Postgraduate Course: Arabic for Contemporary Islamic Studies (IMES11124)
Course Outline
| School | School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures |
College | College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 20 |
ECTS Credits | 10 |
| Summary | Arabic for Contemporary Islamic Studies introduces students to the specialised Arabic language required for the study of both classical and contemporary Islamic sources. The course develops the core skills of reading, listening, speaking, and writing, with a strong emphasis on systematic vocabulary building. Students engage with selected Quranic passages, Hadith, and a range of classical and modern Islamic texts, alongside contemporary formats such as podcasts, multimedia materials, and televised debates. Through guided analysis of key vocabulary, root-based meanings, and essential grammatical structures, students explore different registers of Arabic, including the language of worship, theology, law, ethics, spirituality, and everyday Muslim discourse. By examining how Islamic knowledge and religious meaning are communicated across traditional texts and modern media, the course equips students with the linguistic competence and confidence needed to engage more independently with postgraduate-level study and research in Contemporary Islamic Studies. |
| Course description |
This course provides a focused introduction to Arabic as used across the core disciplines of Islamic Studies, with particular relevance to contemporary contexts. It develops students competence across reading, listening, speaking, and writing by focusing on key roots, grammatical structures, patterns, and registers that shape Islamic discourse.
Students engage with Quranic language, Hadith, and a range of classical and contemporary Islamic sources, including modern media and public discourse, gaining insight into the linguistic, semantic, and spiritual dimensions of Islamic terminology. The course highlights how Arabic operates across devotional, scholarly, and lived Muslim contexts, encompassing theology, law, worship, spirituality, and contemporary debates.
Teaching is delivered through six hours per week of interactive seminars and structured language practice. Students work actively with texts and audio-visual materials, supported by systematic vocabulary development, and demonstrate their learning through integrated practice of reading, listening, speaking, and writing skills.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | If you are a visiting student you must first pass an entrance test before you will be allowed to take the course. Please contact LLC.taughtenquiries@ed.ac.uk to make arrangements. |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2026/27, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: 0 |
| Course Start |
Semester 2 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
200
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 4,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
196 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
40 %,
Coursework
60 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Mid-Semester Test (Written) (20%)
Listening Test (20%)
Oral Test (20%): Oral Test (with the examiners only). The test is live and will be recorded for external examination.
Written Exam (40%): Non TLA
All 4 assessment components contribute to meeting the LO. By passing these components, students demonstrate the skills and understanding required across all of the Learning Outcomes for the course.
The assessment items are linked to the following outcomes:
Mid Semester Test (LO 1, 2, 5),
Oral Test (LO 3, 5),
Final Written Exam (LO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) |
| Feedback |
Students will receive timely written and/or oral feedback on both formative and summative assessments, with marks and feedback released in accordance with the Universitys policy on assessment return timelines.
The feedback will be constructive and developmental in nature, supporting students in reflecting on their performance and applying their learning to future assessments.
A dedicated feedback session will be scheduled, giving students the opportunity to discuss their work, seek clarification, and further develop their skills. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Read and understand a range of Arabic texts drawn from Islamic sources, identifying main ideas and key linguistic features such as common roots, patterns, and core grammatical structures
- Understand the main points and supporting details in spoken Arabic related to Islamic contexts, across a range of registers and communicative settings
- Communicate effectively in spoken Arabic on familiar themes related to Islamic studies, using appropriate language and register to express ideas clearly
- Produce clear and coherent written Arabic for academic and professional purposes in Islamic contexts, demonstrating developing accuracy and control
- Develop and actively use a growing repertoire of Arabic vocabulary and expressions commonly encountered in Islamic sources, recognising patterns and word forms to support comprehension and communication
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Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
This course develops students core communicative language skills through sustained engagement with a range of classical and contemporary Islamic texts in Arabic, including culturally and linguistically diverse materials.
It enhances competence across reading, writing, listening, and speaking, while fostering cultural awareness, global citizenship, independent learning, and self-motivation.
Students also acquire transferable skills in research, academic communication and presentation, time management, and lifelong learning, in alignment with the Universitys Graduate Attributes. |
| Keywords | Arabic,Contemporary Islamic Studies,Hadith,Classical and Modern Arabic,Islamic Media,Qur¿an |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Mr Mourad Diouri
Tel:
Email: M.Diouri@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | |
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