This course examines the philosophy and practice of teaching as a spiritual, intellectual, and communal act. Students explore the dynamics of impact, stagnation, and change in public teaching—across formats such as lectures, khuṭbas, homiletics, and digital presentations. Emphasis is placed on curriculum design for adult learners, the cultivation of presence and purpose in instructional settings, and the integration of practical skills for both online and in-person learning environments.

This course explores critical issues confronting Islamic theology and practice in the modern world, including secularism, scientism, pluralism, and the experience of doubt. Students examine classical responses alongside contemporary scholarship to assess how Muslim thinkers navigate enduring questions of belief, identity, and authenticity amid evolving cultural and intellectual landscapes.

This advanced seminar offers a focused exploration of the methodological frameworks that underpin the major Islamic legal schools (madhāhib). Through directed readings and guided research, students engage primary texts, examine the contributions of foundational jurists, and trace the epistemological assumptions that shaped legal reasoning. Special attention is given to intra-madhab diversity, and the role of context, authority, and tradition in shaping Islamic law.

This course explores the intersection of Islamic theology (ʿaqīda) with religious movements and daʿwa efforts across time. Students examine how theological commitments have shaped—and been shaped by—social reform, political resistance, and revivalist currents. Drawing on historical case studies and contemporary expressions, the course investigates the role of creed in constructing communal identity, motivating activism, and engaging competing truth claims in a pluralistic world.

This course offers a comparative study of mystical traditions across religious and philosophical systems, with special attention to Islamic Sufism. Students examine themes such as Divine love, annihilation of the self, spiritual discipline, and the language of the ineffable. Through cross-cultural analysis, the course explores convergences and distinctions in mystical epistemologies, practices, and aims.

This course examines the theological and spiritual dimensions of classical Islamic poetry in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, Malay, and Urdu. Through close reading of devotional texts, students explore how poetic language conveys metaphysical insight, spiritual longing, and Divine intimacy. Themes include love, loss, union, and the soul’s journey, with attention to the interplay of aesthetics, theology, and epistemology in Islamic mystical literature.

A comparative study of global religious and philosophical systems, focusing on their metaphysical claims, ethical frameworks, and epistemologies. Students critically engage with major traditions and worldviews, analyzing their points of convergence and divergence with Islamic theology and spirituality.

This course explores the intersection of religion and digital culture, focusing on how Islamic belief, practice, and authority are expressed, negotiated, and transformed in online environments. Topics include virtual religious communities, digital daʿwa, ethical dilemmas, and the reshaping of spiritual experience in the age of social media and algorithmic influence.

This course examines the responsibilities, complexities, and ethical demands of spiritual leadership in contemporary Muslim communities. Topics include the cultivation of presence and trust, navigating authority in religious spaces, and preventing spiritual abuse. Students analyze how historical trauma, orientalism, authoritarianism, and Islamophobia shape communal dynamics and leadership expectations. Special attention is given to digital religious leadership, gendered dynamics, and the formation of healthy, spiritually rooted communities in both online and physical spaces.

This course provides training in the design, implementation, and analysis of survey-based research relevant to Muslim communities. Topics include sampling, instrument development, data ethics, and interpreting findings with cultural and theological clarity.

This course examines the development and application of Islamic legal theory in minority contexts. Students explore foundational legal principles such as necessity (ḍarūra), custom (ʿurf), public interest (maṣlaḥa), and difference of opinion (ikhtilāf), assessing how juristic tools have been employed to address the realities of Muslim communities living outside Muslim-majority societies. Case studies and contemporary debates provide insight into the ethical and epistemological dimensions of legal flexibility, integration, and identity preservation.

This course examines contemporary Muslim intellectual responses to secularism, coloniality, modernity, and postmodernity. Through critical engagement with key thinkers and movements, students explore efforts to negotiate tradition and transformation, authority and autonomy, within diverse cultural and political contexts.

This course explores the role of women in shaping, preserving, and transmitting Islamic knowledge across generations. Through the study of historiography, theology, and spiritual literature, students examine the lives and legacies of female scholars, mystics, and educators. The course addresses questions of epistemic justice, gendered modes of knowing, and the recovery of female-centered narratives within Islamic thought. Emphasis is placed on both historical recovery and contemporary relevance, offering a critical framework for understanding women’s intellectual and spiritual authority in the tradition.

A focused study of qualitative methods in religious and theological research, including interviews, ethnography, and textual analysis. Students engage with case studies and produce original research, emphasizing reflexivity, interpretive frameworks, and ethical inquiry.

Students develop advanced skills in synthesizing academic literature across disciplines related to Islamic studies. Emphasis is placed on identifying gaps, mapping scholarly debates, and situating one’s research within ongoing conversations in theology, law, education, and spirituality.

This course introduces students to research methodologies in the academic study of religion, with attention to epistemological foundations, ethical frameworks, and the integration of confessional and critical approaches. Students learn to design research projects using a range of methods, including historical analysis, textual study, and fieldwork. The course also addresses practical tools for researching across languages, including the use of dictionaries, translation software, and multilingual archives, equipping students to work with primary sources beyond their native tongue.

This course provides structured teaching experience in academic or community-based educational settings. Students design and deliver course content, receive feedback on pedagogy and presence, and reflect on teaching as a form of leadership, service, and intellectual contribution. Practicums may be completed in-person or online, with attention to the needs of diverse adult learners.

In this preparatory course, students develop a formal dissertation proposal outlining their research questions, methodology, literature review, and proposed contribution to the field. Through guided feedback and peer review, students refine their focus, establish a feasible research plan, and secure approval to begin doctoral research.

Under faculty supervision, students conduct original research and produce a doctoral dissertation that contributes meaningfully to the study of Islamic epistemology, spirituality, or a related field. The dissertation must demonstrate methodological rigor, engagement with primary and secondary sources, and the capacity to advance scholarly and community-based discourse.

All ThD students are assessed for Arabic language proficiency to ensure their ability to engage directly with foundational Islamic texts. Placement or exemption is determined through testing, with additional coursework recommended as needed to support advanced theological study.

Students demonstrate proficiency in Quran recitation (fluency and tajwīd) through a placement assessment administered by qualified instructors. Where needed, students are directed to supplementary study to strengthen their recitational skill as part of their academic and spiritual development.