Is lamic Studies in the Heart of Chicago!

The best of traditional learning with the highest contemporary academic standards

Islamic Studies in the Heart of Chicago!

Acquire

knowledge and learn tranquility and

dignity."Umar ibn al Khattab, R.A.

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Mission

The mission of American Islamic College is to provide students

of all backgrounds with a solid liberal arts and sciences

education that will include a rigorous academic formation in

Islamic Studies, thereby conveying a broad understanding of the

historical and global forces that have shaped intellectual debates

and interpretations as well as the political and social structures

of diverse contemporary Muslim societies.

Philosophy

Our innovative interdisciplinary educational program incorporates

both academic and traditional approaches to Islamic learning,

while we are committed to promoting inter-religious and inter-

cultural understanding, responsible world citizenship, and

engaged social service. Furthermore, American Islamic College

aims to expose the general public to the rich heritage and the

contemporary realities of Muslim cultures through community

outreach activities, academic symposia and seminars, and

dynamic exchange and immersion programs.

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AIC has a prime location, with

excellent facilities, and many dedicated persons in its management structure who are seeking to advance the goals of

Islamic education within the context of American society"

M. Cherif BassiouniEmeritus Professor of Law

DePaul University, College of Law

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Welcome

Our college offers a truly unique experience for our students. We

aspire to offer the very best of traditional Islamic learning with the

highest, contemporary academic standards, and we seek to do this

in a caring, intellectual and spiritual atmosphere that approaches

learning in a holistic and integrated spirit.

As a coeducational, intercultural, and inter-religious community,

American Islamic College serves as a crossroads between faiths,

cultures and ideas. This wealth of diversity enriches the classroom

experience and broadens students’ understandings of themselves

and their world. Our newly renovated 3.3-acre campus, located in

Lakeview, Chicago, consists of two buildings specifically designed to

cater to student needs. The main building is an architectural landmark

that houses administrative offices, classrooms, a library, a gymnasium

and a 1000 seat auditorium. The dormitory building is complete

with 60-rooms, commercial kitchen, student kitchenettes, bath and

shower rooms, a terrace, lounges, study halls, a prayer hall, laundry

room, and exercise room. Our private parking lot provides easy

parking for students and visitors. The campus is also easily accessible

by public transport.

Our facility- in a prime location just off Lake Shore Drive-is only steps

from Lake Michigan and right in the heart of Chicago. Chicago, a

world-class metropolis, provides students with a wide variety of

opportunities for additional cultural, academic and social cultivation.

We believe that our unique curriculum and student-centered

programs will prove attractive to students from both the Chicagoland

area and around the world. We look forward to hosting you!

Dr. H. Ali YurtseverP R E S I D E N T

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Bachelor Of Arts In

Islamic Studies

(BA)

The Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies is a four-year sequence

of instructional coursework that culminates in the Bachelor

of Arts (BA) degree. The Islamic Studies component of the

program features content and pedagogy commensurate with

the disciplines of Islamic and Religious Studies, Qur’anic and

Hadith studies, Islamic legal theory, classical Islamic theology

and philosophy, Islamic spirituality, allied social science, and

economic and political theories.

Students must also fulfill standard Bachelor’s level requirements

in general education, imparting a solid foundation in the

humanities as well as the social and physical sciences. Upon

completion, graduates will be prepared to pursue academic,

occupational and career options, which are appropriately aligned

with this field of study.

The Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies Program requires 121

semester hours.

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I taught at American Islamic College and

found it an entirely positive experience; the leadership was professional, the staff cordial and accommodating, and

seriousness of purpose," I'd call it, characterized the whole enterprise.“

Martin E. MartyFairfax M.Cone Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus

University of Chicago

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General Education

Courses

General Education courses offered at AIC are an invaluable and

integral part of the Undergraduate degree program in Islamic

Studies. They are designed to provide students a well-rounded

foundation that will both develop and equip students with

fundamental skills and knowledge, prepping them for further

education, a career, as well as, providing students essential

assets for life. Expository writing, Muslim American Literature,

Psychology, Philosophy, Statistics, and courses in the Arts and

Music are among the General Education requirements.

