New degree programmes at Paderborn University
Starting in the upcoming winter semester, prospective students and teaching degree students at Paderborn University can enrol in a new teaching subject course: the Paderborn Institute of Islamic Theology (PIIT) will be offering the “Islamic Religious Studies” course as part of the bachelor of education programmes for teaching at the elementary school, secondary school, comprehensive school, high school, and vocational college level. The standard period of study is six semesters, and there are no admission restrictions. The application phase starts on 01 June. An information event on the new study course will be held on Tuesday, 14 June, at 4:00 p.m. in lecture hall O2.
“PIIT offers a broad study programme in Islamic Religious Studies that optimally prepares students for their future role as religious education teachers in schools,” explains Jun. Prof. Muna Tatari, who designed the new teaching subject course together with her colleagues at PIIT. In the new study programme, students will acquire the academic foundations for educational and teaching activities in the various types of schools and the necessary subject-specific didactic basis. The content includes an introduction to the language, content and interpretation methods of the Qur'an, Islamic philosophy and religious education as well as Islamic theology in dialogue with non-Muslim theologies (particularly Jewish and Christian theology).
A special key research focus of the Paderborn University location is the close networking and collaboration with Christian and Jewish theologies as well as with arts and humanities. The Centre for Comparative Theology and Cultural Studies (ZeKK) provides the ideal framework for interdisciplinary dialogue. Students can attend seminars on other theologies in addition to the required coursework and earn a certificate in interreligious studies.
“The course programme allows for scholarly reflection on the Islamic doctrine of faith, thereby demonstrating the compatibility of faith and reason from a Muslim perspective,” says Tatari.
More information is available at: https://kw.uni-paderborn.de/en/paderborner-institut-fuer-islamische-theologie/studium/islamische-religionslehre-bachelor-of-education. Anyone interested in the course can also e-mail any questions to studienberatung.piit@kw.upb.de.
