American Islamic College (AIC) is a private, not-for-profit Islamic madrasa institution of higher education in Chicago that offers BA and MA degrees in Islamic Studies, and a Master of Divinity in Islamic Studies (MDIS) and accepts students from all backgrounds.
About
American Islamic College was incorporated in September 1981 as a private, not-for-profit, four-year institution of higher education meant to offer especially strong programs in Islamic Studies and the Arabic Language. In November 1982, AIC received authority from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to operate as a postsecondary institution. The search for suitable premises led to the purchase of its present property (see insert) in March 1983.
The College first opened its doors to students in September 1983 under founding President Isma`il Al-Faruqi (1921-1986) and founding Vice-President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Ahmed Sakr (1933-2015). In May 1984, IBHE bestowed degree-granting authority on AIC for the B.A. in Arabic Studies and the B.A. in Islamic Studies. In February 1985, AIC became the first accredited Islamic institution of higher education in North America when it was awarded “Initial Candidacy Status” from the regional Higher Learning Commission (HLC). In June 1988, AIC held its first commencement ceremony with six students receiving B.A. degrees.
Unfortunately, in March 1989, HLC withdrew AIC’s candidacy status for regional accreditation due to failure to address concerns about financial stability and governance. The following year IBHE revoked the College’s operating and degree-granting authority. Though AIC subsequently regained this status with IBHE and continued to function in minimalist fashion, it was unable to meet the HLC criteria for reapplication for candidacy status which, in turn, led IBHE to revoke our operating and degree-granting authority for a second time in 2004.
Beginning in 2009, American Islamic College embarked upon a new phase of significant reorganization and the installation of a reformed governance structure and a new administration. In 2010, the campus buildings and grounds underwent extensive renovation and remodeling. It was then that AIC reemerged as a revitalized resource of the Muslim community, hosting two consecutive international conferences on Islam in America, organizing public lectures and offering a variety of non-credit and non-degree classes in subjects such as Islamic History, Islamic Art, and Arabic. In the fall of 2013, after being granted IBHE operating authority once again, the College reopened its doors to undergraduate and—for the first time—graduate students. By April 2014, AIC had received IBHE degree-granting authority for its B.A. and M.A. programs in Islamic Studies and, in December 2014, for the Master of Divinity in Islamic Studies (Islamic Chaplaincy). It is not accredited, and so, students do not have access to FAFSA and other sources of Federal and state funding.
The Vision
To become a highly valued Islamic University in the nation with a commitment to: offering academically rigorous and professionally sound programs; providing training for leadership and policy making roles in American society; and for management and staff of American Muslim institutions, and; serving as a resource to American institutions and individuals for learning about Islam.
The Mission
American Islamic College is an institution of higher learning grounded in Islamic values, embracing students of all backgrounds. Their Chicago location uniquely positions AIC to represent and research the diversity of Islam in America. AIC promotes appreciation for the scope and richness of Islamic history and civilization both in the classroom and by means of public events highlighting Islam’s intellectual, artistic and cultural expressions. Through rigorous scholarship, civic engagement and interfaith/ intercultural activities, AIC prepares their students to become global citizens and visionary leaders.
American Islamic College Courses
BA Course
ARAB 101 – Elementary Arabic I — 4 credits
ARAB 102 – Elementary Arabic II — 4 credits
ARAB 201 – Intermediate Arabic I — 4 credits
ARAB 202 – Intermediate Arabic II — 4 credits
REL 100 – Religions of the World — 3 credits
IS 130 Islamic Origins, History and Civilization to 1100 CE — 3 credits
IS 131 – History and Civilization 1100 CE to 1800 — 3 credits
IS 132 – History and Civilization 1800 to Present — 3 credits
