See the “More info” tab for an overview of the programme. The courses below are the courses which are specifically offered for this programme and compulsory.
Students are advised to contact their supervisor well before the start of their master year, so that a suitable programme can be put together in good time: Masterplanning
The Leiden MA is a one-year programme and consists of 60 ec’s (European Credits). Every student will set up his or her individual programme under the guidance of the MA supervisor.
Prospective students of the program are advised to contact prof.dr. M.S. Berger, m.s.berger@religion.leidenuniv.nl
This programme focuses on the study of both the historical, normative and the institutional sides of contemporary Islam as a minority religion within the secular context of the Western states. Legitimate subjects are, among others, the history of Muslim minorities in Western and Eastern Europe, the presently ongoing development of a new branche of Islamic jurisprudence called Fiqh al- Aqalliyyât, and the evolving political and legal views on Islam and the Muslims within the Western states.
The programme is interdisciplinary and makes use of the instruments of philology, history, and social sciences (especially of the anthropology, sociology and psychology of religion). It is based on the most recent results of the ongoing research of the development of Islam in the West. Students are expected to participate not only to the study of the features of Islam as a living religion witrhin the Western secular context in a general sense, but also to concentrate more specifically on the position of Muslims and the development of Islam within a certain geographic area.
BA Religious Studies, specialisation Islam or BA Islamic Theology
The primary supervisors of the track are:
Prof.dr. mr. M.S. Berger, personal website
Dr. N.M. Dessing, personal website
Dr. M.M.M.I. Ghaly, personal website
Students with an interest in a more philological/ theological approach towards Islam in Europe might opt for admission to the Islamic Theology programme.
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. M.S. Berger, email: m.s.berger@religion.leidenuniv.nl
1. Common Course (5 EC)
2. Compulsory Courses (15 EC)
Course focused on contemporary approaches and discussions in the comparative study of religion oriented around an anually changing theme, for example the function of dress and bodycare in various religious traditions
Course on the phenomenon of conversion to Islam in the West. Central question is what kind of general theories and typologies are available to us that help us explain contemporary developments in the conversion of Islam?
3. Additional Courses (20 EC)
For example from the master programme Islamic Theology and the Islamic Studies programme at the Faculty of Arts
4. MA thesis (20 EC)