Programmes

Scholastic Objectives

That the student should display the analytical and intellectual advantages inherent in the multi-disciplinary diversity of scholarship demanded by the emphasis on adab, siyar and useful knowledge;
That the student should acquire the ability to identify key moments and patterns in history, and an appreciation of the dynamic interplay of individual human agency and the politics of power in the process of societal transformation;
That a confident overall command of the subject matter and a secure grasp of the essential details are combined with an understanding of the necessity for courtesy, discipline and moral responsibility as invaluable personal qualities in the pursuit and application of knowledge;
That the student's study and training should lead to certified and attested professional academic competence.

Three modes of participation

1 Attendance at Lectures

Teaching takes place in standard lecture room settings on Faculty premises (unless otherwise specified) and comprises traditional lectures, tutorials and seminars. This is supplemented by the availability of on-line tutorial sessions. Recorded lectures are also accessible on-line for those who may have failed to attend.

2 Online Study

Online courses are available for those who, due to distance or other commitments, are not able to attend classes in the traditional way but would still wish to avail themselves of the chance to participate in a course of study. It is possible to avail of the online courses at whatever time and at whatever speed suits the student best.

See our Members’ Area for further details. This area is used both by students who attend lectures in-person and those who attend online.

In addition, the online courses are also ancillary to the in situ teaching and are available as a resource to all students, so that those who for any reason cannot attend one or more lectures can catch up online, and others who simply wish to refresh their memories may view the lectures whenever they wish.

3 Residential Immersion

These are typically weekend residential courses delivered by a combination of visiting scholars and Faculty lecturers in residence who are ordinarily engaged in teaching, research or related activities. With the resources of the locality at our disposal, courses are designed to be primarily 'immersive' in character in that students are exposed to a more or less intensive timetable of teaching in the form of lectures, presentations and discussions whilst being expected to participate in the wider social and learning environment of the host community as a whole. This approach reflects the time-honoured reality that an active, organic and varied social setting provides unique opportunities for the observation, demonstration and active transmission of useful knowledge. For obvious reasons, it is preferred where possible for participants to be accommodated in local community households.

Upcoming Courses

Both major programmes detailed below will be delivered as weekly lectures held in Norwich every Saturday and made available on-line for non-attending students. Students who enrol on one course may, for a reduced fee, attend other lectures but may not participate in tutorials or examinations other than those pertaining to the course for which they have enrolled.

Diploma and Certificate Programmes 2012/13

The coming academic year sees the rolling out of two interlocking programmes of study: Muslim History and Civilisation & Society. Each programme consists of three modules studied over the course of three terms. This means that there will be a total of six modules on offer for the year; a maximum of two modules per term (one from each programme). Each module comprises twelve weekly one-hour lectures in addition to any required reading, research, written assignments or tutorials. The combination of online-distance learning and traditional lectures is arranged so as to allow Diploma candidates to achieve the combination of modules necessary to satisfy the examination requirements in the shortest possible time. Therefore, students who opt to do so may plan their course of study towards the achievement of one or more of three main qualifying examinations.

Candidates may enter for the Final Diploma in Advanced Studies (DipFNL), the Ordinary Diploma in Advanced Studies (DipORD) or the Certificate in Academic Education (CertAEd). These are awarded subject to examination by essay, and/or dissertation, and/or practical demonstration, as appropriate according to the level of qualification. However, certification is optional and all courses and lectures are open to participation with or without commitment to examinations.

Final Diploma in Advanced Studies (DipFNL)

Minimum duration

Syllabus

Assessment

Ordinary Diploma in Advanced Studies (DipORD)

Minimum duration

Syllabus

Assessment

Certificate in Academic Education (CertAEd)

Minimum duration

Syllabus

Assessment

The Programmes

The History of the Muslims

This programme examines three areas: the core political history of the Muslims as exemplified in their khalifas from the Khulafa ar-Rashidun right down to the last of the Osmanlis; the intellectual history of the Muslims as shown by the madhhabs of Islam, both those of fiqh and 'aqida, as well as heterodox movements, particularly those that have contributed substantially to the modern age; and a study of the societal forms of the first community of Islam in Madina. Itcomprises three modules:

The History of the Khalifas
The Madhhabs of Islam
Early Madina

Civilisation and Society

This programme examines the dominant global society arguing that it is the one which emerged from out of the French Revolution. The analysis is undertaken in three parts: first, the history of power including the emergence of banking and ‘market forces’; second, the picture of technique, technology, method and science and how they have arisen, and how they relate to power, including examination of some of the more exciting recent developments; third, an examination of the structure of its societal forms and institutions. It also comprises three modules: