Course content and focus areas
The master's program in Islamic Studies is an Islamic-focused discipline that integrates Islamic theology with general humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences.
The purpose of the research-oriented master's program in Islamic Studies is to enable independent research at an advanced level. The program provides in-depth academic knowledge in the field of Islamic Studies in its full breadth, along with the skills to work independently according to academic principles, apply scientific methods and findings, and engage in rational reflection on faith. Specifically, it offers deeper insights into the paradigmatic, theoretical, and methodological foundations of the field, as well as exemplary issues in areas such as Quranic exegesis (tafsīr), systematic theology (kalām), culture, society, and history of Islam (tarīḫ alislām), and the history of ideas (falsafa: philosophy, tasṣawwuf: mysticism, piety, aḫlāq: ethics). Additionally, it provides opportunities for specialized focus on particular topics, systematic reflection on practical experiences, and further development of the linguistic foundations of the discipline.
Graduates acquire advanced competencies for future roles in academic, sociopolitical, cultural, and religious fields.
The master's program in Islamic Studies trains not only future academic researchers for university teaching and research but also theologians and specialized professionals in Islamic religion. The program also serves as preparation for a subsequent doctorate.
During the second year of study, students have the option to spend a semester at a partner university abroad. This allows them to familiarize themselves with the latest developments in the local Islamic theological academic landscape from an insider’s perspective and equips them to conduct innovative academic research in the respective foreign language.