Faculty of Humanities

Degree Programs

Bachelor Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies

Are you interested in the political and social background of the events in the Islamic world? Would you like to know more about the history of these regions? Would you like to learn more about the religious and cultural traditions of Islamic societies? Would you like to learn Arabic, Turkish, or Persian and gain an insight into their literary traditions? Then study "Islamic Studies and Modern Oriental Philology" at the University of Bern!

You will get to know the Islamic world from a historical perspective and with its diverse regional particularities. You will also deal with the no less heterogeneous interpretations of Islam in the context of globalised societies.

In the first three years, you will receive basic specialist training in the area of knowledge and methodologies that will enable you to engage critically with the cultures of the Islamic world.

Bachelor Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies
Basic information
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, Universität Bern
Number of credits: 180 ECTS credits
Degree Programs:
  • Major Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies 120 ECTS credits

Other study programs:

  • Minor Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies 60 or 30 ECTS credits
Combination possibilities: several      
Duration: 6 semesters
Language: German
Beginning of studies: Fall or spring semester. Language courses start each fall semester.       

Details of program

Scheme of program

 

Electives / Course type ECTS 120 60 30 30
* Number of courses   *   *   *   *  
Lectures 3 3 9 2 6 3 9 2 6
Tutorial scientific writing 4 1 4 1 4        
Proseminars 4 3 12 3 12 4 16 2 8
BA-Seminars type 1 5 2 10 2 10        
BA-Seminars type 2 5 2 10            
Tutorial accompanying BA Seminar type 2 2 1 2            
Methodological exercise 4 2 8 1 4        
Arabic module I-II and III-IV 10 2 20 2 20        
2nd oriental language module I-II 10 1 10         1 10
2nd oriental language course III 5             1 5
Colloquium 3 1 3            
Written work - translation 1             1 1
Written work - book review 2 1 2            
Written work 4     1 4        
Written work 5 1 5     1 5    
BA thesis 10   10            
Electives 15   15            
Total     120   60   30   30

 

Focus
Focus (SP)

Combination possibilities

The Bachelor's program in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies consists of a major of 120 ECTS credits and one or several minors of 60 ECTS credits.

All minors offered at the University of Bern in the corresponding scope can be combined with the major; the only combination that is not permitted is that of major and minor in the same field of study.

For all combinations, performance assessments or modules that are offered as part of several study programs can only be credited to one study program.

Study structures
Major ECTS credits
 Minor ECTS credits
120  60 
120  30 + 30 

Available minors
Minors you may choose

Deadlines

Requirements

Special knowledge

none

Language requirements

Good language skills in English and French are required. A stay abroad is strongly recommended to deepen your knowledge of the oriental languages. The time for such a stay is the lecture-free period after the 4th semester of the Bachelor programme.