the Dissemination of Religious Authority in 20th Century Indonesia 10
MA Comparative Religion: Themes and Topics in the Study of Religion 5
MA Jewish and Islamic Law in Modernity in the West 5
MA Method and Theory in the Study of Religion 5
MA Sociology of Religion 5
Text and transmission 10
The Islamic book: from Manuscript to Modern Media 10

More info

Islamic Theology is a Master programme offered the Leiden Institute of Religious Studies. This one-year Master programme focuses on the study of contemporary Islam. The focus is predominantly theological, but the legal, ethical, political, historical and sociological backgrounds of the staff members provide for a variety of interdisciplinary approaches. In addition to required courses, the students are expected to develop their own lines of research based on primary sources.

Objectives

The main focus of the programme is on the study of religion, i.e. Islam, its history and its significance today, with emphasis on Islam in the Western context.

Programme

The programme (60 EC) consists of the following elements:

1. General required course (5 EC)

2. Compulsory courses (15 EC)
Three courses of the chosen track

3. Additional courses/electives (20 EC)

4. MA thesis (20 EC)
All students write a master’s thesis of 20 ects. This thesis amounts to about 20.000 words. The master’s thesis is written in English, unless the supervisor approves of the use of another language (which may include Dutch). In all languages, correct use of grammar and style is expected from the student. Also see: http://hum.leiden.edu/students/regulations.

The programme also stimulates students to undertake research-internships, for instance by conducting researches for the benefit of media, municipalities or religious institutions. The electives can be taken in different forms, to be agreed between student and professor.

Entry requirements

BA degree in Islamic Theology or an equivalent degree (including Arabic) from another recognized university; proficiency in Arabic is required. English proficiency (IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 570/230) for international students (non-native speakers of English) is required.