PhD in Religious Studies - Islamic Studies in New Haven United States | Yale University

The Yale University Ph.D. Program in Islamic Studies focuses on in-depth exploration of Islam as a religion and prepares outstanding students for academic careers in this discipline. Admitted students receive full financial support, including multi-year stipends. As part of the Department of Religious Studies' ten specialized fields, Islamic Studies students collaborate with peers and faculty across various religious traditions. Alongside Prof. Gerhard Bowering and Assoc. Prof. Frank Griffel, students can work with faculty from Near Eastern Studies, History, and Political Science. The program requires students to gain broad understanding of Islamic intellectual heritage and religious philosophy, while developing expertise in a specialized area and acquiring critical research skills. Key areas of study include: Islamic religious history (covering civilization, legal systems, and social structures from Islam's beginnings to 1500 CE), Islamic thought (encompassing philosophy, theology, Sufism, and Shiism), sacred texts (examining the Quran and Hadith's formation and interpretation), and modern Islam (analyzing developments from the 16th to 21st centuries across multiple regions). Prof. Griffel oversees modern Islamic studies, while Prof. Bowering leads historical and textual studies. Language instruction in Arabic, Persian, and Turkish occurs through Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations, with additional courses on Iranian history and Islamic political thought offered by History and Political Science departments.