Wisdom of Islamic Art
The master’s program of “Wisdom of Islamic Art” is a comprehensive educational package in line with the regulations and decisions made by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology of Iran. In this interdisciplinary program, the focus is mainly on the wisdom of Islamic art, the deep, internal meanings of Islamic art, and the mysteries present in such works. A major area of research in Islamic culture is the relation of art and religion. Since religion has been one of the most important intellectual components of Muslims’ entire lives, the relation of art and religion is visible in every aspect of culture and civilization especially in art. Consequently, the presence of religious teachings in creating artistic works and the relation of religion and art cannot be ignored. As there has been an interaction between religion and other areas of culture throughout the history, there has also been a close relation between religious teachings and creation of artistic works.
Elements and components of Islamic art are considered as a critical topic for the researchers of Islamic art. However, there have always been various judgments about the impact and relation between religious teachings and the formation of works of Islamic art. The issue necessitates some researchers to conduct related studies and review both the methodology of understanding Islamic art and the relation between religious teachings and the rational, mystical elements and the process of creating artistic works in Islamic lands.
This discipline aims to train students who are able to analyze works of Islamic art and to decode the rational meanings, mystical, philosophical foundations, and fundamentals of belief in such works. These students will also be able to strengthen and create effective relationship between the national universities and research centers and connect with international educational and research institutes.
The graduates of “Wisdom of Islamic Art” become familiarized with the formation process of artistic works in Islamic civilization, the existing theories in Islamic art, and the philosophical, rational roots of Islamic art. They will be able to carry out research in theoretical aspects of Islamic art and can also be hired in foundations and institutes related to the Islamic art.
Holding a bachelor’s degree or an equivalent is sufficient for enrollment in this program. The previous degree of the applicant must be verified by the consulate of Iran in the issuing country. Also, matching the applicants’ previous field of study with the current program is not necessary. Upon establishing the applicants’ scholarly competency and the committee’s agreement, the applicants are eligible to study in this program regardless of their previous field of study. Previous publications including books, research papers, and journal articles can positively influence the committee’s judgment.
The master’s degree in “Wisdom of Islamic Art” takes 2 years and is accomplished in 4 academic semesters; each semester lasts for 16 weeks. Every one-unit class requires one hour of instruction per week. In case the department decides that extra time is needed for a student to pass the prerequisites or finish the thesis, at most 2 extra semesters will be added.
The MA program of “Wisdom of Islamic Art” includes 48 credits: 26 credits of core courses, 16 credits of prerequisites, and 6 credits of the thesis. The students are required to pass all the core courses and the thesis. However, the department will decide on the number of prerequisites to be taken, depending on the student’s undergraduate field of study.
The courses of “history of Islamic art”, “important periods in the history of Western art”, “beauty and art in Islamic philosophy”, “beauty and art in Islamic mysticism”, “rational foundations of Islamic art from the perspective of Traditionalists”, “theories of art and aesthetics”, and “comparative study of rational Islamic art foundations” are among the core courses taught in “Wisdom of Islamic Art”. “Islamic philosophy”, “Western philosophy”, and “an introduction to Islamic mysticism” are among the prerequisites.
- Total cost of the course for Iranian students who are admitted through the national entrance exam or internal university exam (2021-2022): 16 million tomans (The fee covers the student’s educational costs and does not include living expenses such as food and accommodations.
The applicants must submit the following documents to apply to the online master’s programs of the University of Religions and Denominations:
- A completed application form.
- An electronic copy of the identification document of the country of origin.
- An electronic copy of the diploma or its equivalent and a certified Persian, English, or Arabic translation of the transcript.
- A recently taken photo of the applicant, size 30x40mm.
- Applicant’s CV indicating education and work experience (optional).
By clicking on the “Apply now” button next to each program, you will be transferred to the registration portal, where you can upload and submit your application documents. Your application will not be complete until all the required items are submitted.