Through reading the fundamental Islamic sources, the Qur'an and Hadith (Prophetic Traditions), this course will explore the multiplicity of beliefs and practices in Islam and the diversity of its interpretation, and critique the stereotypical image of Islam. Topics of study may include the basic doctrine of Islam and topical issues around Islam, such as gender, jihad and "Islam and the West".

1x2hr seminar per week over 10 weeks as scheduled on MyCampus.

This is one of the Honours options in Theology and Religious Studies and may not run every year. The options that are running this session are available on MyCampus.

None

None

Essay (2,000 words) - 40%

Seminar participation - 10%

Essay (3,000 words) - 50%

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

This course will provide the opportunity to:

■ examine a selected range of the fundamental Islamic sources, such as the Qur'an and Hadith (Prophetic Traditions), as well as other key Muslim sources and academic works;

■ study the basic doctrines of Islam, as well as doctrinal diversity within Islam;

■ explore topical issues around Islam; for example, gender, jihad, Muslim-Jewish/Christian relations, Sharia, "Islam and the West", Sunni and Shia perspectives;

■ stress the importance of examining the context of sources;

■ survey and critique different perceptions of Islam.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ discuss Islam from a general religious and historical perspective;

■ offer an in-depth analysis of the diversity of interpretation in Islam both orally and in written form;

■ analyse key Islamic sources, and provide close readings of the writings of prominent Muslim thinkers and key scholarly works;

■ identify and develop independent research questions;

■ apply transferable skills involving independent and critical thinking, cultural awareness, information literacy and analysis;

■ communicate responses to the material studied on the course both orally and in written form through coherent and sustained argument.

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.