In this introductory course in Quranic Studies, students will learn skills as to how to read the Quran, including structural and literary analyses of Quranic suras (chapters), and will be expected to read through the entire text of the Quran and write brief reflections on each of its suras. In class we will focus on the hymnic suras of the Quran which contain existential concerns and other passages that relate to the theme of religious freedom, pluralism and gender relations. The students will be expected to come to class having done the readings and assignments and will have time after the intensive to revise their assignments. The class will provide a learning environment that encourages diversity of points of views and respects differences in opinion. Doctoral students may take this course with the extra assignment of a 5000 word research paper. This course fulfills a requirement for the Certificate in Multi-religious Studies and qualifies as the Multi-Religious Core Intensive required for MDiv.