Western Sydney University (WSU) has recently moved to retire Islamic Studies as Major and Minor areas of study and replaced them with a broader Studies of Religion Major and Minor. This decision comes at a critical time when the institutional, structured and regulated study of Islam in Australia is necessary for religious literacy and social cohesion.
Islam, like all other major world religions, is one of the major areas of study in universities worldwide. Leading institutions, including the University of Oxford and Edinburgh in the UK, McGill and Toronto in Canada, the University of Tübingen and Frankfurt in Germany, Leiden University in the Netherlands, and the Universities of Chicago, Columbia, UC Berkeley, and Harvard University in the US, to provide a few examples, all offer dedicated programs to teach Islamic Studies.
In these Western universities, Islamic Studies as an independent academic discipline is taught through a sophisticated blend of sociological and theological approaches. This ensures students understand the faith’s historical impact and its role in modern society. Graduates in this area of study work in government, public policy, social services, Islamic centres and organisations, education, research, international relations, media and so on.
In Australia, several major institutions are found to teach this academic specialisation. Charles Sturt University, the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University all provide dedicated pathways for Islamic or Middle Eastern Studies.
WSU joined this global and local academic community in 2007, placing Islamic Studies at the heart of the Greater Western Sydney region to serve its diverse population. However, in November 2025, the university notified students that the program would be retired as both a Major and a Minor from a BA degree.
Universities are not meant to operate solely for profit. These precious institutions have a deep-seated obligation towards society to preserve branches of knowledge that define human history, tradition, and collective future.
In a region as culturally significant as Western Sydney, keeping these academic pathways open is an educational imperative and a social necessity. Shutting them down risks losing an important bridge between the academic world and the local community.
The timing of this decision is particularly concerning.
The necessity of this education is particularly and tragically underscored by the recent terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Such events prove that proper and institutionalised knowledge of Islam is vital to dismantle the radical ideas that justify violence. Academic programs provide the intellectual tools needed to deconstruct extremist narratives and protect young people from radicalisation.
Education also acts as a shield to protect the social fabric and stability. By teaching the complex history and constructs of Islam, universities provide evidence-based knowledge and foster the mutual respect required for a functional multicultural society.
Without regulated and accredited study options, there is a risk that individuals will seek religious education through informal or unvetted centres. History shows that a lack of institutionalised understanding of religion and social reality can open “dangerous doors.” Professional education acts as a safeguard, providing a balanced and moderated environment for learning.
Dr Jan A Ali, the former Islamic Studies Major Convenor at WSU, has been vocal about his concerns.
“The decision suggests a lack of understanding of the Muslim demography in Greater Western Sydney,” Dr Ali stated. He argues that if we want to stop events like the Bondi massacre, we must offer more Islamic Studies programs, not fewer.
Dr Ali emphasises that education is the key to preventing misguidance and social friction. He believes we must educate both Muslims and non-Muslims to ensure the faith is understood beyond the headlines of the media and politicians. However, despite submitting a detailed, empirically sound proposal to the WSU administration last year to keep the program alive, it was ignored.
The retirement of the Islamic Studies Major and Minor at Western Sydney University creates an unhealthy and dangerous academic void for the younger generation at a time when we can least afford it.
The university administration, the Department of Education and the Australian Government should step in to correct this mistake and prioritise social cohesion and academic excellence over profiteering.
