Islam in the West

Subject 110-223 (2009)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2009. Search for this in the current handbook

Credit Points:	12.50
Level:	3 (Undergraduate)
Dates & Locations:	This subject is not offered in 2009.
Time Commitment:	Contact Hours: 2 x 45 min lectures (online) and 1 hour tutorial per week Total Time Commitment: 2.5 contact hours/week , 7 additional hours/week. Total of 8.5 hours per week.
Prerequisites:	Students must be completing an Islamic Studies major
Corequisites:	None
Recommended Background Knowledge:	None
Non Allowed Subjects:	None
Core Participation Requirements:	For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Student Support and Engagement Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Overview, Learning Outcomes, Assessment and Generic Skills sections of this entry. It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this subject are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and Student Equity and Disability Support: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/disability

Contact

A/Prof Shahram Akbarzadeh

shahram@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview:	This subject/unit examines Islam in the West past and present. It explores how Muslims interpret and practice Islam in a culture that is secular and somewhat alien to the culture of Muslim majority countries. Students will study how Muslims in the West negotiate their beliefs on Islam, particularly within the theological and ethico-legal spheres. Part of the subject/unit involves a case study of Muslims in Australia, which will include visits to some local Muslim institutions and interaction with Muslim communities. Students will undertake a small scale research project on Islam and Muslims in the West and present the results in writing.
Objectives:	be able to appreciate how Muslims interpret and practice Islam living as minorities in the West understand how Muslims in the West negotiate their religious beliefs, particularly in the theological and ethico-legal spheres understand how this negotiation and interpretation affects institutions such as family, law, education and politics among Muslims in the West be able to appreciate how Muslims carry out this interpretation and negotiation by actively and practically interacting with local Muslim communities
Assessment:	Assessment totalling 4000 words (100%)
Prescribed Texts:	Materials prepared by the Centre
Recommended Texts:	Abdullah Saeed, Islam in Australia, Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin, 2003 Abdullah Saeed and Shahram Akbarzadeh (eds), Muslim Communities in Australia, Sydney: UNSW Press, 2001 Shahram Akbarzadeh and Samina Yasmeen (eds) Islam and the West: Reflections from Australia, Sydney: UNSW Press, 2005 Yvonne Yazbeck Haddad and Jane I Smith (eds) Muslim Communities in the West: Visible and Invisible, Walnut Creek: Altamira Press, 2002
Breadth Options:	This subject potentially can be taken as a breadth subject component for the following courses: Bachelor of Biomedicine Bachelor of Commerce Bachelor of Environments Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Engineering You should visit learn more about breadth subjects and read the breadth requirements for your degree, and should discuss your choice with your student adviser, before deciding on your subjects.
Fees Information:	Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:	be familiar with research methods; thinking in theoretical and analytical terms; understand social, political, historical and cultural contexts and international awareness and openness to the world; communicate knowledge intelligibly and economically, confidence in self-expression.
Notes:	This subject will be taught online by the University of Melbourne. It is offered to students of University of Melbourne, University of Western Sydney and Griffith University, who are completing an Islamic Studies major. Local tutorial support will be available at all three universities. All students completing the last semester of their Islamic Studies major must enrol in this subject Students must be completing an Islamic Studies major.
Related Course(s):	Diploma in Arts (International Studies) Diploma in Arts (Islamic Studies)
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations:	Arabic Studies Major Islamic Studies Islamic Studies Islamic Studies

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