• D1: Introduction to Western Intellectual History

• D2: Science in the World Today (1): Introduction to the History and Philosophy of Science

• D3: Science in the World Today (2): Understanding Contemporary Debates in Ethics & Science from an Islamic Perspective

• D4: British Islam Today

• D5: Modern British Political History

• D6: Effective Communication Skills

• D7: Islam & Gender

• D8: Islam and Religious Pluralism: Theological and Historical Perspectives

• D9: Modern British Intellectual History

• D10: Sacred Art & Architecture of the World

• D11: Introduction to Astronomy

• D12: Introduction to World Religions & Inter-Faith Dialogue

• D13: Introduction to the British State

• D14: Islamic Counselling & Dispute Resolution

• D15: Effective Community Leadership & Development

• D16: Introduction to the Social Sciences

• D17: Introduction to World History

• D18: History of the 19th and 20th century Muslim World

Covers the main trends of ‘Western’ thought from Ancient Greece to post-modernity. The aim is to help students gain a critical understanding of the intellectual climate of the 21st century. Particular reference will be made to the points of convergence and divergence with the intellectual history of Islamic civilisations.
Top

Introduces students to the nature of scientific knowledge and its development through the contributions of different civilisations.
Top

Introduces contemporary questions about scientific innovation and ethics with reference to the responses in Islamic thought and jurisprudence to these questions. Students will relate the Muslim concepts of ijtihād and fatāwā to historical and contemporary discussions about how Islam accommodates and critiques technological change and scientific advances.
Top

Covers the history of Muslims in Britain and helps students understand the sociological factors shaping the community today, from its socio-economic situation to the impact of the media and government policy, exploring how British Muslim identities have been and continue to be formed.
Top

Covers the history of the three major British political parties in the 19th and 20th centuries. This includes the 19th century rise of the Conservative and Liberal parties out of the Whigs and Tories, the early 20th century arrival of the Labour Party simultaneous with the decline of the Liberal party. The post WW1 era, the depression and appeasement bring WWII and Churchill’s ‘finest hour’., after which is the emergence of Labour as a major party, to the recent coalition Government; all background to understanding British politics in the 21st century.
Top

Develops the students’ skills in oral and written communication, allowing them the chance to study these separately from assessment in other subjects. This course will provide important transferable skills beneficial to faith leadership and any area of employment.
Top

Analyses approaches to gender within traditional Muslim scholarship, referring to historical examples and contemporary questions about gender roles. The course will encourage students to relate these theoretical considerations to social problems affecting the Muslim community today, such as domestic violence, forced marriage, increasing rates of divorce etc.
Top

Introduces and analyses normative Islamic understandings of religious pluralism. Beginning with a survey of how Muslim scholars have interpreted the canonical sources relating to non-Muslims, it will also present examples of how Muslims have historically organised themselves in multi-religious and multi-cultural societies.
Top

Covers the key intellectual movements of the 19th and 20th centuries. It includes an examination of 19th century Romanticism, the rise of Victorian atheism, Anglican intellectuals of the early twentieth century and the emergence of the public intellectual in general. The module aims to give students an understanding of the major intellectual currents that have shaped modern Britian.
Top

Introduces students to the history of sacred art and its influence. Within a comparative framework, particular attention will be paid to Islamic art and Islamic theories of aesthetics.
Top

Covers the history, theory and practice of astronomy, particularly its development in Muslim civilisations and the modern West. Students will relate this to contemporary debates about the fiqh of moon-sighting, calendars etc., and how they can help address the perennial problems these create for the community.
Top

Presents a general understanding of the major faiths and methods of religious dialogue appropriate to respectful, constructive and honest dialogue and co-operation with adherents of other faiths. This course will focus partly on the religious history of Britain as a means to address these questions.
Top

Introduces the various facets of the British state. This includes an explanation of the parliamentary system, the courts, local government, social services, the police and the health service. The students will be introduced to the core functions of each part of the state and the organisations that deliver on these functions.
Top

Introduces the theory and practice of counselling and dispute resolution with reference to Islamic models of addressing mental illness, substance abuse, distress and conflict. Students will learn how to apply these methods and also when and how to seek further support to help those in need of advice or treatment.
Top

Introduces methods of designing and implementing successful community outreach and development projects. This course also allows students to develop their organisational, fundraising, communication and leadership skills.
Top

Introduces some major aspects of the social sciences and enables students to apply them critically both to the situation of the Muslim community and wider debates about religion and society. The course will include economics, sociology and psychology and political theory, and address their strengths and weaknesses in helping to understand social problems.
Top

Introduces the development of major world civilisations and the main trends of world history. Although naturally it will not cover the detail of events, it will provide an overall appreciation of the chronology of human history as well as addressing theories of the development and interaction of civilisations over time.
Top

Presents the major events and trends of the 19th and 20th centuries with special reference to their impact in the Muslim world. Students will analyse the shaping of the Muslim world during the colonial period, independence movements and post-colonial period, and relate these to the contemporary situation of the Muslim world.
Top