Honours in Arabic and Islamic Studies

Entry Requirements and Program Structure
Assessment
Seminars
Thesis
Thesis Supervision
Enrolment
Contacts

Overview

‘Honours’ is an intensive year-long program of advanced study with research at its centre. The Honours year enables students to engage with the subject of their major in depth by undertaking research of their own, under the supervision of an expert in the their field. For some students, Honours is the culmination of their formal education while for other students, Honours is the first step on the path to careers as professional researchers and academics. Many staff in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences find Honours teaching the most rewarding part of their job.

Entry Requirements and Program Structure

Student need to have results at Credit (65%) level or better in eight Senior units of study (48 credit points) in the Arabic and Islamic Studies, including ARIS3680, if they wish to take Honours. Department permission is also required for enrolment into honours.

Students whose bachelor's degree was undertaken at another university, or students who completed their bachelor's degrees at the University of Sydney more than two years ago should contact the Chair of Department to discuss whether the classes they have taken are equivalent to these prerequisites.

Assessment

Honours in Arabic and Islamic Studies consists of a thesis of 18000-20000 words and 2500 words of written work, or its equivalent, for each seminar. Each of the two seminars meets weekly for 2 hours, for one semester. The thesis is worth 60% of the final mark and each seminar is worth 20%. While you will receive marks for all pieces of assessment, your academic transcripts will record only your final, overall Honours mark.

Seminars

The following seminars are on offer in 2011:

• Methodology of Research in Arabic and Islamic Studies (Dr Nijmeh Hajjar)
• Practical Advanced Language for Research Purposes (Dr Nijmeh Hajjar)

Thesis

The honours thesis constitutes an original piece of research and writing in a field that can be supervised by a member of staff. It amounts to 18000-20000 words of writing and must demonstrate both a command of a wide range of secondary source material in Arabic and Islamic studies, as well as a command of a particular disciplinary or interdisciplinary approach to the topic of the research.

The thesis can be on an area such as:

Arabic language and literature
Arabic and Islamic history
The contemporary Arab world and the Middle East
Society and politics
The study of Islam in the modern world

Thesis Supervision

In the first instance, students should contact the Chair of Department to discuss their preferred field of Honours study. The Chair of the Department will then be able to suggest the most appropriate member of staff within the department to supervise the Thesis. The list below, whilst not exhaustive, gives an idea of the areas of interest of staff from the Department.

Dr Nijmeh Hajjar supervises in Arabic language and literature * Arabic political discourse * Arabic political and social thought * Arabic society and culture * Arab and Muslim Women * Arab and Muslim communities in Australia * Arabic media * Arab and Muslim issues in the Western media.

Associate Professor Ahmad Shboul supervises in Arabic thought: classical and modern * Islam in the contemporary Arab world * Modern Islamic movements * Arab political culture * Arab and Muslim communities in Australia and Arab-Australian cultural relations * Arab Islamic historiography and human geography * Arab-Greek cultural relations in history and modern times * Socio-cultural and intellectual history of the Middle East.

Professor Rifaat Ebied supervises in Arabic and Syriac philosophical and medical works * Muslim-Christian relations in the Middle Ages.

Enrolment

In the first instance you should discuss your intention to apply for Honours with the Chair of Department. Students will enrol in ARBC or ARIS4011, 4012, 4013 and 4014. These, however, are merely generic or 'shell' units for your coursework component.

Enrolments are completed online. Go to the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Honours webpage for further information on Honours and on the online enrolment application procedure.

Contacts

The Chair of Department for Arabic and Islamic Studies can answer any queries relating to their Honours program.