In 2021, the Master’s in Islamic Religious Leadership (MIRL) degree was launched, carrying the approval of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education. This 3-year degree program is rooted in the tradition of Islamic scholarship and relevant to the contemporary Western context.

Until now, have only been open to students who have been admitted to the MIRL degree program after a rigorous application process. But starting this winter, BIS is piloting the Special Student Option, whereby anyone with a bachelor’s degree or demonstrated capacity for graduate study can take these MIRL courses!

Course Dates: December 26th, 2024 through January 30th, 2025

IRL-612 – Islam in America: This course introduces students to human psychology based on the guidance of revelation concerning the nature of the nafs. Students will study the fundamental principles of the human psyche as laid out in the Qurʾān and the prophetic Sunnah to understand how the Prophet ﷺ addressed the needs, desires, attitudes and behaviors of his people. The course will also consider the role that society and social context play in shaping human behavior, values and attitudes, both from a psychological perspective and as relayed in the Qurʾān. At the end of the course, students will possess an understanding of the fundamental psychological and social needs of human beings as grounded in the teachings of revelation, which will provide a basis for further coursework in counseling and pastoral care.

Taught By: Dr. Mohammed Bushra [Faculty Profile – Click Here]