Introduction To Arabic Manuscript Studies
Introduction to Arabic Manuscript Studies
Summer 2026 Arabic Manuscript Course
The 2026 course has just been announced. Apply now!
Introduction to Arabic Manuscript Studies
For graduate students, advanced undergraduates, faculty, and independent scholars with a research interest in Arabic manuscripts. The program welcomes international applicants. It is completely virtual.
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Format
The 2026 course will be taught remotely, and all classes will be held on Zoom. -
Course level
Introductory level -
Course length
One week -
Dates
June 22 to 26, 2026 -
Course size
15 maximum, 10 minimum students -
Eligibility
Open to all individuals with a basic understanding of the classical Arabic language and a professional and scholarly interest in manuscripts. Beginner-level students will receive preference in the application process. -
Application deadline
March 6, 2026 -
Cost
$275 (U.S.) Note: HMML does not sponsor scholarships or offer financial assistance for the program.
Course overview
Sessions are held Monday–Friday from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 12 to 2 p.m. Central Time (CT,) a total of 20 instructional hours. The course will:
- Introduce students to the study of Arabic manuscripts in historical, cultural, and material dimensions.
- Provide basic introduction to paleography, codicology, and philological practices, with a special focus on the application of these skills in a digital context.
- Engage with a wide range of scholarly reference tools for the study of Arabic manuscripts.
- Introduce students to a diversity of Arabic manuscript traditions from West Africa and the Middle East, both Islamic and Christian.
- By the end of the course, students will be able to contribute to the scholarly description of a previously uncataloged manuscript from the HMML collection.
Faculty for 2026
- Guest faculty: Dr. Lucia Raggetti, Professor of the History of Science, University of Bologna, Italy.
- HMML staff: Dr. Josh Mugler, Curator of Eastern Christian & Islamic Manuscripts; Dr. Ali Diakite, Cataloger of West African Manuscripts; and Dr. Paul Naylor, Cataloger of West African Manuscripts.
Application deadline
- March 6, 2026
Application submission
- Letter of no more than one page explaining why the study of Arabic manuscripts is important to your research, teaching, or educational program.
- Current curriculum vitae.
Applicants
- Send all materials as email attachments to scholarlyprograms@hmml.org
- Include “2026 Introduction to Arabic Manuscript Studies” in the subject line.
Notification of acceptance
- Successful applicants will be notified by March 27, 2026
- Students accepting a place in the course will need to notify HMML by April 10, 2026.
- All remaining applicants will be waitlisted for any possible openings.
- Full payment of the course fee is due by May 11, 2026. Details for payment will be supplied to the successful applicants.
Questions
- Contact: Dr. Audrey Thorstad, Director of Programming, athorstad001@hmml.org.