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American Islamic College enriches the academic and interfaith programs in the city of Chicago by providing solid degree programs grounded in

Islamic principles and perspectives."

Rev. Mark R. Francis, C.S.V.President, Catholic Theological Union

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With its

rigorous academic programs and diverse course offerings in Islamic studies, AIC rises to fulfill a critical and increasingly important task of creating and disseminating true knowledge about Islam and Muslims."

Ufuk GokcenOIC Ambassador and

Permanent Observer to the UN in New York

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Art & Music Art and Music courses are integrated into degree offerings at

AIC. These courses are also open to non-degree students. The

study of the arts cultivates spatial-temporal skills, and language

and mathematical abilities. Art and music require patience and

dedication, thus the courses’ very nature fosters tolerance,

perseverance, and an engagement with oneself and the artistic

tasks at hand. These courses of study provide a medium for both

academic and spiritual development.

Amro Helmy, instructor of Oud.

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American Islamic College has occupied an important place in the academic study of Islam and

interfaith engagement in the Greater Chicago area, and indeed more broadly.“

Rev. Michael T. Shelley, Ph.D.Director, A Center of Christian-Muslim Engagement for Peace and

Justice Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

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The Master of Arts in Islamic Studies Program offers a two-year

sequence of instructional coursework that culminates in the

Master of Arts (MA) degree. The MA Program provides students

with a rigorous background in both traditional and analytical

approaches to Islamic Studies. All students are required to

complete a central core of seven (7) courses, which is twenty-one

(21) credit hours of foundational instruction in Islamic Studies.

These courses include Arabic, Academic Study of Islam, Reading

and Interpreting the Qur’an, Prophetic Biography and Hadith

Literature, Islamic Ethics and Spirituality, Islam and Gender

Studies, and Great Debates within Muslim Theology.

The Program offers students two distinct areas of concentration

in either Islamic Theology or Islam and Global Studies. MA

students are required to take a minimum of five courses (15

credit hours) in their concentration, including a Masters Thesis

or Masters Research Project that will count as one, three credit-hour

course.

The Islamic Theology concentration trains students in such

disciplines as Advanced Qur’anic and Hadith Studies, Islamic

Jurisprudence (al-fiqh), Islamic Philosophy and Theology, and

Islamic Spirituality. The Islam and Global Studies concentration

focuses on Islamic History, International Studies, and

Contemporary Socio-Political Theory.

The Master of Arts in Islamic Studies Program requires 36

semester hours.

Master of Arts In

Islamic Studies (MA)

Assistant Professor Shabana Mir 15

As the first Muslim institution of

higher learning in the country to offer a degree in

Islamic chaplaincy, American Islamic College cultivates leaders who have strong commitments to social service

and world peace." Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M.

President of DePaul University

Assistant Professor Omer Awass

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Master Of Divinity In Islamic Studies (Mdis)

(Islamic Chaplaincy)

The Graduate Masters of Divinity in Islamic Studies is a three-to-

four-year program designed specifically for students who wish to

become professional and credentialed Muslim leaders, spiritual

care-givers, or chaplains. The curriculum offers a richness

of practical education in conversation with contemporary

counseling and psychology education.

The program requirements ensure a robust preparation in Islamic

theology, which will equip students with skill sets for spiritual

care within hospitals, prisons, schools, the military, and religious

organizations.

The MDIS program consists of 72 semester hours of academic

study, pastoral education, and fieldwork/internship experience.

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Teaching/Education

PhD

Chaplaincy

Foreign Service/Diplomacy

NGO-local/International

Humanitarian work

Interfaith work

Cultural Competence Training for Government, Law Enforcement

Community Leadership

Consultancy

and more...

