The Islamic College
Coordinates: 51°32′46″N 0°13′50″W / 51.546°N 0.23056°W
| The Islamic College | |
|---|---|
Motto in English | Higher Education in an Islamic Environment |
| Established | 1998 |
| Principal |
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| Location | London, England, UK |
| Website | http://www.islamic-college.ac.uk/ |
The Islamic College is a London-based academic institution specialising in Islamic Studies at both graduate and undergraduate level. Its degree programmes are accredited by Middlesex University.
Introduction
The Islamic College represents the fusion of the classical with the modern. The College's mission is to promote a new approach to the study of Islam and Muslims by providing an 'insider's perspective' on Islam and fostering a non-sectarian outlook. It is the only institute of higher Islamic learning in the UK whose degrees are validated by a well-known external universities, Middlesex University and International University of Al-Mustafa in Qum as affiliated of Ayatollah Khamenei, the leader of Islamic Republic of Iran. The Islamic College offers undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and publishes academic texts in Islamic studies as well as a quarterly academic journal.[1]
History
| The Islamic College Time Line | |
|---|---|
| 1998 | The college was founded as Islamic College for Advanced Studies (ICAS). |
| 1999 | Publication department (ICAS Press) established, begins publishing translations of important Islamic texts). |
| 2001 | Traditional subjects offered as part of a Hawza syllabus. |
| 2002 | College begins partnership with Middlesex University to offer an accredited BA Islamic Studies. |
| 2007 | New Level of co-operation begins between the College and Middlesex University with the introduction of MA Islamic Studies.* |
| College offers certificate courses in Islamic Banking and Qur'anic Arabic. | |
| Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies (JSIS) launched to promote the study of Shi'a Islam as a unique discipline. | |
| Research Department was established to promote research projects and produce scholarly titles on Islam | |
| 2008 | To reflect its growing course provision and its emergence as the centre for the study of Islam, ICAS was renamed simply: The Islamic College. |
| MA Comparative Philosophy launched.* | |
| MA Islamic Studies (Distance Education) Launched.* | |
| Islam and Human Rights added to the College's certificate course provision. | |
| Construction begins on the new campus building. | |
| 2009 | BA Muslim Culture and Civilisation launched.* |
| MA Comparative Philosophy: Islam and the West (Distance Education) launched.* |
* Accredited by Middlesex University
Publications
The Islamic College houses ICAS Press as well as MIU Press. ICAS Press has published a number of classical and modern Islamic texts and translations, particularly in the areas of Qur'an and hadith studies, theology, philosophy, mysticism, politics, and history.[2] ICAS Press also produces the Journal of Shi'a Islamic Studies (JSIS), a quarterly publication containing academic articles and book reviews of relevance to the study of Shi'ism, which is the world's first international peer-reviewed journal on Shi'a studies to be listed by major academic indices.[3] Recently, it has also launched MIU Press and EWI press which are dedicated to the printing of translations of the Encyclopaedia of the World of Islam as well as a wider variety of Islamic works.[4]
Undergraduate
There are currently three undergraduate programmes offered, BA Islamic Studies, BA Muslim Cultures and Civilizations, and BA Hawza Studies. The former aims to introduce students to the salient features of Islam as a system of belief and intellectual tradition from its inception until the modern era; covering essential subjects such as Islamic law, history, philosophy and the Arabic language. The second aims to provide a broader perspective on Islam as a civilisation and this is reflected in its course content. The latter focuses on religious studies, as would be found in a hawzah or traditional seminary.
Postgraduate
The Islamic College also offers MA degrees in Islamic Studies, Islamic Finance, and Islam and the West (formerly Comparative Philosophy). These are offered both in-house and via distance education. There is also a DPhil programme. These are also validated by Middlesex University and/or are joint programmes.
Certificate courses
In addition to degree programmes, the Islamic College also offers a number of certificate courses such as Qur'anic Arabic, Persian, Islamic Banking, Islam and Human rights and Islamic Philosophy.