MARMARA UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF THEOLOGY
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1
Handbook
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Istanbul2015
Marmara University
Faculty of Theology
Handbook
Prepared by
Hikmet Yaman
Table of Contents
From the Dean?
History of Marmara University?
The Faculty of Theology: History and Mission?
Undergraduate Degree Programmes (BA)?
- Theology
- International Theology (International Students)
- Theology (English)
- Theology (Arabic)
- Teacher Training for Religion and Ethics Courses in Primary Schools
Courses at the Faculty of Theology ?
Modules at the Faculty of Theology?
Modules in the undergraduate programme
Academic Structure: Graduate Programmes (MA and PhD) and Departments?
- Programme in Basic Islamic Studies ?
Department of Qur’anic Recitation
Department of Qur’anic Exegesis
Department of Hadith
Department of Islamic Jurisprudence
Department of Kalam
Department of History of Islamic Sects
Department of Sufism
Department of Arabic Language and Rhetoric
- Programme in Philosophy and Religious Studies?
Department of History of Philosophy
Department of Islamic Philosophy
Department of Philosophy of Religion
Department of Logic
Department of History of Religions
Department of Sociology of Religion
Department of Psychology of Religion
Department of Religious Education
- Programme in Islamic History and Arts?
Department of Islamic History
Department of History of Turkish-Islamic Arts
Department of Turkish-Islamic Literature
Department of Turkish Religious Music
Library?
The Faculty Publications and Journal?
International Face of the Faculty of Theology?
National and International Exchange Programs?
Life at the Faculty of Theology?
Student Clubs and Societies?
Social Life at Marmara University ?
Ilahiyat Foundation ?
Contact Information?
From the Dean
Since its establishment in 1959, the Faculty of Theology atthe Marmara University has contributed significantly to the formation and development of religious, educational, cultural and artistic life in Turkey.The Faculty’s academic work has helped provide an accurate understanding of all religious and cultural movements, especially the religion of Islam, and hence has supported religionto continue the contribution to the spiritual development of society and its advancements towards peace and serenity. The Faculty has over a 160 teaching staff and nearly 3,750 students in its five undergraduate programs and 1,500 students in its three graduate programs.With a uniquely rich library, it is an important educational centre for graduate students and researchers. Graduates of the Faculty enjoy employment opportunities under various state and private institutions, notably the Ministry of National Educationand the Presidency of Religious Affair. They also continue their careers as academics, teachers, authors and artists. These graduates successfully and proudly represent our Facultyin all areas of society.
We aim to make the Faculty one of the best theology faculties on both the national and the internationalsphere.Our vision is that of a Faculty of Theology,which will provide a distinguished and a high quality level of higher education. To attain this goal the Faculty will make sure that each student that chooses to get educated here, whatever her/his religious educational background may be, becomes an individual who apprehends the core of religious matters, and through reading, investigating, thinking, analysing, questioning, criticizing, and taking current developments into consideration, is able to use in practice what s/he learns in our contemporary society. Furthermore, our aim is to educate theologians who can differentiate between right and wrong using the knowledge and ability of critical thinking they acquire here and who can improve themselves constantly by taking what is good and beneficial from any source without surrendering their own reason and will to the perspectives of others. Hence, after graduating from this faculty theywill have the self-confidence that will enable them to use the high-level education they receive to guide others rather than blindly follow and imitate.Finally, our goal is to serve our society by training individuals who are not only knowledgeable but also act in accordance with their knowledge, who are of good moral character, who are sincere and dependable, and who are, in short, individuals the religion of Islam aims at raising.
To achieve these goals, the Faculty of Theology at the Marmara University, taking into the account the fast-changing conditions of the twenty-first century, aspires to leadership in the competitive academic environment of institutions of religious higher education both on national and international level. I hope that this booklet will be helpful to prospective students and others who would like to know more about the Faculty of Theology of Marmara University, Istanbul.
Sincerely,
Prof. Dr. Ali KÖSE
Dean, Faculty of Theology of Marmara University
History of Marmara University
Marmara University is one of the oldest higher education institutions in Turkey. Its history goes back to the establishment of the Hamidiye Ticaret Mekteb-i Ᾱlīsi (Hamidiye College of Higher Commercial Education) in 1883. This institutionbecame officially known as Marmara University in 1982.
By the time it was turned into a university, Marmara University had 10 faculties, 8 institutes and 7 vocational schools and colleges. With its exceptionally rapid development, today the University has 16 faculties, 11 institutes, 9 vocational schools and colleges, 30 centers for research and application and a hospital. It continues to be one of the most prestigious universities in the country, with its leading academic institutions in science, technology, education, arts and health.Close to 3,000 academic staff and more than 70,000 students are making contributions to Marmara University’s academic activities today in associate, undergraduate and graduate degree programs.The University is the most multilingual higher education institution in Turkey, as it provides education in five different languages: Turkish, English, French, German and Arabic.
