Islamic Theology (Bachelor of Arts, B.A.)
The Bachelor's degree programme in Islamic Theology covers the academic disciplines of Islamic textual studies (Quran/Hadith), Islamic law, philosophy, and religious education. Key areas of focus include comprehensive Arabic language training and the social role of Islam (interreligious dialogue and pluralism).
Please choose
- Monobachelor
- Major Field of Study
- Minor Field of Study
Table of Contents
At a glance
Course structure and content
The specific curriculum of Islamic Theology as an academic discipline includes Islamic textual studies (Quran and Hadith), Islamic law, Islamic religious practice, religious education, Islamic philosophy, Kalam and mysticism, Islamic history, and contemporary Islam, each taught through introductory and advanced modules. A further important pillar of the programme is comprehensive Arabic language training, enabling students to work with original texts in the primary source language of Islam; practical language skills are also developed. Furthermore, particular emphasis is placed on content concerning the social role of Islam in the globalized world. This includes questions of interreligious dialogue, comparative theology, and the plurality of Islamic movements and Muslim realities in Germany and Europe. Reflection on the relationship between (lived) religiosity and scholarship is also given special importance. A practical phase is a mandatory module, providing insights into potential career paths for Islamic theologians.
Mono-Bachelor (180 CP)
Mandatory modules (120 CP)
| Module no. | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| B-01a | Introduction to Islamic Theology | 15 CP |
| B-02 | Islam in Past and Present | 10 CP |
| B-03 | Arabic I | 10 CP |
| B-04 | Koran and Hadith | 10 CP |
| B-05 | Islamic Law and Practical Theology | 10 CP |
| B-06 | Arabic II | 10 CP |
| B-07 | Islamic Philosophy, Kalām and Mysticism | 10 CP |
| B-10 | Arabic III | 10 CP |
| B-11 | Arabic IV | 10 CP |
| B-16 | Islamic Theology in Practice | 10 CP |
| B-19a | Bachelor's Thesis Module | 15 CP |
Mandatory elective modules (40 CP)
Choose 1 out of the following modules:
| Module no. | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| B-08a | Interreligious Perspectives | 10 CP |
| B-09a | Islam in Germany and Europe | 10 CP |
and 3 out of the following:
| Module no. | Title | Size |
|---|---|---|
| B-12 | In-depth module Islam in Past and Present | 10 CP |
| B-13 | In-depth module Islamic Law and Practical Theology | 10 CP |
| B-14 | In-depth module Foundations of Belief, Philosophy and Ethics | 10 CP |
| B-15 | In-depth module Koran and Hadith | 10 CP |
General elective modules (20 CP)
In addition to specialised study, students acquire subject-specific, non-specialist and interdisciplinary key qualifications of 20 CP. Modules can be freely chosen from the designated module catalogues of other subjects or central institutions.
Special features
With its B.A. in Islamic Theology, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin has created a study programme that is unique in Berlin and throughout Germany. The programme is innovative nationwide due to its programmatic "Theology of Diversity," which takes a comparative approach to Sunni and Shiite currents within Islam. Furthermore, the programme is distinguished by its historical profile, which enables students to engage with contemporary Islamic theological discourses and current societal debates surrounding Islam through a solid understanding of Islamic intellectual and cultural history and its sources. At the same time, its theological approach clearly differentiates it from other bachelor's programmes in Islamic Studies.
The study programme is generally open to all interested parties with a university entrance qualification and is therefore explicitly aimed at people with and without a Muslim faith who have an interest in Islamic theological topics.
Subject-specific admission and enrolment rules
Career opportunities & prospects
Afterwards, students can apply, for example, to the M.A. programmes in Religion and Culture and Islamic Theology at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.
Find out more in the overview of HU study programmes or via the database Hochschulkompass nationwide.
The Bachelor's degree in Islamic Theology qualifies graduates for further Master's studies in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences, as well as for careers in various sectors of society. The specifically Islamic theological content is relevant for those professional fields in which Islam plays a significant role, such as mosque communities and religious welfare organizations.
Furthermore, the academic and communication skills acquired during the programme are relevant for career fields that do not necessarily focus on Islam (e.g., journalism, administration, business).
More information on career prospects and alternatives can be found in the Berufenet database.
Study subject counselling
Questions about the course can be answered by Prof. Dr. Ufuk Topkara, by phone: 030 2093-98099 or email.
Recognition of credits
Prof. Dr. Tuba Isik
Contact information for the institute
Berlin Institute for Islamic Theology
Institutsgebäude, Hannoversche Straße 6, 10115 Berlin