Academic Calendar - 2025
Western University Academic Calendar. - 2025
Islamic Studies
An introduction to Quranic Arabic for beginners with no previous knowledge of the Arabic language. Learn the script of the Qur’an, acquire core vocabulary necessary to understand short Quranic chapters, and dive into basic grammar of classical Arabic.
Antirequisite(s): Arabic 1070A/B.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Note: Those with any Arabic language background must see Instructor to determine eligibility for course. Cross-listed with Arabic 1070A/B.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course builds upon Quranic Arabic for Beginners 1070A/B. The focus is to expand Quranic vocabulary and to acquire a familiarity with more complex grammatical structures through studying Quranic texts. By the end of this course, students will have acquired the key principles of Quranic grammar.
Antirequisite(s): Arabic 2080A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Arabic 1070A/B or Islamic Studies 1070A/B or permission of instructor.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Arabic 2080A/B.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course explores passages in the Qur'an that have shaped classical and contemporary Islam, particularly regarding the tensions between text, context, and community. In addition to textual analysis, the course covers the history of reception and the influence these texts and their interpretations have on social relations and contemporary issues.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 2310F/G.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 2310F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A survey of Islamic history, thought, culture and practices, this course considers the development of Islam, key historical events, the Qur'an and its interpretive traditions, Islamic philosophy, devotional and altruistic practices, Muslim identity in a variety of local and global settings, and contemporary issues.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 2620F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An exploration of the meaning of the Sunnah (the normative example of the Prophet Mohammed) and the development of the corpus of Hadith (narrations of these reports) and their role in diverse schools of Islamic thought and in the lives of Muslims.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3100F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Religious Studies 2310F/G or Islamic Studies 2310F/G or Religious Studies 2500F/G or permission of the instructor.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3100F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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An examination of principled reasoning in classical Islamic jurisprudence, the theological status of reason in Islam, principles and priorities of traditional ethical reasoning, arguments for a goal-oriented approach to ethics, contemporary emphasis on context of the ethicist and the construction of religious authority, and the importance of individual moral formation.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3121F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3121F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course examines Islamic political thought and practice from the Medina Charter and the early Caliphate through to contemporary movements and developments. Central topics include: religion and the state, the main branches of Islam, religious tolerance, good governance, human rights, rule of law, and colonialism.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3130F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3130F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the way in which Muslim women, past and present, have understood and expressed themselves as spiritual beings through their engagement with Islamic texts, traditions and practices.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3131A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3131A/B.
Course Weight: 0.50
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How do Islamic traditions and communities understand and promote wellness, especially mental health? This course explores historical and contemporary perceptions of mental health within an Islamic theological perspective, with a special focus on Islamic principles of holistic well-being and the mental health challenges facing Muslim communities today.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3210F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3210F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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A study of the major theological issues addressed by traditional and modern Muslim theologians, such as the attributes of God, revelation and reason, moral epistemology, human freedom and responsibility, suffering and religious pluralism.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3211F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3211F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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Introducing students to key Sufi texts in translation, this course explores major themes in the mystical teachings of eminent Sufi figures from different geographical and cultural regions of the Muslim world. Students will be exposed to and engage with the foundational teachings and variety of literary expressions of Sufi spirituality.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3212F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3212F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
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This course is a study in classical Arabic. Its main focus is the vocabulary frequently encountered in the Qur'an. The course objective is to equip the student with the skills necessary to understand the grammar, vocabulary, and syntactical and morphological structure of the Qur'an.
Antirequisite(s): Arabic 3260A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Arabic 2080A/B or Islamic Studies 2080A/B or permission of instructor.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Arabic 3260A/B.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
Islamic Studies
An introduction to Quranic Arabic for beginners with no previous knowledge of the Arabic language. Learn the script of the Qur’an, acquire core vocabulary necessary to understand short Quranic chapters, and dive into basic grammar of classical Arabic.
Antirequisite(s): Arabic 1070A/B.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Note: Those with any Arabic language background must see Instructor to determine eligibility for course. Cross-listed with Arabic 1070A/B.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
This course builds upon Quranic Arabic for Beginners 1070A/B. The focus is to expand Quranic vocabulary and to acquire a familiarity with more complex grammatical structures through studying Quranic texts. By the end of this course, students will have acquired the key principles of Quranic grammar.
Antirequisite(s): Arabic 2080A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Arabic 1070A/B or Islamic Studies 1070A/B or permission of instructor.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Arabic 2080A/B.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
This course explores passages in the Qur'an that have shaped classical and contemporary Islam, particularly regarding the tensions between text, context, and community. In addition to textual analysis, the course covers the history of reception and the influence these texts and their interpretations have on social relations and contemporary issues.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 2310F/G.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 2310F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
A survey of Islamic history, thought, culture and practices, this course considers the development of Islam, key historical events, the Qur'an and its interpretive traditions, Islamic philosophy, devotional and altruistic practices, Muslim identity in a variety of local and global settings, and contemporary issues.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 2620F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
An exploration of the meaning of the Sunnah (the normative example of the Prophet Mohammed) and the development of the corpus of Hadith (narrations of these reports) and their role in diverse schools of Islamic thought and in the lives of Muslims.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3100F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Religious Studies 2310F/G or Islamic Studies 2310F/G or Religious Studies 2500F/G or permission of the instructor.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3100F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
An examination of principled reasoning in classical Islamic jurisprudence, the theological status of reason in Islam, principles and priorities of traditional ethical reasoning, arguments for a goal-oriented approach to ethics, contemporary emphasis on context of the ethicist and the construction of religious authority, and the importance of individual moral formation.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3121F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3121F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
This course examines Islamic political thought and practice from the Medina Charter and the early Caliphate through to contemporary movements and developments. Central topics include: religion and the state, the main branches of Islam, religious tolerance, good governance, human rights, rule of law, and colonialism.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3130F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3130F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
A study of the way in which Muslim women, past and present, have understood and expressed themselves as spiritual beings through their engagement with Islamic texts, traditions and practices.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3131A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3131A/B.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
How do Islamic traditions and communities understand and promote wellness, especially mental health? This course explores historical and contemporary perceptions of mental health within an Islamic theological perspective, with a special focus on Islamic principles of holistic well-being and the mental health challenges facing Muslim communities today.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3210F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3210F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
A study of the major theological issues addressed by traditional and modern Muslim theologians, such as the attributes of God, revelation and reason, moral epistemology, human freedom and responsibility, suffering and religious pluralism.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3211F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3211F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
Introducing students to key Sufi texts in translation, this course explores major themes in the mystical teachings of eminent Sufi figures from different geographical and cultural regions of the Muslim world. Students will be exposed to and engage with the foundational teachings and variety of literary expressions of Sufi spirituality.
Antirequisite(s): Religious Studies 3212F/G.
Prerequisite(s): Any 0.5 course in Religious Studies or Islamic Studies.
Extra Information: 3 lecture hours. Cross-listed with Religious Studies 3212F/G.
Course Weight: 0.50
Return to top
This course is a study in classical Arabic. Its main focus is the vocabulary frequently encountered in the Qur'an. The course objective is to equip the student with the skills necessary to understand the grammar, vocabulary, and syntactical and morphological structure of the Qur'an.
Antirequisite(s): Arabic 3260A/B.
Prerequisite(s): Arabic 2080A/B or Islamic Studies 2080A/B or permission of instructor.
Extra Information: 3 hours. Cross-listed with Arabic 3260A/B.