Marmara University encourages its students and provides guidance for them to participate in international academic activities. It develops, promotes and coordinates international cooperation through multiple resources, includingthe European Union Education and Youth Programs. The members of Marmara University enjoy the productive partnerships under multiple international programs that include the Life Long Learning Programme, namely, the Comenius Programme, the Erasmus Programme, the Leonardo Da Vinci Programme and the Grundtvig Programme.
In addition to education and training, Marmara University has developed projects in social services and made major contributions to economic, political, cultural and other problems facing the society.It also promotes and coordinates education programs that offer services to the public outside of the regular degree programs. Through its distance education and continues education units, the University provides distance learning and arranges cooperation with the public/private sector and international institutions on a national and international level.
Academic Units of Marmara University
Faculties / Graduate Schools and Institutes / Schools and Vocational SchoolsAtaturk Faculty of Education / European Union Institute / School of Banking and Insurance
Faculty of Arts and Sciences
Faculty of Business Administration
Faculty of Communication / Institute of Banking and Insurance
Institute of Educational Sciences
Institute of Fine Arts / School of Physical Education and Sports
School of Jewellery Tech. and Design
School of Applied Sciences
Faculty of Dentistry / Institute of Gastroenterology / School of Foreign Languages
Faculty of Economics
Faculty of Engineering / Institute of Health Sciences
Institute of Middle East Studies s / Vocational School of Justice
Vocational School of HealthServices
Faculty of Fine Arts / Institute of Neurological Science / Vocational School of Social Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Law / Institute of Pure and Applied Sciences
Institute of Social Sciences / Vocational School of Technical Science
Faculty of Medicine / Institute of Turkic Studies
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Political Sciences
Faculty of Technical Education
Faculty of Technology
Faculty of Theology
The Faculty of Theology: History and Mission
The core of the Faculty of Theology at Marmara University is the Istanbul Higher Islamic Institute, which was established by the Ministry of National Education in 1959. By the law of the Higher Educational Council in 1982, the Institute was taken over by the administration of Marmara University and thus became known as Marmara University, Faculty of Theology. Since its establishment, the Faculty has had a distinguished place in the history of Islamic and religious thought in Turkey. The intellectual sources of the Faculty are rooted in the rich legacy of the classical Islamic sciences advanced throughout a long-lasting and multi-cultured Islamic and Turkish history. The Faculty has played an important role in the academic teaching of Islamic and religious scholarly disciplines by integrating the traditional spirit of Islamic disciplines with modern developments in Religious Studies. A focus on traditional Islamic values paired with the advantages of critical thinking in religious matters has been and remains a definitive characteristic of education at the Faculty of Theology.
The Faculty is an international centre of educational excellence, which integrates traditional and modern intellectual studies on Islam and other religions of the world. It provides this education by contextualizing Islamic studies within the broader field of social sciences and the humanities, and thus harmoniously blends modern academic disciplines with traditional scholarly fields. The Faculty provides a virtually unparalleled opportunity to study Islam within a living Muslim society with professionals who are well-versed in both traditional and modern academic methods. The Faculty aims at bringing together the rich intellectual resources of Marmara University’s faculty members and students with an international network of scholars to explore issues of religion in today’s complex, globalizing, and changing world.
The Faculty enhances intercultural and interreligious understanding and fosters civilizational cooperation across religious communities and nations. It develops an environment, which instils commitment to life-long learning and a deep sense of social responsibility. It works towards building a deeper and broader understanding of the histories and contemporary patterns of the world’s religious communities by exploring the possibilities for incorporating their insights in the context of modern religious studies. In light of the increasing prominence of religion in conflicts globally, the Faculty’s mission of promoting a broad, sympathetic understanding of the world’s religions in cooperation with individuals and institutions in Turkey and internationally has assumed a special and compelling urgency.
The Faculty is a pioneering national and international institute in the field. Many other theology faculties in Turkey are full of professors who completed their undergraduate and graduate education in the Faculty. Currently, the Faculty provides post-graduate education to many young academics who will be teaching at various Turkish higher education institutes in the future. Likewise, the Faculty supports the academic establishment of some international theology faculties through sending its members of teaching to set the academic structures and to foster intellectual cooperation therein. In this context, the Faculty members teach periodically in the Faculty of Theology in Osh University (Kyrgyzstan) and in the Faculty of Theology in Near East University (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus).
The Faculty encourages students to develop free expressions, to respect ideas, to rejoice in discovery and in critical thought, to pursue excellence in a spirit of productive cooperation, and to assume responsibility for the consequences of personal actions. The Faculty of Theology is a scholarly institution that exemplifies an international community of dedicated intellectuals, scholars, and professionals.
Undergraduate Degree Programmes (BA)
The Faculty offers five undergraduate degree programmes: Theology, International Theology(International Students), Theology(English),Theology (Arabic),and Teacher Training for Religion and Ethics Courses in Primary Schools.
1. Theology
This programme aims at training students who would like to specialize in religious disciplines. The courses are conducted in Turkish (70%) and Arabic (30%), and there is a one-year preparatory Arabic language class for students who do not have the required level in the language. Graduates are expected to have a comprehensive knowledge of religious studies and to be able to critically evaluate the Islamic intellectual heritage. They may enter a wide variety of professions. They may pursue academic careers or work as teachers of religion and ethics at high schools. They may also seek employment in religious services under various governmental and non-governmental institutions.
