MA Islam and Pastoral Care (subject to revalidation)
Overview
The MA in Islam and Pastoral Care programme critically explores theological and practical issues related to pastoral care and counselling in a Muslim context. The course will provide students with a critical understanding of the background of pastoral care in Islam and its history, and encourage them to reflect theologically on the demands Islam places on the concept of Khidmah (service). The programme includes a range of optional modules that prepare students to contextualise their studies while addressing contemporary pastoral care challenges.
The need for Muslim pastoral care professions/chaplains in universities, hospitals, prison and probationary services and in the armed forces in the UK and Europe, is well established. Muslim pastoral care professions/chaplains are required to provide high quality pastoral and spiritual care in a variety of contexts. This programme employs a multi-disciplinary approach to working with people and offers grounding in ethical and theological aspects in the role of pastoral care professionals.
The programme offers a range of optional modules that prepare students to contextualise their studies while addressing contemporary pastoral care challenges. Contemporary issues covered include: domestic violence and abuse; child sexual abuse; spiritual abuse; mental health and wellbeing; trauma; attachment; professional practice as an insider within Muslim communities, alongside personal development and growth. Modules further explore the historical development of pastoral care in the Muslim world, lessons learnt from this, and pastoral care in contemporary pluralistic societies.
Based on the developmental needs of Muslim communities, this programme is of interest to practitioners and students who wish to enhance the intellectual, as well as, reflective and practical competence of the subject. It is useful to those who wish to develop their reflective skills that will enable them to understand and assess Islamic approaches to pastoral care.
The taught modules are delivered through a mode of blended learning, which combines traditional classroom (face-to-face) methods and guided independent study with online learning. Teaching and learning methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, occasional workshops, peer group learning (such as delivering presentations to the class), study visits and independent study (as this provides the opportunity to develop students’ skills in research, interpretation and analysis).
The course is offered on both a full-time (12 months, over three semesters) and part-time (24 months, over six semesters) basis.
Course structure
The Course is offered on both a full-time and part-time basis.
Postgraduate Certificate: Awarded on the basis of 60 credits which must include 45 credits from core modules.
Postgraduate Diploma: Awarded on the basis of 120 credits.
MA Degree: 180 credits (including the dissertation)
Contact hours
Contact hours or guided learning hours are the number of hours a student will be taught and/or supported by their tutors during their studies. This includes direct teaching, guidance or supervision time. In addition, students are expected to spend additional time to attempt tutor set tasks and reading, completing their assessments, as well as independent study to learn the material covered in order to complete the qualification.
Each module is worth a certain number of credits. Each credit is estimated to be 10 hours of learning. For example, a 20-credit module requires 200 hours of learning, and this will include scheduled contact hours with your tutor(four hours/week online and/or in-person class attendance, and 48 hours over a 12 weeks semester). The remaining time is for the student to engage in tutor guided reading and tasks set for them, and also completing assessments.
The modules will be delivered by blended learning, which employs multiple methods to deliver learning by combining face-to-face interactions with online activities. Face-to-face interactions include lectures, seminars/tutorials, student presentations, and one-to-one support. In addition, students will be expected to engage in independent study to prepare for weekly classes, formative assessments, and coursework for each module..
Teaching staff
Students will be taught by a highly qualified, enthusiastic team of academics with wide-ranging research interests. Their research is used in lectures and seminars so you learn about the latest issues impacting the subject area.
Entry requirements
Typical offer: Candidates will normally need to have achieved an honours degree from a UK university or an overseas university agreed by NARIC as equivalent.
Other: Students may also enter with up to 80 Level 7 credits via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
International: International applicants who require a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK will need to ensure that they also have an IELTS test from a UKVI approved test centre. Applicants will need to have achieved an average score of 6.5 in their IELTS test (with a minimum of 6.0 in each of the four sub-components of language learning (reading, writing, speaking and listening).Please use the following link to find UKVI approved test centres: UKVI approved test centres
Fees and funding
Career paths
Graduates of the Masters in Islam, Pastoral Care and Counselling programme may proceed onto PhD research. Career choices include senior pastoral care/chaplaincy roles in a range of contexts including education, prison and probation services, and social and health care professions; youth and community work; policy making roles in pastoral care at local and national governmental level, and advisory/consultative positions in NGOs, the charitable sector, international corporations, interfaith relations, media and research.
How to apply
All prospective students must complete an application form. To gain a place at the Markfield Institute you will need to meet our general entry requirements and the specific entry requirements of your chosen course. Your application will be reviewed by the Admissions Team for your course, who will decide whether your application should receive an offer. Specific entrance requirements for individual courses can be found on individual course pages on this website. Entry to our postgraduate programmes usually requires a good Honours degree, or equivalent if you were educated outside the UK. After considering your application and documents, MIHE will send the candidate an email about the outcome of his/her application. Successful candidates will be sent an offer letter by email informing them about fees and the level and exact title of the course. Unsuccessful candidates will be informed by email.All students must complete an application form. If you are unable to complete this form for any reason, please contact admissions@mihe.ac.uk
