Islam, Science, and Ecotheology

Islam, Science, and Ecotheology (ISE)

The Islam, Science, and Ecotheology (ISE) concentration examines the relationship between Islamic teachings, scientific developments, and environmental issues in a contemporary context. This program highlights how the Islamic intellectual tradition interacts with modern science and responds to urgent ecological crises and social change.

Through specific courses such as Science and Knowledge Traditions in Islam, Islam and Modern Science, Islam, Environment, and New Social Movements, and Environmental Fiqh: Digital Humanities in Islamic Studies, this program actively engages students to critically and contextually understand the integration of religion, science, and environmental ethics. Graduates develop robust analytical and research capabilities, enabling them to examine complex Islamic, scientific, and ecological issues and contribute tangibly to sustainability discourses rooted in Islamic values.

Curriculum Structure

Core Interdisciplinary Courses

No. Course Title Semester Credits
1Islamic Studies: Text and Context13
2Philosophy of Islamic Sciences13
3Religion and Social Theories23
4Research Methods and Academic Writing24
5Thesis Proposal Seminar33
6Thesis48
Total Credits 24

Concentration Specific Courses

No. Course Title Semester Credits
1Science and Knowledge Traditions in Islam13
2Islam and Modern Science13
3Islam, Environment, and New Social Movements23
4Environmental Fiqh: Digital Humanities in Islamic Studies23
Total Credits 12

Elective Courses (Select 1)

No. Course Title Semester Credits
1Special Topic: Religion and Society33
2Religion and Global Issues33
3Religious Issues in Indonesia33
4Gender and Feminism33

Course Descriptions

Core Interdisciplinary Courses

Islamic Studies: Text and Context

Examines the dialectical relationship between foundational Islamic texts (the Qur’an, Hadith, and classical intellectual heritage) and the social, cultural, and political realities of Muslim societies. Students apply exegesis, hermeneutics, and critical social sciences to understand how scholars interpret, reinterpret, and implement these texts contextually.

Philosophy of Islamic Sciences

Introduces the epistemological frameworks of Islamic sciences within the context of modern philosophy of science debates. The course covers the epistemology, ontology, and axiology of science in classical Islamic traditions and modern Western thought, enabling students to develop scientific paradigms rooted in monotheism, justice, and public welfare.

Religion and Social Theories

Discusses classical and contemporary social theories to understand religion as a social and cultural phenomenon. The course critically evaluates the intersection of religion, power, economics, and identity to comprehend the function, role, and transformation of religion in modern society.

Research Methods and Academic Writing

Provides a methodological foundation for designing and executing interdisciplinary research. The curriculum introduces qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, alongside hermeneutical, historical, and socio-cultural approaches, while strongly emphasizing research ethics and context sensitivity.

Thesis Proposal Seminar

Serves as an academic forum for students to structure their thesis research proposals. Through faculty guidance and peer discussion, students clarify their problem formulations, theoretical frameworks, and methodologies, cultivating scientific argumentation and critical reflection.

Publication of Journal Articles

Trains students to write, edit, and publish scientific papers in national and international academic journals. The curriculum focuses on publication ethics, scientific writing techniques, citation systems, and the peer-review process to produce impactful research articles.

Thesis

Demonstrates a student's capacity to conduct independent, systematic, and original research. Using an interdisciplinary approach that integrates Islamic theories with social sciences and humanities, students generate research that contributes to knowledge development, policies, and religious practices relevant to contemporary challenges.

Concentration Specific Courses

Science and Knowledge Traditions in Islam

Examines the history and philosophy of science within classical Islamic civilization. The course analyzes how early Muslim scholars integrated theological values with rigorous scientific inquiry, and traces the transmission and transformation of knowledge within the Islamic intellectual tradition.

Islam and Modern Science

Investigates the conceptual intersection between Islamic theology and modern scientific discoveries. The study focuses on analyzing contemporary debates regarding cosmology, evolution, and bioethics from an Islamic perspective to foster a constructive dialogue between religion and science.

Islam, Environment, and New Social Movements

Critically analyzes how Islamic ecological values inspire contemporary environmental activism. The course highlights the strategic role of Muslim communities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in responding to ecological crises and mobilizing systemic social change.

Environmental Fiqh: Digital Humanities in Islamic Studies

Explores Islamic jurisprudence concerning the environment (Environmental Fiqh) by utilizing digital humanities approaches. Students learn to map, preserve, and digitally analyze ecological texts and religious fatwas to directly address modern sustainability challenges.

Elective Courses

Special Topic: Religion and Society

Examines the dynamic interaction between religion and society through advanced case studies and modern social theories, emphasizing the social construction of religiosity and systematic social change.

Religion and Global Issues

Analyzes the strategic role of religion in responding to urgent global challenges, such as peacebuilding, environmental conservation, human rights enforcement, migration, and sustainable development.

Religious Issues in Indonesia

Comprehensively analyzes the diversity of religious expressions, the sustained impact of identity politics, and the patterns of interfaith relations within the Indonesian socio-political landscape.

Gender and Feminism

Examines feminist theory and praxis, as well as gender discourse within Islamic studies. This course focuses primarily on achieving social justice and reconstructing equitable religious interpretations.