IS 201 – Introduction to Qur’anic Studies — 3 credits
IS 202 – Introduction to Prophetic Biography (sīrah) and Ḥadīth — 3 credits
IS 301 – The Sciences of Ḥadīth — 3 credits
IS 305 – Islamic Legal Reasoning (al-fiqh) — 3 credits
IS 320 – Muslim Spirituality — 3 credits
IS 328 – History of Islamic Art and Architecture — 3 credits
IS 329 – Islam and World Cinema — 3 credits
IS 333 – Islam in America — 3 credits
IS 410 – Medieval Islamic and Jewish Philosophy — 3 credits
IS 428 – Muslim Great Books and Thinkers Seminar — 3 credits
IS 495 – Special Topics — 3 credits
IS 497 – Independent Study — 3 credits
IS 498 – Civic Engagement Internship — 3 credits
IS 499 – Study Abroad — 3 – 9 credit hours
General Education
ARTS 160 – Arabic Calligraphy I — 3 credits
ARTS 161 – Arabic Calligraphy II — 3 credits
ARTS 170 – Ebru I — 3 credits
ARTS 171 – Ebru II — 3 credits
ARTS 180 – Stained Glass I — 3 credits
ARTS 181 – Stained Glass II — 3 credits
ANTH 101 – Introduction to Cultural Anthropology — 3 credits
BIO 101 – Introduction to the Biological Sciences — 4 credits
ECON 101 – Introduction to Economics — 3 credits
ENG 180 – Expository Writing — 3 credits
ENG 181 – Critical Writing Methods — 3 credits
ENG 201 – Communications — 3 credits
ENG 250 – American Literature — 3 credits
ENG 251 – Muslim American Literature — 3 credits
MUS 160 – Oud I — 3 credits
MUS 161 – Oud II — 3 credits
PHIL 101 – Introduction to Philosophy — 3 credits
PHY 101 – Introduction to the Physical Sciences — 4 credits
POLS 101 – Introduction to American Government — 3 credits
POLS 201- Comparative Political Systems — 3 credits
PSYC 101 – Introduction to Psychology — 3 credits
QUANT 101 – Quantitative Literacy — 3 credits
RM 200 – Social Research Methods — 3 credits
SOC 101 – Introduction to Sociology — 3 credits
MA Course Descriptions
ARAB 301 – Advanced Arabic I — 3 credits
ARAB 302 – Advanced Arabic II — 3 credits
IS 501 – The Academic Study of Islam — 3 credits
IS 503 – Reading and Interpreting the Qur’an — 3 credits
IS 504 – Prophetic Biography and Hadith Literature — 3 credits
IS 505 – Ḥadīth Sciences — 3 credits
IS 511 – Islamic Ethics and Spirituality — 3 credits
IS 515 – Islam and Gender — 3 credits
IS 516 – Great Debates within Muslim Theology — 3 credits
IS 531 – Islamic Mysticism (Sufism) — 3 credits
IS 532 – Islamic Philosophy and Theology — 3 credits
IS 535 – Advanced Qur’anic Studies — 3 credits
IS 536 – Advanced Hadith Studies — 3 credits
IS 540 – Islamic Jurisprudence (al-fiqh): Theory and Application — 3 credits
IS 545 – Intra-Muslim Diversity and Dialogue — 3 credits
IS 550 – Comparative Religion — 3 credits
IS 555 – Special Topics — 3 credits
IS 557 – Religious Studies: Theory and Method — 3 credits
IS 559 – Thesis — 3 credits
IS 560 – History of Muslim-Christian Relations — 3 credits
IS 561 – History of Muslim-Jewish Relations — 3 credits
IS 565 – Islamic Political Thought — 3 credits
IS 566 – Islam and the Media — 3 credits
IS 570 – Islam and the African-American Experience — 3 credits
IS 573 – Islam in Local Contexts: (Variable Regions) — 3 credits
IS 575 – Contemporary Muslim Movements — 3 credits
IS 576 – Islam and Religious Diversity — 3 credits
IS 580 – Literature from the Muslim World — 3 credits
IS 585 – Special Topics — 3 credits
IS 589 – Thesis — 3 credits
MDIS Course Descriptions
IS 600 – Intro to Clinical Pastoral Education — 3 credits
IS 601 – Spiritual Care/Leadership/Chaplaincy Training Practicum — 3 credits
IS 602 – Islamic Pastoral & Moral Theology — 3 credits
IS 603 – Counseling Theory, Methodology, Assessment — 3 credits
IS 604 – Intercultural Communication & Competence — 3 credits
IS 605 – Marriage & Family Counseling — 3 credits
IS 606 – Youth and Young Adult Mentoring, Coaching & Counseling — 3 credits
IS 608 – Correctional Counseling: Working with Offenders — 3 credits
IS 609 – Psychology of Trauma — 3 credits
IS 611 – Islamic Bioethics, End of Life Decisions & Hospital/Hospice Care — 3 credits
IS 615 – The Fiqh of Islamic Retual Practices — 3 credits
IS 616 – The Fiqh of The Muslim Life Cycle — 3 credits
IS 619 – Interfaith Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care — 3 credits
IS 620 – Mosque / Muslim Non-Profit Organization & Management — 3 credits
Contact American Islamic College
American Islamic College
640 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL 60613
Email: info@aicusa.edu
Tel: +1 773 281-4700
Fax: 773 281-8552
Website: http://www.aicusa.edu/