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ASR208 - Contemporary Islam: Religion, Culture & Politics

Year:

2021 unit information

Important Update:

Unit delivery will continue to be provided in line with the most current COVIDSafe health guidelines. This may include a mix of on-campus and online activities. To find out how you are impacted, please check your unit sites for announcements and updates. Unit sites open one week prior to the start of each Trimester/Semester.

Thank you for your flexibility and commitment to studying with Deakin in 2021.

Last updated: 4 June 2021

Enrolment modes:Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online
Credit point(s):1
EFTSL value:0.125
Unit Chair:Trimester 1: David Tittensor
Cohort rule:

Nil

Prerequisite:

Nil

Corequisite:

Nil

Incompatible with:

Nil

Typical study commitment:

Students will on average spend 150-hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit.

Scheduled learning activities - campus:

1 x 1-hour class per week and 1 x 1-hour seminar per week

Scheduled learning activities - cloud:

1 x 1-hour class per week (recordings provided), 1 x 1-hour online seminar per week

Note:

Final year of offer is 2021

Content

Islam is often presented in the media and in some academic discourses as a monolith, uniform in culture, interpretation, social practice and tradition. This is no more true of Islam than it is Christianity or Buddhism or any other world religion. Nevertheless, it is a notion that has taken on increased currency since the advent of 9/11, and has been popularised in works such as Samuel Huntington's 'Clash of Civilisations'. This unit aims to dispel this misconception by introducing students to the many 'houses' of Islam around the world and the significant variations that abound with regards to how Islamic tradition is interpreted and applied in contemporary societies. In doing so, the unit will explore topics such as Islamic liberalism, jihad, extremism and counter extremism, shari'a, sectarianism, and Sufism. It will critically analyse how these concepts are incorporated into the socio-political scene in different Muslim countries and minority contexts.

ULO These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes
ULO1

Understand and appreciate the variety of interpretative traditions and practices across the Muslim World

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

ULO2

Demonstrate knowledge of the histories and cultures of the Muslim world

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

ULO3

Critically analyse theories of the study of Islam

GLO4: Critical thinking

ULO4

Apply theory to compare and contrast different interpretive traditions and practices in Islam

GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities

GLO2: Communication

GLO4: Critical thinking

GLO5: Problem solving

GLO6: Self-management

These Unit Learning Outcomes are applicable for all teaching periods throughout the year

Assessment

Assessment Description Student output Grading and weighting
(% total mark for unit)
Indicative due week
Assessment 1 - Short Essay 1000 words
or equivalent
25% Week 5
Assessment 2 - Journal 1000 words
or equivalent
25% Week 7 and 10
Assessment 3 - Major Essay 2000 words
or equivalent
50% Week 11

The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.

Learning Resource

The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: ASR208 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.

Unit Fee Information

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