Masters in Islamic Studies—Systemic Approach

Introduction:

A systemic approach to Islam provides the following advantages: 1) It takes an organic, ordered, and universalistic approach to the Book and Tradition; 2) it provides an integrated, connected, and contiguous understanding of Islamic thought in the areas of jurisprudence, philosophy, theology, ethics, exegesis, and mysticism; 3) it holds a comprehensive perspective regarding historical developments within the Muslim world. As opposed to other Islamic Studies methodologies used in both the Muslim world and the West, a systemic approach  is defined by the following characteristics a) an emphasis upon cross-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary methods in both education and research; b) a comprehensiveness that takes into account the objective and social needs of contemporary humankind c) a universalistic perspective covering all Islamic sciences that endeavours to harmonize ambiguous and contradictory points into an integrated whole

Course Goals:

1.      To present a systematic, ordered, and comprehensive understanding of Islam;

2.      To provide an intellectual framework facilitating multi-disciplinary exchange between the Islamic sciences;

3.      To prepare the groundwork for intellectual and academic exchange between the Muslim world and the other parts of the world.

Course Parameters:

1.      All subfields of Islamic Studies, given the inherently complex nature of both the subject at hand and the role of religion and Islam in the contemporary world, will be interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary.

2.      The main approach defining the presentation of course texts and the conduct of research will be intellectual and analytic.

3.      This comprehensive approach to Islamic Studies will take contemporary social, spiritual and ethical dilemmas into account.

Course Language of Instruction and Prospective Student:

·        Instruction will be conducted in-person. Virtual-online or correspondence optiona are not available.

·        Most classes will be conducted in English, while some will be presented in Arabic or Farsi with simultaneous translation into English

·        Research papers and theses must also be written in English

Requirements and Documents for Application

·         Letter of motivation

·         CV

·         Two letters of recommendation from your university. These recently composed letters must have a signature and  official stamp. The letters should be sent from the academic E-mail of your respective professors to the following E-mail.

·         Officially certified copy of your BA Diploma and an official translation, if your diploma was issued in any language other than English (BA Diploma should be in Islamic Studies, the Humanities, Near Eastern Studies or Near Eastern Languages and Cultures).

Note: Those who have graduated from other fields, but are nonetheless interested in Islamic Studies, will have their candidacy specially examined.

·         Proof of language proficiency in English: If you are not a native English speaker, or if the language of instruction at your previous university was not English, we ask you to provide evidence of strong English language competence. At the time of application any test results you provide should relate to an examination administered within the last two years. The following test results will be accepted: CAE – Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English: grades A-B; CPE – Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English: grades A-C; IELTS - International English Language Testing System: 6.5 or better; TOEFL - Test of English as a Foreign Language: internet based: minimum of 92 scores; Pearson Test of English (Academic): 62 overall.

·         Certified copy of the transcript that includes a final grade and an official translation (if it is issued in any language other than English.)

·         If applicable: certified copy of MA transcript or MA Diploma and an official translation, if your diploma was issued in any language other than English

·         Passport photo.

Curriculum:

A: Islamic Studies

B: Prerequisites

C: obligatory subjects

D: Voluntarily subjects (the subjects which the students should take 4 credits out of 8)

Some of the course’s professors:

·        Hamid Algar (Professor at University of California)

·        Gholamreza Aavani (Professor at Shahid Beheshti University)

·        Seyyed Mostafa Mohaghegh Damad (Professor at ISIP)

·        Ahmad Pakatchi (Professor at University of Imam Sadiq)

·        Muhammad legenhausen (Professor at Imam Khomeini Education and Research Institute)

·        Shahram Pazouki (Professor at ISIP)

·        Mohsen Javadi (Professor at Qom University)

·        Ahmad Vaezi (Assistant Professor at University of Baqir al-Ulum)

·        Mohammad Saeedi Mehr (Associate Professor at University of Tarbiat Modares)

Course Period:

The duration of the course is a full year (August 2015/August 2016) that includes three semesters.

Housing, Costs and Supports:

·        Room and board costs will be free for the single students

·        Fifty percent of the accommodation costs will be covered for married students,

·        Overall tuition is 3000 Euros

·        Free health insurance,

·        Thesis fees will be covered,

Note 1: Eligible students for matriculation in the course will be awarded a 50 percent discount.

Note 2: The cost of publishing academic articles will be covered.

Course Location:

Tehran, Iran

Extra Curriculum programs:

Excursions to Isfahan, Shiraz, Mashhad and Qom

Contact us:

Website: Tehran.miu.ac.ir

E-mail: Tehran@miu.ac.ir

Telephone/fax: +98-21-88319979

  Apply Here:

http://en.tehran.miu.ac.ir/index.aspx?fkeyid=&siteid=195&fkeyid=&siteid=195&pageid=42095