What can you do with your degree?

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AIC has an unparalleled location, both geographically

and spiritually, in the Muslim community of Chicago, and stands as one of the most promising

experiments in Islamic higher education. As such, AIC represents one of the most

crucial institutions in the ongoing evolution of American Islam."

Omid SafiDirector of Duke Islamic Studies Center, Duke University

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American Islamic College has done a wonderful job in helping individuals become

better educated and better informed..."

Jesse WhiteSecretary of State of Illinois

Assistant Professor Jawad Qureshi

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Summer Intensive

Arabic

The Summer Intensive Arabic program provides students an

opportunity to build a foundation in the language of Arabic for

the purposes of

Interdisciplinary learning is a distinctive quality of AIC classes.

The Arabic courses incorporate history, cultural anthropology,

socio-linguistics, and religion. The Summer Intensive Arabic

program will help develop listening, speaking, reading, &

writing skills.

seeking a degree

satisfying entrance &

exit language examinations

research

travel

business

journalism

personal

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Engaging Diversity

Cross-Cultural Chicago

Chicago is a global city. There are over 100 neighborhoods, each

with its own cultural and historic flair. Chicago is a city full of

cultural riches whose world-class metropolis provides students

with additional opportunities to cultivate both academic and

social growth.

Field Study

Since, Chicago provides a plethora of cultural and educational

resources, students at both the undergraduate and graduate

levels are encouraged to conduct “field work” as a strengthening

component of their coursework.

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Local Engagement

AIC partners with local educational institutions to address

societal concerns through community service. Programs such as

these, broaden student perspectives on local issues. By working

together with students from other colleges and universities, AIC

students learn the power of team work across campus borders in

tackling adversity. This is a strength of AIC’s enrichment activities

and captures well the Philosophy of AIC.

President Yurtsever with VP of Global Engagement, Ian H. Solomon of University of Chicago

Benedictine University is proud to partner with

American Islamic College in building a unique partnership and friendship. The world needs increased

interreligious dialogue and knowledge of other faiths and cultures. Through our partnership, American Islamic College and Benedictine University are

joined to provide better opportunities for our students and for the world."

William J. CarrollPresident, Benedictine University

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Global Engagement

American Islamic College collaborates with scholars from around

the world on a number of educational programs, bringing a

global perspective to its campus.

Global Networks

Each year, American Islamic College receives international

scholars who contribute invaluably to AIC. Visiting scholars from

abroad have given lectures at AIC’s lecture series forum; they

have contributed in dialogue programs with students and faculty;

and they have deepened the relationships between AIC and the

institution they represent. AIC’s strong global networks provide

for the development of exceptional study abroad opportunities,

and language immersion programs.

Immaculata graduates reunite at AIC 26

I am impressed with AIC’s commitment to

academic excellence and to its increasing role as a leading institution

in the Muslim community and beyond."

Rabbi David Fox Sandmel  Director of Interfaith Affairs

Anti-Defamation League

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Campus Activities Student Clubs & Intramural Sports

We believe that student clubs and intramural sports are an

integral part of student education at American Islamic College.

They provide students with a number of opportunities to explore

their interests, to cultivate leadership skills, to build friendships

across college campuses, and to participate in meaningful and

constructive activities for the student body and the community.

American Islamic College has been a critical pillar of our

community in Chicago."

Usama Canon  Ta’leef Collective

NBA Player for Oklahoma City, Enes Kanter, with AIC’s Intramural Basketball team

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Spoken here...

Akan (Ghana), Arabic, Bosnian,

English, French, German, Japanese,

Kyrgyz, Nigerian, Persian, Russian,

Spanish, Turkish, Urdu, Uzbek

The ethnic and racial community at AIC is unparalleled. There

are 15 different languages spoken at the College. Diversity

on campus is an integral part of student life and education.

