BA Arabic and Islamic Studies at SOAS, University of London

Overview

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Muhammad A S Abdel Haleem, OBE

Convenor

2013 Entry Requirements

A Levels: AAB
A Level language preferred
IB: 36 (6/6/6)

BTEC: DDM
Access to HE: Minimum of 30 Level 3 Credits at Distinction
Scottish Highers: AAABB
Scottish Advanced Highers: AAB
Irish LC: 340 points from 5 Higher level subjects at grade C1 or above
Advanced Placement: 4 4 5 (Two semesters - UCAS Group A) plus US HSGD with GPA 3.0
Euro Bacc: 80%
French Bacc: 14/20
German Abitur: 2.0
Italy DES: 80/100
Austria Mat: 2.0
Polish Mat: 75%

Minimum Entry Requirements: Languages at SOAS are taught ab initio, and no prior knowledge of Arabic is required.

Subjects Preferred: A good pass in a foreign language at A-level, or equivalent, is preferred

Interview Policy: Candidates with "non-standard" qualifications may be invited for interview

This four-year programme is intended to give students a solid grounding in Modern Standard and classical Arabic, familiarity with the core textual tradition of Islam, a broad knowledge of Islamic history and some insight into the methodology of religious studies. The third year is spent at a university in the Middle East.

Course Information

Modern language teaching involves class work, language-laboratory teaching, computer-assisted learning (CALL) and independent study. Introductory and intermediate courses in Arabic language use a wide variety of learning experiences and techniques in large and small groups. Most other units are taught in small classes. Assessment is by a combination of written examination, oral examination (where appropriate) and coursework.

Structure

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language which sets SOAS apart from other universities.

In the first year the programme's major component is the intensive study of Modern Standard Arabic; an introductory course in the study of Islam makes up the year.

The second year continues the study of Modern Standard Arabic and at the same time introduces the student to Islamic texts. A third course is taken in Islamic studies and a fourth chosen from the option lists and approved open options.

The third year of the degree is spent at an Arab university in the Middle East, where students study the colloquial language as well as Modern Standard Arabic, and write an extended essay.

In the final year language study is continued at the advanced level. To continue the first-hand experience of the primary sources the choice of one of two units in Islamic text-reading is compulsory. The third and fourth units are selected from the list of options; students who wish to specialize in Islamic studies are able to opt for further text-reading courses in this field. There is also an opportunity to write an extended essay (ISP).

NB: Language units at a more advanced level are available to students with the appropriate background.

Year 1

1. Core Course

Must be passed to proceed to the following year of study

Arabic 1 - 155900896 (3 Unit) - Full Year

2. Compulsory Course

Introduction to Islam - 157400020 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Year 2

1. Core Course

Arabic 2 - 155900897 (1 Unit) - Full Year

2. Compulsory Courses

Introduction to Early IslamicTexts - 155901115 (1 Unit) - Full Year
The Muslim World: Unity in Diversity - 155901258 (1 Unit) - Full Year

3. Optional Course

Choose one unit from List A or B, or another approved open option unit.

Year 3

Year abroad in Amman, Alexandria or Nablus. Students will develop their Arabic language skills, learn colloquial language and write an extended essay in Arabic.

Year 4

Students who wish to specialize in Islamic studies are able to opt for further text-reading courses in this field. There is also an opportunity to write an extended essay (ISP).

1. Core Course

Arabic 4 - 155900899 (1 Unit) - Full Year

2. Choose one of the following

Quran and hadith Studies - 155900734 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Islamic Texts - 155900356 (1 Unit) - Full Year

3. Optional Courses

Choose 2 units from List A or B. Or choose one unit from List A or B and one approved open option unit.

(List A) Arabic-related options

Year 2 Arabic Related Options

Introduction to Classical Arabic Literature - 155901236 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature - 155900901 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Introduction to Sufism - 155901375 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Introduction to Arabic Dialects - 155901396 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Year 4 Arabic Related Options

Quran and hadith Studies - 155900734 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Islamic Texts - 155900356 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Reading Classical Arabic historians - 155901334 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Politics and Aesthetics in Modern Arabic Literature - 155901382 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
Arabic Cinema (1) - 155901208 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
Arabic Cinema (2) - 155901209 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
Language and Oral Literature of an Arabic Vernacular - 155901376 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Sufism: Texts and History - 155901381 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
Independent Study Project in Arabic Studies (using Language sources) - 155901344 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Independent Study Project in Arabic Studies - 155900733 (1 Unit) - Full Year

(List B) Other approved options

Before selecting a course, student's must first check that the course is at the correct level. They must also ensure that they meet any pre-requisites. Permission to take any optional course outside of the NME department is at the discretion of the course convenor.

Elementary Written Persian - 155901053 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Elementary Written Turkish - 155901051 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Elementary Hebrew - 155900916 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Introductory Akkadian - 155900426 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
H130 Introduction to the History of the Near and Middle East - 154800230 (1 Unit) - Full Year
H248 The Making of the Modern Middle East - 154800227 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Introduction to the Study of Religions - 158000096 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Introduction to the Art and Archaeology of the Near and Middle East - 154900101 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
Islamic Architecture - 154900107 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Islamic Painting - 154900009 (1 Unit) - Full Year
The Sources of Islamic Art and Architecture - 154900108 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
The Decorative Arts of Islam - 154900109 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
Art and Material Culture of the Islamic World: 7th to 14th Centuries - 154900138 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
Mosaics, Manuscripts, and Wall Painting in Islamic Art - 154900134 (1 Unit) - Full Year - Not Running 2012/2013
Islamic law - 155200037 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Government and politics of the Middle East - 153400060 (1 Unit) - Full Year
Economic development of the modern Middle East - 153400031 (1 Unit) - Full Year

Programme Specification

BA Arabic and Islamic Studies - Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 39kb)

Teaching & Learning

Year abroad

Year 3 in Amman or Damascus.

Pre Entry Reading

Lings, Martin: Muhammad: His Life Based on the Earliest Sources. London: Islamic Texts Society, 1983
Abdel Haleem, M. A. S.: Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Style. London: I B Tauris, 1999
Waines, David: An Introduction to Islam. Cambridge: Cambridge UP, 2003

Destinations

As a student specialising in Arabic and Islamic, you will gain competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature and culture (which can include literature, film, music, art and religion) of various parts of the Middle East.

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers in both business and the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

Students graduating with this degree have opportunities to work in further research in Arabic or Islamic Studies, Education, the Arab and Islamic media, Islamic centres, the BBC, in the Press, the Civil Service and non-governmental organisations.

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.

How to apply

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section

Undergraduate Research Awards

Application Deadline: 2013-04-26 00:00

SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Department of the Languages and Cultures of the Near and Middle East