Al Maktoum Institute courses

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Luqman Zakariyah

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

The course will introduce the concepts of the Principles of Jurisprudence and Legal Maxims of Islamic Law. It will provide the students with methodological approaches in dealing with and extrapolating rulings form Islamic texts through critical examination of the classical and contemporary Muslims jurist' thoughts on the subjects of usul al-fiqh (principles of Jurisprudence) and qawaid fiqhiyyah (legal maxims). The course will explore different schools of Islamic jurisprudence and their approaches to the subject of usul fiqh and qawa'id fiqhiyyah. In dealing with qawa'id fiqhiyyah, relevant issues in contemporary debates will be examined. This approach will give students a key to understand some controversial and complex issues surrounding Islamic law in the contemporary age and strive to find solutions to them.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Dawoud El Alami

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

This course will examine historical, social, and political developments within the Muslim world, from the rise of Islam to the present day. Making use of critical historical and social scientific approaches, the diversity of Muslim societies will be placed within general theoretical frameworks for analysing specific trends and periods.
Students will be introduced to Muslim concepts such as ummah, khilafah, and sydah, which will be examined within the context of the diverse understandings and applications of the concepts within history. Key issues, theories, and methods in the course will be highlighted and explored through the use of specific historical and social case studies.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Luqman Zakariyah

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

This course will introduce students to approaches to and critical scholarship in the core sources in the study of Islam and Muslims, particularly the Qur'an and Hadith.
The course will look in particular at the history, context, structure, theology, and interpretations of these texts, with a key goal of placing these issues within a scholarly framework. The course will also examine academic methodologies of the application of these texts including tafsir (Qur'anic interpretations), the processes of authentication of hadith (isnad and matn), and the principles of jurisprudence (usul ul-fiqh)

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Courseworkk:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

The course will introduce contemporary academic debates on the complex interactions between what is broadly labelled 'Islam and the West'. Looking at these issues mainly from a social scientific view point, the course will emphasise the contemporary factors of multiculturalism and globalisation which frame these transnational relations and networks.
Students will be expected to reflect on the history of encounters between Muslim and 'the West' (in particular European nations and cultures), exploring concepts such as the 'clash'/'dialogue' of civilisations. This will be related to sociological literature on globalisation and multiculturalism, particularly with reference to specific case examples of Muslim cultures and societies in contemporary contexts.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week.

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

The course examines social, historical and philosophical foundations underpinning modern conceptions of education and explores major contemporary perspectives on defining educational process and its central aspects: nature of learning and teaching. Exploring the relationship between education, culture and identity formation will be given a special attention. The other content areas are: role of education in multicultural/ multifaith social polities, education and social inclusion, education and social change.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Prof. Malory Nye

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course will examine theoretical issues within academic debates on multiculturalism. Thus we will be looking at perspectives on the ‘politics of recognition’, the construction of ethnic identities, the creative interface between national, ethnic, and religious boundaries, and the political implications of multicultural diversity. Students taking the course will be expected to engage not only with the theoretical concepts that shape these academic debates – such as concepts of ethnicity, nationality, identity, integration, and assimilation – they will also be encouraged to explore and examine the practicalities of specific contexts of multicultural practice, using mostly examples from European countries.

The course will recognise that the term multiculturalism is one widely used in popular as well as academic debates, and which has a number of meanings. The main understanding of the term multiculturalism for this course is as a means to describe contemporary contexts of cultural and religious diversity, and the processes by which such diversity are experienced (by individuals, societies, and countries) and managed (by nation-states). Students will therefore be expected to reflect on the ways in which the term multiculturalism is used in the wider public debate, in a variety of contexts.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Prof Malory Nye

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course will examine the experiences of multiculturalism within specific national, cultural, and geographical contexts. Through looking at different contexts of cultural and religious diversity – with a particular emphasis on state efforts to manage such diversity – the course will aim to explore a range of experiences from across the world, highlighting in particular the contextuality of multiculturalism to specific places.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Mataz Kazmouz

