As Muslims across the country celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr today, the University of the Western Cape is officially the first tertiary institution of its kind to offer Islamic studies as a major.

For over 10 years, UWC has taught Islamic studies to senior students. Now, the major subject is available to undergraduate students pursuing a BA degree in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities. The university’s Gasant Abarder said the course will be rolled out from 2024 to 2026.

“We are thus pleased to announce on this auspicious day of Eid-ul-Fitr, an occasion at the end of Ramadaan that it is the only university in Southern Africa to offer Islamic studies as a major in the BA degree,” said Abarder.

Head of Department, Professor Ignatius Swart said the curriculum was planned to meet the training needs of imams, in addition to secondary school teachers, madrassa teachers, community workers, and students doing a law degree who may take electives in Islamic Studies.

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“Given the envisaged client groups, students taking Islamic Studies as a Major towards the BA Degree may complement that by selecting, for example, Arabic Studies (envisaging a career in language and translation), History or Geography (envisaging a career in teaching), Psychology (envisaging a career in counselling), Ethics or Women and Gender Studies (envisaging a career in community organisations) as a second major,” said Swart.