Module: Judaism & Islam: An Introduction

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Judaism & Islam: An Introduction
Module Code	RET1038 (ITS: TP238)
Faculty	Theology, Philosophy & Music	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The purpose of this module is to introduce students to the religious traditions of Judaism and Islam, through an exploration of key aspects of identity, texts, and traditions. Students will develop knowledge of the major historical developments and traditions within Judaism, contemporary groups and expressions, as well as key issues related to the background and formation of the Tanakh and rabbinic literature. In relation to Islam, the module investigates key developments and traditions, as well as introducing students to the development and interpretation of the Qur’an and Hadith. In the course of this module students gain skills that will enable them to engage with these religious traditions from a variety of perspectives and methodologies used in the academic study of religions. Students are expected to attend and contribute to lectures, and to engage with the primary texts in a reflective and analytical manner as they progress through the module.

Learning Outcomes

1. Reflect critically on the complexity of Jewish identity and the major traditions withing contemporary Judaism
2. Communicate a critical understanding of key texts within the Jewish tradition, including the Tanakh and rabbinic literature
3. Demonstrate a critical awareness of diversity within Islam, and different traditions within contemporary Islam
4. Identify and analyze key texts in Islam, in particular Qur'an and Hadith
5. Reflect on the complex interrelationships between Judaism and Islam and Christianity

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	No Description
Independent Study	101	No Description
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11524	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Bradford Anderson	Module Teacher	Jonathan Kearney

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	Essay 1 (1000 words) on Judaism	40%	n/a
Essay	Essay 2 (1000 words) on Islam	40%	n/a
In Class Test	In-class quiz 1 on Judaism (20 questions)	10%	n/a
In Class Test	In-class quiz 2 on Islam (20 question)	10%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Indicative Reading List

Books:

Anderson, Bradford A., and Gooder, Paula: 2017, An Introduction to the Study of the Pentateuch, Bloomsbury, London, 9780567656391
Bennett, Clinton (ed): 2019, The Bloomsbury Companion to Islamic Studies, Bloomsbury, London, 9781472586896
Berkey, Jonathan P.: 2003, The Formation of Islam: Religion and Society in the Near East, 600 - 1800, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 9780521588133
Brettler, Marc Zvi: 2007, How to Read the Jewish Bible, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 9780195325225
Davies, Sharyn Graham: 2010, Gender Diversity in Indonesia: Sexuality, Islam and Queer Selves, Routledge, London, 9780203860953
Hayes, Christine: 2012, Introduction to the Bible, Yale University Press, New Haven, 9780300181791
Holtz, Barry (ed.): 1992, Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts, Simon and Schuster, New York, 9780671605964
Peters, F. E.: 1994, A Reader on Classical Islam, Princeton University Press, Princeton, 9780691000404
Shepard, William E.: 0, Introducing Islam, 2nd, Routledge, London, 9780415533454
Wadud, Amina: 1999, Qur'an and Woman: Rereading the Sacred Text from a Woman's Perspective, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 978019512836
Sonn, Tamara: 2015, Islam: History, Religion and Politics, 3rd, Blackwell, Oxford, 9781118972
Raudvere, Catharina: 2015, Islam: An Introduction, I. B. Tauris, London, 9781848850835
Juynboll, G. H. A: 1983, Muslim Tradition: Studies in Chronology, Provenance and Authorship of Early Hadith, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 978052108516
Ende, Werner, and Steinbach, Udo (eds): 2010, Islam in the World Today: A Handbook of Politics, Religion, Culture, and Society, Cornell University Press, Ithaca, 9780801445712

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None