Religion, Media, and Muslim Society (RMMS)
The Religion, Media, and Muslim Society (RMMS) concentration equips students with an interdisciplinary perspective to understand the complex relationship between Islam, media, and contemporary Muslim social dynamics. This program critically highlights how both conventional and digital media shape religious practices, religious authority, knowledge production, and moral and political discourse within the public sphere.
By critically analyzing the media's role in the transformation of religious life, graduates develop robust analytical and research capabilities. The curriculum prepares them to examine Islamic issues effectively within the context of modern media and society.
Curriculum Structure
Core Interdisciplinary Courses
| No. | Course Title | Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Islamic Studies: Text and Context | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Philosophy of Islamic Sciences | 1 | 3 |
| 3 | Religion and Social Theories | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Research Methods and Academic Writing | 2 | 4 |
| 5 | Thesis Proposal Seminar | 3 | 3 |
| 6 | Thesis | 4 | 8 |
| Total Credits | 24 | ||
Concentration Specific Courses
| No. | Course Title | Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media, Mediation, and Mediatization | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | Media, Religious Authority, and Knowledge Production | 2 | 3 |
| 3 | Media, Politics, and Moral Public | 2 | 3 |
| 4 | Islam and Digital Culture | 2 | 3 |
| Total Credits | 12 | ||
Elective Courses (Select 1)
| No. | Course Title | Semester | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Special Topic: Religion and Society | 3 | 3 |
| 2 | Religion and Global Issues | 3 | 3 |
| 3 | Religious Issues in Indonesia | 3 | 3 |
| 4 | Gender and Feminism | 3 | 3 |
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
Media, Mediation, and Mediatization
Examines foundational media concepts, mediation processes, and the mediatization of religion in contemporary society. The course analyzes how media structurally redefines religious practices, symbols, and institutions in the public sphere.
Media, Religious Authority, and Knowledge Production
Analyzes the shifting landscape of religious authority driven by digitalization and media convergence. Key topics include the democratization of knowledge, the rise of digital preachers, and the dynamics of authority fragmentation within Muslim communities.
Media, Politics, and Moral Public
Explores the intersection of media, political discourse, and the formation of public morality. Students critically assess the media's role in identity politics, religious populism, and the construction of citizenship.
Islam and Digital Culture
Explores the manifestations of Islam within the digital ecosystem, including the formation of virtual communities, online activism, and the phenomenon of digital piety. The course evaluates technology's impact on contemporary religious practices.
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.