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

This course will examine the theoretical and conceptual framework within which Muslims approach the Bayt al-Maqdis (Islamic Jerusalem) region. It will address the key social, religious, historical, geographical and political aspects of Islamic Jerusalem. Several questions will be key to the study of this course: What are the reasons for Muslims' having close links and concern with Islamic Jerusalem? What is the significance of Islamic Jerusalem to Islam and Muslims? Does Islamic Jerusalem have any special status compared with any other region? Particular attention will be paid to the vision of Islamic Jerusalem, its boundaries, and the Circle Theory of Islamic Jerusalem.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Maher Abu-Munshar

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

This course will examine the first phase of the physical manifestation of the theoretical and conceptual framework of Islamic Jerusalem from the time of 'Umar to the time of Salah al-Din. It discusses the historical developments and perspectives on Islamic Jerusalem with in-depth studies on particular aspects. It will examine how Muslims have ruled that region during this early period. Particular attention will be paid to the first and second Muslim conquests of the region, the re-construction of Al-Aqsa Mosque, the first brief interruption and the transformation of Islamic Jerusalem (1099-1198)

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week.

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Luqman Zakariyah

Pre-requisites

N/A

Overview

This course will give an overview of the development of Islamic law to the students. It will clarify some terminologies used by Muslim jurists. The relationship between Shariah and Fiqh will be critically examined and its consequences on the mutability and divinity of Islamic law. The students will be expose4d to different schools of Islamic jurisprudence and their sources. The spheres of Islamic law will be succinctly highlighted. There will be an exposition of reasons for divergent opinions among Muslim jurists and their implications to the modern age. Thus, new issues affecting Muslims today will be analytically studied using some cases from the Muslim world and Muslims living in the West.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminar per week.

Assessment

100% Coursework:
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,5000-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Masoumeh Velayati

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

In recent years human rights has gained important position in international development discourses and literature. The denial of human rights has an important role in the persistence of poverty, vulnerability and marginalisation of many people around the world. The denial of rights also greatly contributes to conflicts and social unrests. Many international NGOs and UN agencies such as UNICEF and UNDP are now adopting the right-based approaches in their work. It has also found its way to funding and policy making institutions. However, this adaptation of rights-based approaches has its own challenges in practical realms. This course provides students with tools to discuss and evaluate the adding-value of this approach to international development. What is the relation between rights and culture? The new concepts such as 'good governance', 'accountability' and the responsibilities of 'duty-bearers' as well as the rights and responsibilities of 'right-holders'. The course, therefore, will concentrate on the history and overview of the UN system, their implication at practical context, the challenges and opportunities that this new approach, particularly in the Muslim contexts.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework;
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course examines social, classical and philosophical foundations underpinning modern conceptions of ethics and explores major contemporary ways of ethical thinking: conseqentialism, non-consequentialism, values, the separateness-of-persons objection, the 'badness' or 'goodness' of things, e.g. death, what matters and what does not matter. Exploring the relationship between ethics and religion will be given a special attention. The other content areas are: role of ethics in multicultural/multifaith social policies, social settings as well as social cohesion and social change.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of 'environmental ethics' through critically examining different associated perceptions as well as philosophical and sociological approaches in association with Islam. The course explores the main philosophical and contemporary notions of environmental thinking in relation to Islam and Muslims, such as nature and domination, the moral status of animals and their equal considerations, species and extinction, ethics of respect for nature, ecology and green theory, values, and what we owe future generations. Special consideration will be given to the possibility of understanding and construction of theoretical 'Islam' in a way it could tackle such challenges in the world. It is also important to relate the contemporary challenges of environment with globalisation, capitalism and consumer ethics, particularly in the Muslim contexts of the Middle East.

