American Islamic College

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/