Meeting people of different backgrounds prepares students

to work and live in this globalized society. Diverse classrooms

allow for the sharing of multiple perspectives, which enriches

creative and critical thinking, promotes understanding and

knowledge, and expands one's worldview. Diversity is an

invaluable educational resource.

Diverse Campus

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Enrichment Programs

Enrichment programs serve as extracurricular resources

that make for helpful supplements to the course material.

Jesse White Tumblers performed at AIC

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Special Events

American Islamic College hosts several special events throughout

the year, such as community dinners, concerts, workshops,

cultural events and more.

Sami Yusuf performed at the Grand Opening of AIC

Interfaith Dialogue Opportunities

American Islamic College is committed to interfaith and

intercultural dialogue and has played a strong leadership role

in building bridges of understanding between several faith

communities, especially with its Jewish and Christian neighbors

here in Chicago. This has given rise to numerous interfaith events

and social action projects. In addition, AIC frequently hosts

students and leaders from various Christian seminaries in the

Chicago area, who come to learn about Islam, observe prayer

services, and engage AIC faculty, staff, and students in religious

dialogue.

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Academic ConferencesConsistent with AIC’s mission and philosophy, the College

periodically hosts conferences, which bring together academics,

intellectuals, politicians, students, and engaged minds from

around the US and the world.

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Lecture SeriesAmerican Islamic College offers a Lecture Series program which

hosts distinguished guests speaking on a range of contemporary

and historical topics. In doing this, AIC creates opportunities for

the respectful and intelligent sharing of ideas. These informative

discussions and events are open to the public and free of charge.

Film SeriesAmerican Islamic College organizes film screenings related

to Islam, religion, interfaith issues, culture, and the human

experience. Typically, a reception and discussion follows, and

so students have the opportunity to interact with film directors

or scholars who can open up paths for deeper and fuller

appreciation of the film.

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VolunteerInternship Opportunities

Internship opportunities at AIC provide students with a chance to

engage in hands-on experience, network with community leaders,

scholars, faith communities, and socio-cultural organizations.

This helps students cultivate leadership skills while making a

positive impact upon the wider society.

A beautified campus... multitudes of courses…and engaging public lecture series all point to growing accomplishments"

Mohammed KaiseruddinChairman of CIOGC

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Facilities

American Islamic College is located in Lakeview at Lakeshore

Drive and Irving Park Road in Chicago. The 3.3 acre campus

consists of three buildings overlooking Lake Michigan. The main

building is an architectural landmark that houses administrative

offices, classrooms, a gymnasium, library, and 1000-seat

auditorium. The campus also includes a dormitory.

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Dormitory

AIC maintains a dormitory capable of accommodating both male

and female students, with the third floor reserved for females

only. The dormitory is connected to the main college building

and provides the advantage of living on campus with direct,

sheltered access to the classrooms. The College believes that

living in residence halls contributes to the personal growth and

development of the individual by providing companionship with

a wide variety of people with whom students may share interests

and learn new ideas, thus creating a sense of community.

The dormitory hosts 60-rooms, a commercial kitchen, cafeteria,

student kitchenettes, laundry facilities, fitness room, recreation

room, terrace, study room, student hall, lounge, showers/

bathrooms and prayer hall. The building has WiFi access

throughout.

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Location

American Islamic College is located just steps from the lakefront

and minutes to downtown Chicago. The city provides a wide

array of intellectual, cultural and educational resources, such

as: The Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum of

Natural History, The Adler Planetarium, The Shedd Aquarium,

Argonne National Laboratory, The Chicago Symphony Orchestra,

Lyric Opera of Chicago, Goodman Theatre, The Art Institute of

Chicago, and the Museum of Contemporary Art, to name a few.

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A M E R I C A N I S L A M I C C O L L E G E

640 W. Irving Park Rd. Chicago IL 60613 Tel (773) 281 4700 Fax (773) 281 8552www.aicusa.edu info@aicusa.edu @aicusa