Reading Group

Reading Group

The Reading Group in Islamic Studies is a graduate-student-led reading group that explores a different theme pertaining to Islamic studies each semester. The reading group will be held for the first time in Spring 2025.

Once each year, the Islamic Studies Program will solicit proposals from graduate students for a reading group theme. We are particularly interested in proposals that concern contemporary approaches and methodologies in the study of Islam that can attract graduate students and faculty from a variety of disciplines, backgrounds, and departments. 

The student whose proposal is selected will have the opportunity to design the overall concept, trajectory, and scope of the reading group and to lead each session. The selected applicant will also receive a $500 Islamic Studies Fellowship.

To be notified about our next call, please sign up for our listserv.

Apply to lead a reading group

Submission requirements:

  1. A theme for the reading group
  2. A description (max 1000 words) of the topics to be explored in four or five sessions (no longer than an hour and a half each).
  3. Bibliographic entries of texts for inclusion. This list need not be complete or final, but all readings should be accessible in English.
  4. Name, department, and email address of the faculty advisor. 

Eligibility:

Applicants must be a PhD student in good standing in any department at IU Bloomington whose work engages Islamic studies, broadly conceived, and must be in residence in Bloomington for the duration of the reading group.

Deadline: Applications for Spring 2025 are now closed.