PROGRAMME SPECIFICATION FOR M.A. Islamic Studies[1]
1)Awarding Institution: University of Edinburgh
2)Teaching Institution: University of Edinburgh
3)Programme accredited by: NA
4)Final Award: MA (Hons)
5)Programme Title: Middle Eastern Studies
6)UCAS Code:
Relevant QAA Subject Benchmarking Group(s): Languages and Related Studies
7)Postholder with overall responsibility for QA: William Webster
8)Date of production/revision: 19 October 2008
9)Educational aims of programme:
The programme aims to develop the student’s interest in, and knowledge and
understanding of Islam as a religion, as well as the history, thought and culture of
Muslims. In so doing, it offers society the resource of intellectually trained individuals
who are capable of acting as bridges of understanding and conduits of knowledge
between British culture and Muslim culture both within Britain and in the Muslim world
more broadly. Graduates might enter employment in many different fields, including the
Civil Service, industry, commerce, media and education.
10)Programme Outcomes:
(a)Knowledge and understanding1. Arabic, Persian or Turkish to an intermediate level (written and spoken)
2.The elements of the religion of Islam
3. The early religious and political history of Muslims
4. Intellectual history of the Islamic civilisation
5. Key methods and concepts of literary, political and historical analysis
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
Acquisition of 1 is through small or (in the case of Arabic) large group classes, tutorials and regular coursework. Additional support is provided through access to a wide variety of materials and teaching techniques.
Acquisition of 2-5 is through a combination of lectures/classes and tutorials in Years 1 and 2, and subsequently developed through seminar style teaching in Years 3 and 4.
Throughout, students are encouraged to undertake independent readings to supplement and consolidate what is being taught/learnt and to broaden their individual knowledge and understanding of the subject.
Assessment
Testing of the knowledge base is through a combination of unseen written examinations (1-5), assessed coursework in the form of exercises (1) or essays (2-5), oral examinations (1), and a dissertation (1-5).
(b)Intellectual skills
1. Reason critically
2. Apply linguistic, literary, political and historical concepts
3. Identify and solve problems
4. Analyse and interpret
5. Demonstrate and exercise independence of mind and thought
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
Intellectual skills are developed through the teaching and learning programme outlined above. Each course, whatever the format of the teaching, involves discussion of key issues, practice in applying concepts both orally and in writing, analysis and interpretation of material, and feedback sessions on work produced.
Assessment
Great emphasis is placed, in the various methods of assessment used, on the student’s ability to demonstrate the above skills (1-5) through the production of cogent and coherent written and oral responses to problems and tasks set. Students also submit a dissertation in their final year which is an ideal vehicle for demonstrating these skills, although they are constantly demonstrated also throughout their other work.
(c)Professional/subject-specific/practical skills
1. Read, write and speak Arabic, Persian or Turkish to an intermediate level of proficiency
2. Retrieve, sift and select information from a variety of sources as they relate to the history of or contemporary context of the Middle East
3. Apply key methods and concepts of linguistic, literary, political and historical analysis
4. Develop critical approaches to the study of cultural and social issues
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
In the first two years of study, students take classes and receive instruction in a Middle Eastern language which promotes familiarity and active engagement with the language and its native speakers.
In addition, all students receive guidance on how to identify, locate and use material available in libraries and elsewhere for those parts of the programme for which this is appropriate, as well as being provided with guidelines and comprehensive bibliographies for the production of coursework essays.
Assessment
Skill 1 is assessed by class and home exercises, tests and degree examinations (including an oral exam). Skills 2-4 are assessed primarily by coursework essays, degree examinations, and a dissertation.
(d)Transferable skills
1. Structure and communicate ideas effectively both orally and in written form
2. Manage time and work to deadlines
3. Participate constructively in groups
4. Assess and respond to the ideas of others
5. Work independently and be self-reliant
6. Find information and use information technology
Teaching/learning methods and strategies
All courses require regular written work, on which feedback is provided, so that students develop not only their understanding but also their powers of written expression, while tutorials and tutorial presentations allow development of oral expression (Skill 1). Skill 2 is learnt through the management of time to meet the various and sometimes conflicting deadlines that are part and parcel of university life. Skills 3 and 4 are developed in classes, seminars and tutorials, while Skill 5 is developed outside the classroom and, in particular, during the period abroad.
Assessment
Effective communication of ideas is an important criterion in assessing all areas of a student’s work, and the regular feedback, as well as the final mark, reflect this (Skill 1). Time, if mismanaged, brings with it the possibility of a penalty for late submission (Skill 2). Skills 4, 5 and 6 are taken into account, implicitly or explicitly, in the assessment of all written work. Skill 3 is not formally assessed.
11)Programme Structure and Features:
Year 1
Arabic/ Persian/ Turkish 140 credits
Islamic History 140 credits
Further course(s)40 credits
Year 2
Arabic/ Persian/ Turkish 240 credits
Introduction to Islam40 credits
Further course(s)40 credits
Year 3
EITHER
Accredited Study Abroad/ Erasmus120 credits
OR
IMES honours courses, or relevant
non-IMES honours courses*120 credits
Year 4
IMES honours courses, or relevant
non-IMES honours courses*80 credits
Dissertation40 credits
* List available in IMES handbook.
12)Other items:
LLC BoS 29 October 2008
[1]The information contained in this Programme Specification should be used as a guide to the content of a degree programme and should not be interpreted as a contract.