BA Islamic Studies with Pastoral Care (subject to revalidation)
Overview
This pathway provides students with an in-depth knowledge and critical understanding of Islamic studies together with grounding in pastoral care and counselling theory and practice. The programme is designed to develop students’ knowledge and academic skills to enable them to critically analyse a range of perspectives and debates surrounding Islam and pastoral care and counselling in contemporary settings, and the Muslim professional context, in particular.
Level 4 (Year 1) of the programme is commonly shared across all undergraduate pathways as this provides strong foundations in the core Islamic sciences. Levels 5 and 6 of the programme provides students, in addition to Islamic studies modules, an opportunity to develop more in-depth knowledge and understanding of pastoral care and counselling theory, and the academic skills required to critically analyse and evaluate issues, research, engage with policy and improve practice, targeting Muslim communities in a range of contexts. It draws on the knowledge and experience of researchers and professionals operating in the field. Students will have an opportunity to access work settings through study visits enabling them to learn directly from professionals in the field and their experiences.
Core areas include gaining a firm grounding in approaches to Islamic counselling and psychotherapy, exploring contemporary methods being developed in the field; in-depth consideration of ethical and moral frameworks underpinning the field of pastoral care, and developing a theological and psychological holistic understanding of health and healing in modern times. Students are encouraged to undertake a 60-hour placement at Level 5 in order to strengthen their theoretical understanding and enhance their knowledge with professional practice.
Students graduating from recognised Islamic seminaries (Dar al-‘ulum or Jamia) may be awarded exemptions from Level 4 of the programme through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and can enter the programme at Level 5, shortening the degree duration to two years.
At Markfield Institute, students benefit from small class sizes, individual attention, personalised teaching support and access to an extensive range of both English and Arabic resources housed within our Islamic library. The course employs a range of teaching and learning methods both in and outside the classroom. As students’ progress in their studies, they will be encouraged to choose from optional modules to specialise in areas of their interest.
Course structure
This is a three-year full-time course which offers the option of completion at three levels:
120 credits: Certificate in Higher Education
240 credits: Diploma in Higher Education
360 credits: BA (Hons) in Islamic Studies with Pastoral Care
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 A-Level offer: minimum 3 A-Levels (or equivalent)
GCSE’s: 5 GCSE’s (including pass in English) or equivalent
Other: qualifications from an established Dar al-ulum (Islamic seminaries) are also acceptable. You may gain exemptions from year one of the course through 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 5.5 in their IELTS test (with a minimum of 5.5 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
The programme opens up a number of career paths related to pastoral care and chaplaincy including in 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. Those graduating from this programme can also go on to pursue Masters level studies at the Markfield Institute, or an Introductory Certificate in Counselling, followed by an MSc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy Studies at Newman University Birmingham, or similar courses at other universities, if they wish to pursue professional careers in counselling related fields.
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