2. International Theology (International Students)
Marmara University established a new programme in 2007 under its Faculty of Theology in order to open its gates to international students of Turkish descent. Courses are conducted in Turkish (%70) and Arabic (%30), and there is a one-year preparatory Arabic language class for students who do not have the required level in the language. The programme educates students to provide religious services for Turks living in foreign countries. Students are accepted into this program through a meticulous selection process conducted by the Faculty of Theology in collaboration with the Presidency of Religious Affairs. Applicants must hold a high school degree awarded in their countries. Students are financially supported throughout their education by the Turkish Religious Foundation.
3. Theology (English)
Starting in the 2010-2011 academic year, Marmara University established a new programme under its Faculty of Theology in order to open its gates to Turkish and international students who seek to gain a well-grounded academic education in the fields of Islamic Theology and Religious Studies. The courses are conducted in the English language, and there is a one-year preparatory English language class for students who do not have the required level in the language. At the end of the fourth academic year, the students qualify for a BA degree.
3. Theology (Arabic)
This programme was established under Marmara University Faculty of Theology by the academic year of 2015-2016 academic year, Marmara University. The courses are conducted in the Arabic language, and there is a one-year preparatory Arabic language class for students who do not have the required level in the language. At the end of the fourth academic year, the students qualify for a BA degree.
6. Teacher Training for Religion and Ethics Courses in Primary Schools
The Faculty of Theology launched a programme in 1998 to meet the need for teachers of religion and ethics courses in primary schools. Between the years of 2006 and 2012, the programme was administered under the Ataturk Faculty of Education, however, starting from the academic year of 2012-2013 it moved back to the Faculty of Theology. The programme provides teacher-candidates the knowledge of the profession of teaching and school environment. It offers courses on pedagogical formation, in addition to the Faculty’s already strong curriculum of Islamic Theology and Religious Studies. The programme aims at improving the capacities of the teacher-candidates with respect to their spiritual awareness, social integration, cultural sensitivity, and good morals from the perspective of religious education as a social science and in the context of intercultural and interreligious understanding.
Courses at the Faculty of Theology
Preparatory Class in Arabic
The Faculty offers a preparatory Arabic language class for the Theology, Theology (Arabic) and International Theology programmes. The one-year preparatory curriculum for the Arabic language programme is designed to help students develop their Arabic skills in reading, speaking, listening, and writing. Since Arabic is the language of the Islamic religious texts, namely the Qur’an and the hadith, and the language of most of the scientific and the historical texts of the pre-modern Islamic world, the programme specifically focuses on reading and understanding traditional texts with an emphasis on solid knowledge of grammar (sarf and nahw). After the preparatory class courses that are conducted in the Arabic language give students a chance to familiarize themselves with the terminology of each traditional Islamic discipline as well as further develop their listening, speaking, and writing skills.
Preparatory Class in English
The one-year intensive preparatory curriculum for the English-medium Theology programme is designed to take students above and beyond general English skills. It does this by first introducing them to communicative and participatory language instruction. As the students develop their confidence in speaking and writing, Academic English skills are introduced. Students learn organization and structure in writing sections and public speaking and presentation skills in speaking sections. They also learn academic reading and listening skills, such as note-taking and outlining. Finally, students engage in integrated-skills tasks with performance-based assessment – such as researched presentations with Power-Point and written components, or web-quests with independent review of sources. At the conclusion of the preparatory program, students are equipped with the necessary skills for productive engagement in the Theology (English) programme using English as the sole medium of instruction.
Modules in Undergraduate Degree Programmes
Most of the modules in the curricula of these different programmes are required, but there are many elective modulesto choose from with a wide range of topics. Required modules are designed to familiarize students with the history, sources, and problems of various disciplines of Islamic and Religious Studies and to teach them how to think critically in religious matters. Elective modules build upon the compulsory modules and aim to develop students’ skills in interdisciplinary studies by integrating traditional Islamic disciplines with modern developments in the area of Religious Studies.
In addition to the regular required and elective modules, students must write a graduation thesis on a topic they choose under the supervision of a faculty member by the end of the eight semester in order to complete the degree requirements.
Key features of the undergraduate degree programs are compared in the table below. This is followed by tables of the modules offered in each programme with their national and ECTS credits.
Undergraduate Degree Programmes / Enrolment / Length of Study / National Credit(Required + Elective) / ECTS
Theology / 380 / 1 (Arabic Prep) + 4 years / 180 (156 + 24 ) / 240
International Theology (International Students) / 45 / 1 (Arabic Prep) + 4 years / 180 (156 + 24) / 240
Theology (English)
Theology (Arabic) / 30
40 / 1 (English Prep) + 4 years
1 (Arabic Prep) + 4 years / 180 (156 + 24)
180 (156 + 24) / 240
240
Teacher Training / 236 / 4 years / 151 (113 + 38) / 240
Modules in the undergraduate programme