BA StudiesBA Studies

Islam has greatly influenced the course of history and it continues to exercise a huge influence at the present era. To understand these influences involves looking  in depth into the sources and developments of Islamic religious thought and culture and how this fits into the context of wider society.

Historically, the study of Islam and Muslim society as an academic field in Britain has its foundations in Orientalism, i.e. the study of the cultures and languages of the Muslim world, encompassing the Near East and Middle East.

In recent years the study of Islam has grown mainly due to the emerging global importance of Islam as a political and cultural force and as one of the major religions in the world. The growing number of Muslims in Western societies in recent decades has also created the need for better understanding of Muslims and their beliefs in order to create a well-balanced environment conducive to racial and ethnic harmony.

Undergraduate courses at the Islamic College are set in an environment within which the pursuit of scholarly achievement can be carried out in a manner which is in harmony with the subject of study. As a BA student you would be taking part in a programme which is characterized by a multi-disciplinary approach, requiring the methods and skills used in the more specialized fields of history, literature, philosophy, theology and the social sciences. During your studies with us you would be developing a range of skills - in critical reading, in data collection and evaluation, in analysis and argument, in problem-solving, in presentation and persuasion, and especially in linguistic ability. All such skills have value in many areas of life and help to make our graduates be qualified, desirable and adaptable for subsequent employment.

Our students and staff members come from wide range of backgrounds and hold a wide spectrum of views and commitments. The teaching methods used include lectures, tutorials and other group work. Students are given the opportunity to contribute to the course in terms of presentations and extended pieces of research. Performance is measured by a combination of examination, course work and dissertation.