The MA in Islam and Pastoral Care programme critically explores theological and practical issues related to pastoral care and counselling in a Muslim context. The course will provide students with a critical understanding of the background of pastoral care in Islam and its history, and encourage them to reflect theologically on the demands Islam places on the concept of Khidmah (service). The programme includes a range of optional modules that prepare students to contextualise their studies while addressing contemporary pastoral care challenges.

The need for Muslim pastoral care professions/chaplains in universities, hospitals, prison and probationary services and in the armed forces in the UK and Europe, in general, is now well established. Muslims pastoral care professions/chaplains are required to provide high quality pastoral and spiritual care in a variety of contexts. This programme employs a multi-disciplinary approach to working with people and offers a grounding in ethical and theological aspects in the role of pastoral care professionals.

Based on the developmental needs of Muslim communities, this programme would be of interest to those who wish to enhance the intellectual, as well as, reflective and practical competence of the subject. It should be useful to those who wish to develop their reflective skills that will enable them to understand and assess Islamic approaches to pastoral care.

The taught modules are delivered through a mode of blended learning, which combines traditional classroom (face-to-face) methods and guided independent study with online learning. Teaching and learning methods include lectures, tutorials, seminars, occasional workshops, peer group learning (such as delivering presentations to the class), study visits and independent study (as this provides the opportunity to develop students’ skills in research, interpretation and analysis).

Programme Structure

Students will need to complete a certain number of credits to achieve the following awards:

Postgraduate Certificate: Awarded on the basis of 60 credits which must include 45 credits from core modules.
Postgraduate Diploma: Awarded on the basis of 120 credits, as for the MA degree but excluding the dissertation module.
MA Degree: 180 credits, which includes the dissertation.

Career Paths

Graduates of the Masters in Islam, Pastoral Care and Counselling programme may proceed onto PhD research. Career choices include senior pastoral care/chaplaincy roles in a range of contexts including 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.