Topics in Arabic & Islamic Studies (ISLM40001)

Topics in Arabic & Islamic Studies offers students the ability to develop critical insights into the rich cultural, historical, and intellectual landscapes of the Arabic-speaking and Muslim worlds. Beyond addressing broad global issues, this subject equips students with the tools to analyse and understand questions and debates at the local level.

The subject will be delivered in one of two modes. For large cohorts it will take the form of a seminar-style subject, covering a major topic or a series of key topics of contemporary or special interest in Arabic and Islamic Studies. For small cohorts, the subject will be conducted as individual supervised research projects, looking at a question of interest as negotiated by the student and subject coordinator. Topics will vary each year, reflecting current events and the interests of the student cohort, and may include (but are not limited to) Islamic political thought; media representation of Islam; migration and diaspora communities; shariʿa in contemporary contexts; interfaith dialogue; Arabic and Islamic art, literature, and culture, gender in Islam, geopolitical conflicts, and more. Where appropriate, visiting scholars will contribute as guest lecturers, and, if there is sufficient student interest, some seminars may be conducted in Arabic. After taking this subject, students will have developed a critical awareness of key knowledge areas in Arabic and Islamic Studies, appropriate for students at the honours or graduate diploma level.