Structure

1 x 2hours seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Alhagi Mamta Drammeh

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

This course will introduce students to the concepts, theories and definitions of ethics within Islam. It will also allow students to critically examine how ethical issues have been expounded in Islamic core sources. The course will also see the linkages and relationships between ethics and other disciplines of Islam. Moreover, the course will analyse how both classical and modern scholars of Islam have looked at ethics within Islamic framework and its centrality in Muslim thought.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework:
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Masoumeh Velayati

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will prepare students to contribute critically to knowledge on gender issues. It will enable students to explore the impact of gender aspects and gender differences, and gender constructions on influence behaviours, social structures, policies, cultural representations and discourse. The course will also identify the role of gendered assumptions, biases, and hypotheses, historically and cross-culturally. The course will enable students to examine of the category of 'gender' itself, as well as the impact of gender-related research on knowledge, public policy, customs, and beliefs.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminars per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Masoumeh Velayati

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of 'Politics of Development' through critically examining different associated perceptions, historical, political and sociological approaches in association during 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. The course explores main challenges of development, new trends and developments within the field, particularly departure from solely economic approach to social, political, and cultural approaches to development. The course will look at the global attempts to eliminate global poverty, and the challenges that hinder such attempts. Among many challenges to development aims, wars, conflicts, population growth, migration, natural disasters as well as unequal power relations lead to polarisation of the world and the vulnerability and marginalisation of millions of world populations. The course will look at case studies to see how realistic are the Millennium development goals.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework:
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course will focus on the analysis of the broad frame of globalisation, its history, ramifications and impact on relations between peoples, nations and states. It will specifically look into the different models of responses that different Muslim states and ideologues have taken to face up to the challenges of globalisation and the opportunities it has provided. Thus, the historical contexts of globalisation will also be examined. On one hand the course will review issues relating to dialogue of civilisations and its foundations in Islam, it will also examine the competing thesis of whether there is an inevitable ‘clash of civilisations’ on the other. Thus, students will be introduced not only to the theses of Clash of Civilisation and End of History Huntington and Fukuyama respectively but also to proponents of cyclical patterns of civilisation like Ibn Khaldun, Toynbee and Spengler. The course will examine the debates about the so-called political Islam and the background to its emergence, and the different Muslim responses to globalisation and civilisational dialogue

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week.

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course will examine politics and international relations with particular reference to how Muslim international relations have developed both in the light of Islamic political and legal frameworks and also contemporary issues and challenges of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries It will look at the dialectics of ideal and application by exploring the concepts and ideals of justice, humanity and equality within Islamic sources in relation to particular case studies and theories of international relations. The course will also examine and critically evaluate relationships between Muslim and non-Muslim states and the political concepts of shūra (consultation), caliphate and hakimiyyah/siyadah (sovereignty) along with the Madinah wathīqah (document/agreement/constitution) and its application within contemporary political contexts. The course will also look into implications of 9/11 tragedy for respective foreign policy and international politics. The course will allow students to learn and critically review the different theories in politics and international relations from both Muslim and ‘Western’ perspectives.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week.

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of Islamic Education through critically examining different perceptions and academic approaches developed to define the subject. The course explores main traditional and contemporary Muslim educational thought, educational institutions and discusses the possibility of developing a learner-centred approach in Islamic Education. The emphasis will be on the importance of contemporary educational research into Islamic Education, especially research springing from Social Sciences directed towards pedagogy and curriculum. The course will look at the theory and practice of Islamic Education in Modern Muslim world and across the Muslim collectivities in the west.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week.

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Mataz Kazmouz

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course addresses various research methods in the humanities and social sciences, such as analytical, comparative, historical, and social, introducing an in-depth critical analysis of contemporary research methods. In particular the students will engage with methodologies in the following disciplines: historical, textual, anthropological (ethnographic), and social scientific (both qualitative and quantitative).Students taking this course will be expected to reflect on different methodologies and select appropriate methodological approaches for their own research.

Structure

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Prof Malory Nye

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course will be taught on a distance learning basis. It will examine the historical and demographic development of the Muslim presence in the UK, placing this in the context of the emergence of a politics of multiculturalism in the past fifty years, along with the processes of settlement and integration of diverse ethnic, religious, and cultural minority communities from South Asia. It will consider social, economic, political, legal and institutional developments within the Muslim communities and in their relations with the wider society. A major theme of the course will be the diversity of British Muslim identities and communities, and the social, cultural, and political contexts within which these have developed.

