Bachelor in Islamic Studies

The Bachelor in Islamic Studies at Al Wasl University, formerly the Islamic and Arabic Studies College in Dubai, is an undergraduate program based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, taught in English. Islamic studies as a field of academic inquiry covers the religious texts, legal traditions, history and cultural expressions of Islam, drawing on the Quran, Hadith and the broader body of Islamic scholarship developed over centuries. Undergraduate coursework typically introduces students to Quranic studies and interpretation, Hadith sciences, Islamic jurisprudence and its foundational principles, Islamic history and civilization, and the Arabic language skills needed to engage directly with classical religious and legal texts. Students commonly study different schools of Islamic legal thought, the historical development of Islamic institutions, and the application of Islamic principles to contemporary social, ethical and legal questions. Close reading of primary religious texts, alongside structured argumentation and analytical writing, forms a central part of study in this discipline. Coursework may also address comparative religion and the relationship between Islamic thought and other intellectual traditions. Graduates with a background in Islamic studies pursue careers in religious education and teaching, mosque and religious institution administration, Islamic finance and Shari'a compliance support roles, media and publishing related to religious and cultural content, and government departments overseeing religious and cultural affairs. Many also continue to postgraduate study in Islamic studies, Shari'a or related humanities fields. Given the prominent role of Islamic scholarship and religious institutions within the United Arab Emirates, this degree provides a foundation for both academic and applied career paths connected to religious and cultural life in Dubai and across the country.