The Institute of Islamic Studies offers two (2) MA programs: a general MA in Islamic Studies, and an MA in Islamic Studies – Gender and Women’s Studies Concentration.
A) Master's Degree in Islamic Studies
Degree Requirements
To be granted a Master's degree in Islamic Studies, students must meet the following degree requirements (total of 45 credits):
- Completion of 21 credits of coursework at the 500-level or higher, including one 600- or 700-level seminar offered by the Institute (3 credits) and including
ISLA 603. Introductory: Research Materials - Islamic Studies.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Exploration of research materials in Islamic Studies, including intellectual output of Islamic civilization, compositions, Arabic nomenclature, Arabic script and transliteration systems, published and unpublished materials (theses, manuscripts, books printed by lithography, facsimile editions, monographic, serial, e-publishing), websites, databases; major reference books (bibliographies, encyclopedias, handbooks, online/published catalogues, language/biographical dictionaries).
- Fall
- 2 hours
- Compulsory for M.A. students; recommended for Ph.D. students
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
- Proficiency in Arabic or Persian at the second-year level. Students may enroll in the Arabic or Persian language courses, but the courses at the introductory- and the lower intermediate-level will not be credited towards the course requirements.
- Thesis courses (total of 24 credits):
ISLA 697. Thesis Research 1.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 6
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Six credits for accepted thesis proposal.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder ISLA 698. Thesis Research 2.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 6
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Six credits on submission of completed thesis.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder ISLA 699. Thesis Research 3.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 12
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Twelve credits for thesis passed by Internal and External examiners.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
- Thesis
N.B.: With the permission of the Institute, up to 6 credits could be taken in other departments at McGill or other institutions which may count towards the requirements for the MA degree.
With the approval of the student's supervisor, courses taken with an IIS faculty member in other departments (i.e., History, Anthropology, Political Science) can count toward the coursework requirements in the same way as ISLA courses.
B) Master's Degree in Islamic Studies – Gender and Women’s Studies Concentration
The Graduate Option in Gender and Women’s Studies is an interdisciplinary program for students who meet degree requirements in Islamic Studies (and other participating departments) who wish to earn 6 credits of approved coursework focusing on gender and women’s studies, and issues in feminist research and methods. The student’s Master’s thesis must be on a topic centrally relating to issues of gender and/or women’s studies.
Degree Requirements
To be granted a Master's degree in Islamic Studies – Gender and Women’s Studies all students must meet the following degree requirements (45 credits):
- Completion of 21 credits of coursework at the 500-level or higher including one 600- or 700-level seminar offered by the Institute (3 credits), including
ISLA 603. Introductory: Research Materials - Islamic Studies.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Exploration of research materials in Islamic Studies, including intellectual output of Islamic civilization, compositions, Arabic nomenclature, Arabic script and transliteration systems, published and unpublished materials (theses, manuscripts, books printed by lithography, facsimile editions, monographic, serial, e-publishing), websites, databases; major reference books (bibliographies, encyclopedias, handbooks, online/published catalogues, language/biographical dictionaries).
- Fall
- 2 hours
- Compulsory for M.A. students; recommended for Ph.D. students
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder WMST 601. Feminist Theories and Methods.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Inst for Gender, Sex & Fem St (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Examination of feminist theories and research methods from a variety of disciplinary perspectives.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder WMST 602. Feminist Research Symposium.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 3
Offered by: Inst for Gender, Sex & Fem St (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Discussion and development of participants' research in gender and women's studies.
- Prerequisite: WMST 601.
- Restriction: Must be enrolled in the Option in Gender and Women's Studies.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
- Proficiency in Arabic or Persian at the second-year level. Students may enroll in the Arabic or Persian language courses, but the courses at the introductory- and lower intermediate-level will not be credited towards the course requirements.
- Thesis courses (total of 24 credits):
ISLA 697. Thesis Research 1.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 6
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Six credits for accepted thesis proposal.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder ISLA 698. Thesis Research 2.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 6
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Six credits on submission of completed thesis.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder ISLA 699. Thesis Research 3.
Note: For information about Fall 2025 and Winter 2026 course offerings, please check back on May 8, 2025. Until then, the "Terms offered" field will appear blank for most courses while the class schedule is being finalized.
Credits: 12
Offered by: Islamic Studies (Graduate Studies)
This course is not offered this catalogue year.
Description
Twelve credits for thesis passed by Internal and External examiners.
Most students use Visual Schedule Builder (VSB) to organize their schedules. VSB helps you plan class schedules, travel time, and more.
Launch Visual Schedule Builder
- Thesis on a topic relating to gender and women’s studies issues.
N.B. With the permission of the Institute, up to 3 credits could be taken in other departments at McGill or other institutions which may count towards the requirements for the MA degree.
With the approval of the student's supervisor, courses taken with an IIS faculty member in other departments (i.e., History, Anthropology, Political Science) can count toward the coursework requirements in the same way as ISLA courses.
Applicants for the Master's degree, click here for more details.