Structure

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Mataz Kazmouz

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Notes

Overview

This course will examine the second phase of the physical manifestation of the theoretical and conceptual framework of Islamic Jerusalem. It discusses the historical and political developments and perspectives on Islamic Jerusalem with in-depth studies on particular aspects. It covers the history and politics of Islamic Jerusalem from the late Crusades to the contemporary era. It will examine how Muslims have ruled that region during this late period and the key political and demographic issues involved. Particular attention will be paid to specific subjects at the socio-political, demographical, legal, and academic levels in the late and contemporary period.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dina Hadad

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This module will examine the debate on women in Islam within feminist framework evaluating the relationship between Islamic feminism and secular feminism in the Arab and Islamic world. It will discuss gender relations and dynamics in Muslim societies highlighting the historical aspect of these dynamics and the contemporary challenges facing Muslim women in the West. The Module will cover some legal and political issues with regard to women rights in different national contexts such as marriage, divorce , dress and women’s political participation.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Luqman Zakariyah

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

This course introduces an in depth critical analysis of the traditional and modern approaches to principles of Islamic Jurisprudence. The course will address all aspects of the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence including the primary and secondary sources of Islamic Shari’ah.

Structure

1 two hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% Coursework:
* 10% seminar presentation
* 30% critical review - 2,000 words
* 60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Dawoud El-Alami

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

This course examines the nature of marriage and the family in Islam. It will look at the various elements (including Qur'an, Sunna, jurisprudence, law, ethics and custom)that are inextricably combined in the formation of the family, the regulation of family relationships and the protection of individual members of the family.
It will also look at the place of the family in contemporary Muslim society and the ongoing efforts to develop modern personal status laws that guarantee essential rights and freedoms without deviating from Islamic principles

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminars per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Luqman Zakariyah

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will explore the theory of Islamic criminal law with brief comparisons with common law. It will critically examine textual evidences on which early and contemporary Muslim jurists base their justification of criminal procedure and the overall objectives of Islamic criminal law. It will further elaborate on the different categories of crime in Islamic law and criminal procedure followed in each category. Ir will explicate the implication of these categories for the kind of evidence required for the establishment of a crime someone commits.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Dawoud El-Alami

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

This course examines the ways in which Muslims in the UK apply the Shari'ah in their daily lives within the framework of UK law and the ways in which systems have developed to accommodate the needs of Muslim communities. It will look at at the branch of jurisprudence that regulates the ways in which Muslims should behave in non-Muslim countries. There are a range of areas in which Muslims are required to observe Islamic principles and norms in their family, social and economic transactions and this module will explore the ways in which the systems work alongside each other and the areas where difficulties and conflicts arise. Most of the legal topics examined in this module are explored individually and in more detail in other modules but this module aims to give an overview of the challenges of integrating Shari'ah in UK law.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review 2,500 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Dawoud El-Alami

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

This course will introduce students to the marriage contract in Islamic law from core principles and specific prescriptions in the primary texts, the Qur'an and Hadith, through the development of Islamic jurisprudence to the contract as a legal document in contemporary legal systems. It will examine its nature, the rights and duties that it entails and the relief that may be obtained by either party in the case of its failure. Ir will also look at the way in which Muslims in non-Muslim jurisdictions may form Islamic contracts within the scope of the laws of the countries in which they are living.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,500 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of medial ethics in association with Islam through critically examining different perceptions and academic approaches developed to define the subject. The course reflects main traditional and contemporary Muslim ethical schools of thought in addressing various medical issues. Special emphasis will be given to the significance of conducting empirical research about the theological definitions of medical concepts and their relations with the policy and practice of ethics in various health settings in Muslim world and across the Muslim collectivities in the 'west'. This will address issues such as research with human subjects, genetics, abortion, organ transplantation drugs, cosmetic surgery, transsexualism, death and dying, reproduction, stem cell research or therapy, and cloning. For doing so, interdisciplinary methodological approaches of philosophy and sociology will be highlighted.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework:
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of legal ethics in association with Islam through critically examining different perceptions and academic approaches developed to define the subject. The course explores the main contemporary schools of thought in the fields of jurisprudence in parallel with legal thoughts in Islamic tradition. Consideration will be paid to the main sociological and philosphical views of jurisprudence such as: classical English positivism, Dworkin's interpretivism, critical legal studies, and the meanings of 'law' and 'jurisprudence'. However, in addition to the sociological perspectives, such as Wever's discussion of relationships between capitalism and law. Habermas' theory of the centrality of law and Bourdieu's notion of habitus, special attention will be given to the natural law as well as post-modernism in parallel with realism. Moreover, the significance of conducting both library-based and empirical research about the theological and philosophical foundations that inform medical and environmental policies and laws in Muslim counties will be highlighted. Also, attention will be given to the policies and laws that shape and affect Islamic ethics and practice of medicine and.or environment with in the 'western' context.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework:
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500 - 4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Alhagi Manta Drammeh

