Undergraduate Module Descriptor

ARA2160: Islamic Movements: From the Muslim Brothers to Al-Qa'ida

This module descriptor refers to the 2017/8 academic year.

Module Aims

This module will introduce you to the major Islamist movements in the Middle East, Central Asia and North Africa. It aims to promote student exploration of the behaviour of these movements, understanding of their ideologies, and comparison of their similarities and differences in a cross-regional setting. The module will also promote critical analysis and understanding of the causes and the political consequences of the rise of Islamist movements in the Muslim-majority states before and after the Arab Awakening. You will be encouraged to analyse the role of Islamist movements in major political transitions and changes, developing a good level of comparative and analytical skills, as well as an ability to analytically consider the contemporary manifestations of Islamist movements in their historical perspective. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

This module's assessment will evaluate your achievement of the ILOs listed here – you will see reference to these ILO numbers in the details of the assessment for this module.

On successfully completing the programme you will be able to:
Module-Specific Skills1. demonstrate understanding of the major Islamist political forces and trends, and the contexts in which they operate;
2. construct informed and nuanced arguments based on critical and comparative analysis relating to the topic of Islamist movements throughout history;
Discipline-Specific Skills3. deliver oral presentations and write essays appropriate to the conventions of Arab and Islamic Studies;
4. comprehend and handle recent Islamist terminology;
5. analyse and critique a range of primary and secondary sources appropriate to the received conventions of the discipline;
Personal and Key Skills6. demonstrate competent critical and analytical skills through readings, class discussions and presentations;
7. effectively organise time and resources;
8. undertake effective comparative analysis.