Only Abrahamic book that doesn’t. Anyone guess why? Not enough Muslim students in US colleges, maybe?
Interesting observation: I imagine that there are numerous colleges where interested students could design a major or concentration, but probably it’s still a generation away from becoming a common major. I think that a lot of Muslim-Americans are from aspirational immigrant families who are more interested in lucrative fields like STEM and Medicine. It often takes another, better assimilated, generation to push for a new Liberal Arts/Humanities “Studies” program. Saying that, I think many students could choose to major in Arabic (where offered), Religion, Philosophy, or Middle Eastern Studies, and find a way to concentrate on the Koran.
A lot of American colleges were founded by Christian denominations, although not all have remained denominational. I think Muslim groups are more concerned (quite understandably) with overall acceptance. Considering the vitriolic responses to mosques and Islamic cultural centers here in the US, it’s not surprising that nobody is proposing a Shia University. I would love to see a Sufi-inspired center. In NJ, a co-ed Sufi charter or private school used to dominate in competitions like Science Olympiads. The best way to overcome prejudice is through examples like that. I think this will evolve. When more Americans study and work alongside typical Muslims, I hope they will accept them. I think that many mainstream Religion classes include the Koran alongside the Old and New Testaments. My kids attended a secondary school with Religious Studies requirements, and the Abrahamic Religions class covered all three.
As far as I know, there is no program specifically focused on Koran Studies. Instead, you would have to concentrate in Near Eastern Languages or Religion Studies. Within those majors, sometimes there is a subtrack on Islamic Studies, which would include coursework on the Koran, Islamic law, etc. For example, here are the course listings in Islamic Studies at DePaul University: http://www.depaul.edu/university-catalog/course-descriptions/Pages/default.aspx?letter=I&subject=Islamic%20World%20Studies
There is one, [Zaytuna College in Berkeley, CA](https://www.zaytuna.edu/academics/bachelors_program). It is very different from a traditional US college, and most resembles a seminary with a proscribed curriculum. If you are willing to look at Islamic/ Arabic/ Middle Eastern Studies programs, which will address the Koran as a hugely important work of literature, your options in the US exponentially increase.
Do you mean "prescribed? Proscribed means prohibited.
Thanks everyone! I know someone into Biblical and Talmudic Studies. Koranic (guess that’s a word) would complete the Abrahamic trifecta.
I think Islamic studies is where you would find that concentration. Few schools that aren’t religious in nature actually have Biblical or Talmudic studies, either; typically they would have Christian studies or Jewish studies. A catch-all religion major with lots of professors and classes could be an option too.
Maybe you could find some mosques near you and see if anyone knows of a program like that.
Exactly what do you mean by “Koran studies”? Do you mean something parallel to a Christian divinity program (i.e., training to become an imam), or do you mean something rather more academically oriented (in the Western tradition)? If it’s the former, the reason is mainly that you’d almost certainly need a college affiliated with Islam to do that, and we have nearly zero of those in the United States (Zaytuna College being a marked exception); if it’s the latter, as already mentioned you’d probably be well-served by the small but growing number of colleges that offer an Islamic studies major, such as (from a quick Google search, correctness of information not guaranteed) Texas-Austin, DePaul, Swarthmore, WUSTL, Villanova, Ohio State, and probably a handful of others.
Aren’t there some schools with a major or minor in Islamic Studies? If so, wouldn’t the Koran be part of those studies?
It sounds like you’re looking for a major in the Koran. I don’t think a major would be named that way. I don’t think there is a major called “The Bible”, either.
No, but there are more than a few degree programs in Biblical Studies.
Yeah, my friend is interested in Biblical and Talmudic Studies, among others
At least at many places where it isn’t just a fancily-named divinity degree, “Biblical studies” is actually what one might actually call “Christianity studies” (in parallel with Jewish studies and Islamic studies).
At first I wondered if it was a typo and OP meant Korean, but it turns out to be about the Q’uran. There are LOTS of Islamic Studies or Middle Eastern Studies departments. Check out Macalester or Tufts for example.
That’s what seminary school is for…
That would be an extremely unusual major. Schools don’t offer “Bible Studies” major, or at least it isn’t very common. Many, if not most, schools offer Islamic Studies majors.