Master Langues et sociétés - Parcours Études islamologiques (Islamologie et tradition intellectuelle en islam)

Depending on their specific skills and interests, students enrolled on the MA in E.I. (Études islamologiques/Islamic Studies) will be introduced to research in Islamology in various fields: research on the founding texts (Qur'ān and Sunna), the intellectual tradition of Islam (theology, philosophy, the tradition of intellectual mysticism; some courses will also be devoted to Islamic jurisprudence), contemporary thought, reformism and the formation of the very idea of orthodoxy - in the Sunni world as well as in the Shiite milieus.

Two seminars - one specifically devoted to Islamic Studies and the other to the intellectual philosophical tradition in Islam - will deal with the research themes proposed from time to time, presenting the most recent results of contemporary research (several colleagues working in France and abroad are invited to present their work).

Finally, some of the courses are taught in English, giving students real contact with international research.

Masters students. Some seminars are open to doctoral students.

 Are authorised à to register for a master's degree candidates who hold a licence. Holders of another diploma: https://allsh.univ-amu.fr/fr/formation/scolarite »

Bachelor's degree or equivalent (Literature, Philosophy, Arabic and/or Islamic Studies, Oriental Studies, etc.); minimum level of English passive skills; level of French: according to regulations

At least basic knowledge of at least one language of the Islamic regions (Arabic, Persian, Turkish ...)

The course is entirely devoted to Islamology, i.e. the historical-critical study of the Islamic religion and the various dimensions (theological, philosophical, political, social etc.) that depend on it. More specifically: the study of classical Islamology and the intellectual tradition of Islam with specific courses in theology (kalām), and courses devoted to the interpretation (and definition) of the founding texts, the development of Sunni orthodoxy, the analysis of philosophical texts, and the definition of the various Shi'ite traditions and doctrines. Some of the seminars and courses (in methodology, manuscript reading, history and Islamology) are in English and are designed to provide a specific introduction to research. 

Study of the ‘founding' or foundational texts' of Islam - the Qur'an and the body of texts that over time made up the prophet's sunna - the history of how they were written and how they were used and interpreted. The theological (what is revelation? how do we define a prophet? etc.), legal and social significance of these texts will be examined, as well as their historiography.

Four courses are specifically devoted to the founding texts of islam:

- Founding texts of Islam: theory and historiography

- Quran and hadith in Sunnism and Shiism

- Modern and contemporary readings of the founding texts of Islam

- Development of Sunni orthodoxy

A second area of interest concerns the intellectual tradition of Islam:

the tradition of the kalām - which can be compared to the theological tradition - the philosophical tradition (to which the authors of the falsafa essentially refer; but one of the questions to be addressed is precisely that of the definition of Islamic or Arab-Islamic philosophy) ;

the tradition of mystical intellectual thought, which is eminently, but not exclusively, Shi'ite (here too, the MA in I.E. offers various courses and seminars).

Finally, another key area is reformist and contemporary thought (several seminars focus on the political, sociological and ideological aspects of modern and contemporary Islam).

Particular attention is paid to the Shiite world and to the presentation of so-called minority and esoteric currents in Islam.

Finally, in terms of expertise, in addition to various seminars specializing in methodology, some courses and seminars include the study of manuscript tradition and/or Arabic epigraphy.

-    Research methodology in Islamic Studies (Foundational texts of Islam, Sunni and Shi'i intellectual tradition, Contemporary Islam

Stages (national and international); participation in and organization of in Academic/ research  workshops; language formation and other formation abroad

Front lessons, seminars, continuous participation; participation in and organization of in Academic/ research workshops, language formation and other formation abroad

Contact : Olga L. Lizzini

Stages and Academic activities  organized with the I.F.I.

Cf. International agreements and partners

Olga.lizzini@univ-amu.fr