The Master of Arts in Islamic Studies (MAIS) at Respect Graduate School offers the best of analytical scholarship in Islamic Studies. Students read from key texts of the classical Islamic disciplines and are introduced to classical and contemporary theories and methods of religious studies. They also study theories and methods in the rapidly growing field of interreligious studies, including the sub-fields of comparative theology and theologies of religious pluralism.
The required courses are designed to provide, on one hand, a strong background in traditional Islamic disciplines, and on the other, an ability to examine the tradition analytically from different perspectives. The MAIS program at RGS fully prepares its graduates for a variety of future undertakings, such as continuing their post- graduate education in Islamic Studies or a related field, seeking training for a career in chaplaincy and community leadership, conducting research, embarking on a profession in a nonprofit organization, or simply continuing to learn and expand their knowledge.
The Master of Arts in Islamic Studies offers a comprehensive exploration of the Islamic tradition, encompassing its religious, civilizational, and cultural dimensions. Integrating traditional and contemporary approaches to foundational Islamic texts, theology, philosophy, law, spirituality and ethics, the program delivers a balanced curriculum that delves into both historical and modern aspects of Islamic Studies. The MAIS aims to cultivate scholars, leaders, and intellectuals deeply rooted in the Islamic tradition, with a strong focus on developing critical thinking and problem-solving.
The Master of Arts in Islamic Studies (MAIS) program at Respect Graduate School is a comprehensive, 36-credit-hour program, consisting of twelve courses.
8 required Core Courses including the Final Research Paper, a capstone assessment.
Choose 4 elective courses.
All students are required to complete the following required core courses:
| Course Number and Name | Credit Hours | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| *MAIS 501 - MAIS 501 - Qur'anic (Classical) Arabic I: Knowledge of Word Structures | 3 | Knowledge of Arabic Script |
| *MAIS 502 - MAIS 502 - Qur'anic (Classical) Arabic II: Knowledge of Sentence Structures | 3 | MAIS 501 |
| MAIS 503 - Introduction to Qur'anic Studies | 3 | None |
| MAIS 504 - Introduction to Hadith | 3 | None |
| MAIS 505 - Survey of Islamic Thought | 3 | None |
| MAIS 506: Research Techniques in Islamic Studies and Resources | 3 | None |
| MAIS 507: Theories and Methods in the Study of Religion | 3 | None |
| MAIS 508: Research Paper | 3 | None |
Students can be exempted from the required courses MAIS 501 and MAIS 502 if they pass the Exemption Exam, which is available to applicants who are already fluent in classical Arabic. Students who have passed an exemption or competency examination at another institution must still take the RGS examination.
Students who do not pass the Exemption Exam must pass MAIS 501 and MAIS 502. If they do not pass these two courses or the Exemption Exam by the time they complete the introductory courses, they may not become official candidates in the graduate program and will not be permitted to continue into a concentration area or write a comprehensive research project/paper.
The introductory courses for the MAIS program are crucial to Islamic Studies and key to the program’s excellence, for the following reasons:
To complete the 36-credit-hour requirement of the program, students must complete 12 credit hours of electives and/or independent study courses. This should be done in consultation with their advisor.
A student may earn 12 credit hours by selecting freely from any of the courses below.
| Course Number and Name | Credit Hours | Prerequisite |
|---|---|---|
| MAIS 509: Islamic Theology (Kalam) | 3 | MAIS 505 |
| MAIS 510: Islamic Philosophy | 3 | MAIS 505 |
| MAIS 511: Islamic Spirituality | 3 | MAIS 505 |
| MAIS 520: Islamic Ethics | 3 | None |
| MAIS 512: Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh and Usul al-Fiqh) | 3 | MAIS 505 |
| MAIS 514: Islam and Gender Issues: Women in the Quran | 3 | MAIS 505 |
| MAIS 522: Introduction to Islamic Banking and Finance | 3 | None |
| MAIS 527: Islam and Global Politics | 3 | None |
| MAIS 515: History of Islamic Civilization I: From Beginning Until Pre-Modern | 3 | None |
| MAIS 516: History of Islamic Civilization II: From Pre-Modern Until Today | 3 | MAIS 505 |
| MAIS 517: Sira: The Life of the Prophet (SA) | 3 | None |
| MAIS 526: Science and Civilization in Islam | 3 | None |
| MAIS 518: Islam in America | 3 | None |
| MAIS 519: World Religions | 3 | None |
| MAIS 525: CPE: Clinical Pastoral Education | 3 | None |
| MAIS 523: Reading Islamic Texts in Classical Arabic | 3 | MAIS 501 and MAIS 502 |
| MAIS 528: The Near East | 3 | None |
| MAIS 530: Independent Study | 3 | None |
In their final semester, students write a Final Research Paper (FRP) under faculty supervision. The FRP is assessed by a faculty committee against a common rubric that evaluates all three program learning outcomes, followed by an oral defense also evaluated against specific criteria. This capstone assessment provides a comprehensive evaluation of individual student achievement across all program outcomes and allows for evaluation of to what extent a particular graduating class as a whole achieved the desired program outcomes.
To help prepare students to conduct research to answer their research question and to support a persuasive argument , RGS requires students to participate in The Scholarly Debate Forum (Nādī al-Munāẓarah).
The Scholarly Debate Forum (Nādī al-Munāẓarah)
3.1 Meeting Frequency
The Scholarly Debate Forum will convene online four to five (4–5) times per academic semester. The exact schedule for each semester will be published no later than one month after the start of the fall and spring semesters.
3.2 Session Duration and Format
Each session will last sixty (60) minutes and will be conducted via teams online. Sessions will include: • Student oral presentations of research proposals (approximately 2,500 words in scope) • Open questioning and critique from the student body and facilitator • Structured discussion and recommendations for proposal refinement
4.1 Minimum Attendance Threshold
Every student preparing to write a research paper, must attend and actively participate in a minimum of four (4) Scholarly Debate Forum sessions before being permitted to commence formal writing of their research paper. This requirement is a prerequisite. No student may proceed to the writing stage without fulfilling this attendance obligation. The program’s academic advisor or relevant instructor must verify and confirm that the requirement has been met prior to granting writing clearance.
4.2 Attendance Verification
Attendance will be formally recorded at each session. The official attendance record will serve as the basis for determining whether the four-session prerequisite has been satisfied. Students are responsible for ensuring their attendance is registered at each session they attend. All students must keep their video camera active and visible throughout the entire duration of each session. Attendance will not be credited for any session in which a student’s camera remains disabled. Students are expected to: 1. Engage actively in discussion during the Q&A and critique segments of presentations It is recognized that exceptional circumstances may prevent a student from fulfilling session requirements under normal conditions. Exemptions may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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