Plan your progression through the Master in Islamic Religious Leadership. This standard full-time pathway follows the 2026–27 curriculum framework; your approved cohort plan and official registration schedule govern your enrollment.
90 credits of required coursework, 10 credits of supervised internships, and a two-credit Capstone Writing Project.
Part-time students meet the same requirements on an approved extended plan with Academic Advising.
At least nine additional approved credits, for a minimum of 111 total credits, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7.
The course lists below show the 24 required courses. Distinction courses are additional and are not required in every semester. Course rotation, prerequisites, modality, and meeting times must be confirmed before registration.
| Course code | Required course |
|---|---|
| IRL 511 | A Light among the People: Living the Qur’an (Thematic Approach) |
| IRL 521 | The Sunnah of the Messenger |
| IRL 531 | Islamic Belief and Faith |
| IRL 541 | Fiqh of Worship and Transactions |
| Course code | Required course |
|---|---|
| IRL 512 | Thematic Tafsīr of the Qur’an |
| IRL 522 | Philosophy of the Prophetic Sīra |
| IRL 543 | Islamic Legal Theory (uṣūl al-fiqh) and Higher Objectives of Legislation (maqāṣid al-sharīʿa) |
| IRL 611 | Intellectual Foundations of the Modern World |
Summer: Field Education I — first supervised internship.
| Course code | Required course |
|---|---|
| IRL 523 | Islamic History and Civilization |
| IRL 532 | Advanced Applied Islamic Theology |
| IRL 545 | Comparative Fiqh of the Family |
| IRL 722 | Public Speaking and Communication |
| Course code | Required course |
|---|---|
| IRL 524 | Schools of Islamic Thought |
| IRL 542 | Fiqh of Societal Affairs |
| IRL 551 | Islamic Ethics and Spirituality |
| IRL 731 | Psychology and the Social Environment in the Light of Revelation |
Summer: Field Education II — second supervised internship; development of the Capstone Writing Project.
| Course code | Required course |
|---|---|
| IRL 712 | Islamic Leadership — Individual and Institutional |
| IRL 723 | Understanding and Engaging the Media |
| IRL 714 | Islamic Institutional Administration |
| IRL 732 | Principles of Pastoral Care |
| Course code | Required course |
|---|---|
| IRL 553 | Applied Ethics |
| IRL 544 | Fatwā and Contemporary Fiqh Issues |
| IRL 724 | Interfaith and Intra-Faith Engagement |
| IRL 733 | Marriage, Family, and Youth Counseling |
Complete remaining approved field-education, capstone, competency, and graduation requirements with Academic Advising.
The applied component totals 12 credits: 10 internship credits and two capstone credits. Placements, supervision, required hours, and timing follow the approved individual plan and applicable guides. Winter offerings may support approved program requirements, focused courses, or academic progression.
Work with Academic Advising to select at least three approved Distinction courses, totaling nine or more additional credits. The handbook permits three to six courses (9–18 additional credits). Students must meet the academic standard in each course, maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.7, and remain in good academic and institutional standing.
Discuss your course load and progression with Academic Advising. For help reaching the appropriate BIS office, contact mirl@bostonislamicseminary.org.