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

This course will examine critically the different philosophical, mystical and theological trends within the framework of Islamic ethics. Thus,the course will help students to grasp and engage with the writings of classical Muslim scholars and the trends/schools they have espoused in their understanding of ethics. Arguably, the two most dominant schools of Ashari'ities and Mu'tazilites regarding ethics will be critically examined. Thus, it will allow students to analyse critically the dynamism of Islamic thought in general and Islamic ethical studies in particular.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Masoumeh Velayati

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of 'Gender and Islam' through critically examining different associated perceptions, historical, theoretical, political and sociological approaches in association with Islam. The course will explore and examine sacred scriptures and codes of conduct,as well as fictional writings and films, to enable students to explore various social and religious traditions. This session will explore key concepts in postcolonial discourses such as: others/exotic; mimicry; hybridity; subaltern subject in the context of gender theories within the context of Muslim societies. This course will examine the debates between western and non-western feminists and questions of transnational identity politics. Examples will be drawn both from Islamic societies and from current debates about gender and sexuality and Islam in western countries. The course will equip students with advanced skills, theoretical frameworks about gender issues in association with Islam.

Structure

1 x 2 hour seminars per week

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay- 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Masoumeh Velayati

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of 'development management' through critically examining different practical and theoretical approaches in managing development programmes. Students who would consider this programme will have either NGO background or would like to engage in development. Therefore, Development Management is an essential part of the programme. The course will introduce many tools to enable students to apply them to real practices. The course will use case studies to provoke students to discuss about risks involved in different projects, how to identify them and to minimise the risks, the students will be given practical skills in fundraising. In general, the course will equip the students with practical skills and tools for better management of development projects.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week, including at least one or two weeks placement with NGOs, either in Dundee or Edinburgh.

Assessment

100% coursework
10% seminar presentation
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% project design and funding application - 3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

20

Course Coordinator

Dr Masoumeh Velayati

Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Overview

The course will introduce the concept of 'Islam and Development' through critically examining different associated perceptions, historical, sociological, and political approaches in association with Islam, The course explores main challenges of development ion relation to Islam and Muslims, and how Islam can provide a framework to meet the challenges, such as low human development, poverty, population growth, migration, resource allocation, international relations, etc. Special consideration will be given to the possibility of understanding and construction of theoretical 'Islam' in a way it could tackle such challenges in the world. It is also important to relate the contemporary challenges of development with colonialism, post-colonialism, capitalism, and golobalisation, and within the contexts of Muslim-majority countries.

Structure

1 x 2hour seminar per week

Assessment

100% coursework:
10% seminar presentations
30% critical review - 2,000 words
60% essay - -3,500-4,000 words

Credit Points

Course Coordinator

Dr Hossein Godazgar

Pre-requisites

None

Overview

The dissertation is an independent piece of work and should be regarded as an exercise in the analysis, interpretation and presentation of information and ideas to the standards of current scholarly practice. It will comprise a study of around 15-18,000 words on a topic relevant to the personal/professional development of the course member. The dissertation is supported by individual and group tutorials. There is a research-planning workshop at the beginning of the spring semester, leading to the presentation of a research proposal. All dissertations are supervised by one member of staff.

Structure

Assessment

Dissertation - 15-18,000 words