The Department of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law (Majors in Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law, and Law)

Background and Establishment

The Department of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law is one of the active and experienced departments in the Faculty of Theology and Islamic Studies at the University of Sistan and Baluchestan, which began its work independently in 1994. This department was established with the goal of training committed and knowledgeable specialists in the fields of jurisprudence, principles of jurisprudence, Islamic law, and the intellectual and jurisprudential foundations of the Islamic legal system, and from the very beginning, it has played a prominent role in promoting Islamic teachings and expanding jurisprudential and legal knowledge in the southeastern region of the country.

Over three decades of activity, relying on capable faculty members, rich educational resources, and continuous communication with scientific and research centers inside and outside the university, the department has been able to attain an important position among similar departments nationwide.

Undergraduate Programs

(A) The undergraduate program in Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law has been continuously active from its establishment until now.

From 1994 until now, more than 880 students have been admitted at this level. The objective of this program is the systematic familiarization of students with jurisprudential sources, foundational principles, jurisprudential rules, the history of jurisprudence, Islamic law, and emerging issues in the realm of comparative law and jurisprudence

Graduates of this level have been able in subsequent years to continue their activities as researchers, teachers of Islamic studies, cultural affairs experts, and even as candidates for postgraduate studies at higher levels.

(B) Undergraduate Program in Law

In line with the expansion of educational activities and responding to the increasing need of society for specialists in legal sciences, the Department of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law succeeded in establishing the Law program at the undergraduate level in 2021.

This action was carried out within the framework of the university's macro policies for strengthening the link between theology and law.

From the very first year, there was significant interest in this major, and now, after several years, the first cohort of law students graduated in 2025.

The curriculum of the Law program at the University of Sistan and Baluchestan, with an emphasis on the Islamic foundations of the country's legal system, includes fundamental courses in the areas of:

Civil Law

Criminal Law

Procedure Law

Commercial Law

International Law

Constitutional and Comparative Law

and the Jurisprudential Foundations of Contemporary Law.

These courses are taught by experienced professors in the fields of jurisprudence. law, and philosophy of law. Furthermore, efforts have been made to include, while adhering to the standards approved by the Ministry of Science, novel topics such as "Islamic Human Rights," "Law of New Technologies," and "Legal Challenges of the Digital World" within the department's program through scientific workshops and specialized meetings.

Master's Degree Program

In 2004, with permission from the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, the Master's degree level for this field was launched at the University of Sistan and Baluchestan. The first cohort began with the admission of 8 students, and until now, more than 150 students have studied or graduated at this level.

The Master's program is designed with an emphasis on specialized education in jurisprudence, principles of jurisprudence, comparative jurisprudence, and legal jurisprudence, and it provides a suitable platform for entering research fields and continuing studies at the doctoral level. At this level, theses are typically written on interdisciplinary topics between jurisprudence, law, economics, and sharia policy

Curriculum Revision

One of the fundamental developments of the department in recent years has been the revision and complete reform of the educational syllabi.

This plan was implemented from the first semester of the 2009-2010 academic year.

In the new syllabus:

The volume of general and basic courses was reduced.

Specialized jurisprudential and legal courses with an applied and updated approach were increased.

Doctoral Period

Continuing the department's growth path, in 2014, final approval for the establishment of the Doctoral level in Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law was issued.

In Bahman of the same year, this level began its work in both day and evening shifts.

The goal of establishing the Doctoral level is to train distinguished specialists and researchers who can play roles in high levels of research, teaching, jurisprudential

consultation, and legislation.

To this day, several cohorts of doctoral students are studying in this department, and a number have also successfully defended their dissertations.

Current Status and Future Perspective

The Department of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law, currently possessing three academic levels (Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctorate) in the field of Jurisprudence and Foundations of Islamic Law and the Bachelor's level in the field of Law, is considered one of the active and populous departments of the Faculty of Theology.

The future perspective of the department includes:

Expanding scientific cooperation with other universities and research centers in the country.

Enhancing the quality level of education by utilizing modern technologies.

Strengthening applied research in the field of contemporary jurisprudence and Islamic law.

And training researchers familiar with the needs of the legal and social system of society.

Islam can also respond to the legal and social questions of today's world. This department, in its path of progress, strives to establish a deep connection between traditional jurisprudence and modern law, so that while safeguarding the immense jurisprudential heritage of Islam, it can also respond to the legal and social questions of today's world