Diplôme de civilisation d'islamologie

In the last two or three decades, Islamology, understood as the study of the texts and practices of the Muslim religion with the methods of the humanities and social sciences and a historical perspective, has experienced disaffection on the part of academic circles and supervisory authorities. The dramatic events that have affected French society, particularly since 2015, and an international context marked by the confessionalization of conflicts and the emergence of sectarian and violent groups, have led to a heightened awareness of the issues involved in gaining a better understanding of Islam as a religion. This diploma contributes to the production and dissemination of scholarly discourse based on scientific criticism, to analyze Islam as a religious and civilizational fact, and to respond to a diversified social demand. It also perpetuates the collective dynamics fostered in the field of Islamology by the GIS Middle East and Muslim Worlds. It contributes to the development of a coherent national response to training needs in Islamology, and offers a scholarly alternative to the ideological discourses of all kinds that thrive on the Internet.
This diploma will evolve into a fully distance-learning Bachelor's degree in Islamology. It brings together teaching staff from four main institutions that already offer courses in Islamology and related disciplines. They contribute their expertise in Islamic religion, with a focus on an interdisciplinary approach to teaching.

Students following another course but wishing, for personal or professional reasons, to deepen their knowledge of Islam from a civilizational and not just a religious point of view.

Students living abroad who wish to follow a French course.

People with an interest, in one way or another, in Islam and who wish to capitalize on the knowledge they have acquired with a diploma.

Professionals (civil servants, association executives, army, police; see “Continuing education registration” below).

At present, this Islamology degree is the only one in France to offer an initial training course taught entirely by distance learning. 
Its aim is to provide training in Islamic religion to a wide audience. The course takes an interdisciplinary approach to teaching, focusing in particular on :

• Fundamental Islamology, understood as the analysis of texts and doctrines (classical, modern and contemporary)
• Historical study of Arab-Muslim societies
• Sociological and political analysis of religious phenomena
• Critical reading of the founding texts
• Introduction to the various Islamic sciences and their constitution
• Insertion of these sciences in the context of their production
• The diversity of Islam across time and space

The aim is to acquire the tools needed to apprehend and understand the foundations of Islam as a religion, and to analyze the diversity of its manifestations in contemporary societies.

The course comprises two diplomas, each lasting one year:

• DC 1 Islamology: introduction
• DC 2 Islamology: in-depth study

The courses are delivered entirely via distance learning. Each module comprises a lecture and related activities (readings, quizzes, etc.). The lectures are asynchronous, recorded and available on Moodle. Each module requires approximately 1.5 hours of work per week. 
There is a weekly live session led by each teacher in turn, with the time slot specified at the beginning of the year (for guidance, Friday 6pm). This weekly meeting helps to maintain a link with the teaching team and with all those enrolled. The session is recorded and can be consulted remotely. However, we strongly recommend that you attend these sessions live. 

Important information:

Courses run over 12 weeks per semester. 
The university calendar can be consulted here
The exam calendar can be consulted here

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DC 1 Islamology: introduction

Semester 1
Module 1 - Introduction to the history of medieval Islam 
The expansion of Islam and the construction of the Muslim space, the structuring of political power, the representation of major religious and theological divides, a new culture and ancient legacies. 

Module 2 - Introduction to the founding texts: Qur'an, ḥadīth, sīra. 
A look back at the founding texts in the light of recent questioning and debates in contemporary research. Putting these texts into perspective and the context of their emergence.
 
Module 3 - Introduction to classical Muslim thought: law, theology, exegesis, Sufism, Shi'ism
An introduction to the Islamic sciences, covering their constitution and development and the reference authorities for each of them.

Module 4 - Islam through its texts
Critical reading of texts that enable students to address various issues relating to the main sciences of Islam (hadith, exegesis, law, theology, Sufism).

Semester 2
Module 5 - Introduction to the history of the modern and contemporary Muslim world 
Colonisation and its consequences, integration into modernity. Nationalism and the emergence of nation states. Plural societies, religious divides, identity constructions. 

Module 6 - Introduction to modern and contemporary Muslim thought
Study of new religious doctrines: Wahhabism and Salafism. Muslim reformism: its major figures and currents.

Module 7 - History of Islamic art
The main characteristics of Islamic art. Representative works.
 

DC 2 - Islamology: in-depth study (Islam, culture and religion) - from academic year 2024-25

Semester 3
Module 8 - Texts of Islamic thought and spirituality 1: Mysticism, theology and philosophy
Presentation and study, through selected texts, of the major currents, authorities and doctrines in these different fields, in relation to the historical context of their production.

Module 9 - Texts of Islamic thought and spirituality 2: The ethical question
The ethical question in texts. Study of the adab, a polysemous term which covers a wide field, from the rules of conviviality to literature, and whose content has been constantly renewed.
 
Module 10 - Languages and religion
Links between language and religion in Islam. From the question of the sacredness of the Arabic language to the place of languages, this course will present different facets of the link between language and religion in Islam.

Semester 4
Module 11 - Islams: local Islam, global Islam
Islam in its geographical, linguistic and cultural diversity. Common practices, plural representations  

Module 12 - Anthropology of Islam
Anthropological approach to Muslim societies and their characteristics 

Module 13 - Islam and radicalisation: textual and sociological approaches
The question of violence in Islam through a dual Islamological and sociological approach, study of the various factors of radicalisation (study of discourses, reading grids, societal challenges).

Final distance examination. 
Modules are offset annually, with an overall mark of 10/20 or higher. 

The teaching team is made up of Islamologists, historians, sociologists and anthropologists specialising in the Muslim world. The team is developing a new approach to teaching Islamic religion, both in terms of content, based on the latest research, and digital teaching tools. The main members of the teaching team are :

Mélisande Bizoirre (BNF)
Anne-Sylvie Boisliveau (University of Strasbourg)  
Francesco Chiabotti (Inalco)
Anouk Cohen (CNRS, Centre Jacques Berque)
Mériam Cheikh (INALCO)
Nicolas Elias (INALCO)
Mohamed Hayyan (EPHE doctoral student, lecturer)
Catherine Mayeur-Jaouen (Sorbonne)
Paul Neuenkirchen (post-doctoral fellow Princeton/Vienna)
Youssouf Sangaré (Inalco)
Dilek Sarmis (University of Strasbourg)
Jean-Jacques Thibon (Inalco)
Éric Vallet (University of Strasbourg)
Chantal Verdeil (Inalco)
Nadjet Zouggar (Aix-Marseille University) 

If you are an employee, civil servant, self-employed, jobseeker or on RSA and you would like to apply for this establishment diploma, you should also contact the Continuing Education Department to find out how to register and the possibilities of funding.

Contact: anne.gehant@inalco.fr  
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