Islamic Studies is a dynamic multidisciplinary field of study that has attracted to the University of Melbourne many million dollars of external funding over the last five years, including the National Centre of Excellence in Islamic Studies Australia (NCEIS). The new Master of Islamic Studies recognises these achievements and the importance of this emerging area of academic inquiry. The program will be offered from 2009 and aims to provide a credible Islamic program in Australia, providing a platform for those who have not completed a BA in the field. The program of study addresses the issues relevant to the development of Islam as a religion and civilisation from its origins to the present. It draws on broad multidisciplinary perspectives provided by subjects taught by a range of staff from across the Faculty, including anthropology, Arabic language and studies, cultural studies, history, Indonesian studies, philosophy, political science and Islamic studies.

The strength of the program lies in that it allows students to study Islam and Muslim societies from a multi-disciplinary perspective, or alternatively, allows students to concentrate on traditional disciplines in Islamic Studies. Students in this program are encouraged to develop their interests in Islamic Studies, and to engage in a broader range of subjects, taken from other streams available as electives. This breadth will provide students with skills to analyse issues relevant to Islam and Muslim studies with a reasonable understanding of the Islamic worldview, its value system, and particular historical experiences.

Graduates will then be able to further their studies in the field through research courses at the University, or elsewhere, or enter the workforce. The Islamic studies program is expected to be particularly attractive to students interested in working in an area where success depends at times on their understanding of Islam and Islamic culture. Examples of such areas include foreign affairs, international trade, immigration, ethnic affairs, journalism, social work and teaching.

The program is the first of its kind in Australia and will be part of the new NCEIS. It is a comprehensive, multidisciplinary program, which is a key characteristic of Islamic Studies in the West. The curriculum has been designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge to undertake further studies or enter the workforce. Both historical and modern Islamic studies will be addressed in the program, which also incorporates the latest research, approaches and teaching methods in the field.

Course and Subject Details

This cross-disciplinary program can be undertaken as 100, 150 and 200 pts.

• Students may enrol in up to 50 points of language study in place of electives as approved by the course co-ordinator (usually taken as 400 level electives in the first 100 points of a 200 point program). Normally, students will take a maximum of 25 points of language subjects in the 100 point program; 37.5 points in a 150 point program; and 50 points in a 200 point program. See the undergraduate handbook for details; students with previous language study will sit a placement test to ensure correct enrolments.
• If students are intending to pursue a research higher degree in the area of Islamic Studies, they must enrol in the 110-539 Islamic Studies Thesis (37.5points).
• All subjects are 12.5 points unless otherwise indicated.
• Course Brochure
• Application information and form

Compulsory Subjects

• Critical Asian Perspectives
• Islam and Politics
• Methodologies of Hadith
• Muslim Theology, Philosophy and Sufism
• Social Justice and Islamic Finance
• The Qur'an and its Interpretation

Islamic Studies Electives

• Contemporary Middle East and Central Asia
• Methods of Islamic Law
• Middle Eastern Wars: Jihad and Resistance
• Postgraduate Arabic A
• Postgraduate Arabic B
• Special Seminar in Islamic Studies
• Topics in Arabic and Islamic Studies

Other Electives

• Diplomacy and Cross-Cultural Communication
• Global Media: Theory and Research (25 points)
• Human Rights in Southeast Asia
• Supervised Reading (Asia Institute)
• US Foreign Policy

Thesis

• Islamic Studies Thesis (50 points)

Click here for further details about the course and subjects

Contact Details

Postal Address:

National Centre of Excellence for Islamic Studies Australia
Sidney Myer Asia Centre
Cnr Swanston St and Monash Rd
University of Melbourne
Victoria, Australia 3010

Phone:

(03) 8344 3559

Freecall:

1800 884 303 (Australia only)

Email:

nceis-office@unimelb.edu.au

CRICOS Code: 064482C