MA Modern Languages and Cultures / Course details

Year of entry: 2025

Course unit details:
Contemporary Debates in Islam

Course unit fact file
Unit code MEST60031
Credit rating 15
Unit level FHEQ level 7 – master's degree or fourth year of an integrated master's degree
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Available as a free choice unit? Yes

Overview

This course explores the ways in which the notion of ‘modernity’ has been constructed and debates in relation to what is perceived as ‘tradition’. It begins by looking at how the new technologies and educational systems which were introduced during the colonial period stimulated the imagination of intellectual elites who were searching for ways to be good and modern Muslims. Exploring case studies from the 19th century to the present day Middle East, the course discusses textual and discursive strategies of presenting ‘proper Islam’ in contradistinction to that what is labelled as ‘non-Islamic’. Weekly readings and discussions during the lecture/seminars are geared towards examining the place of religious traditions in the modern world.

Pre/co-requisites

Available on which programme(s)?: MA Modern Languages and Cultures

Available as a Free Choice (UG) or to other programmes (PG)?: Yes

Available to students on an Erasmus programme?: Yes.

Aims

  • To become familiar with the key issues that shape the debates on ‘tradition’ in modern Islam
  • To critically investigate a wide range of theoretical approaches discussing the formation of ‘tradition’ in relation to ‘modernity’

Knowledge and understanding

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Understand and discuss theoretical issues related to tradition and  modernity in Islam
  • Compare and contrast social and historical contexts in which the traditions of Islam have been problematised and debated since 19th century.

Intellectual skills

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Develop analytical capacity to comprehend theoretical materials.
  • Improve the ability to examine primary and secondary sources.

Practical skills

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Use library and online resources
  • Present ideas in a clear and orderly manner
  • Write a well-structured and argued essay  

Transferable skills and personal qualities

By the end of this course students will be able to:

  • Critical and analytical thinking
  • Presentation skills (oral and written)
  • Time management and punctuality 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written assignment (inc essay) 75%
Oral assessment/presentation 25%

Feedback methods

  • Formative feedback on class discussion
  • Oral Presentation: in-class feedback and written comments through feedback form
  • Formative feedback on Short Essay plan
  • Formative feedback on Presentation title and Essay Project title and outline
  • Essays: written comments through feedback form

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Lectures 20
Seminars 10
Independent study hours
Independent study 120

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Tom Woerner - Powell Unit coordinator

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