What promises to be America's first Muslim full-time institution, Zaytuna College, has opened its doors to students this week. The college, which is seeking accreditation with the Western Association of Schools and Colleges and a number of high-profile institutions in the Muslim world like Egypt's Al-Azhar, is currently offering two majors: Arabic and Islamic law and theology.
Official accreditation often takes four to eight years, but the school has already begun its' classes at a rented space at the American Baptist Seminary of the West with hopes to acquire a facility of its own in the near future.
Fulfilling the realization of a long-existing goal of its founders, the school currently boasts 15 enrolled students. Co-founder, Hamza Yusuf says, "We have long desired to establish an institution that recognizes the importance of shaping Islamic scholars and teachers that fully understand American culture…Zaytuna College is the first institution of higher learning to address that need."
Interested students apply by March and submit an application, letters of recommendation, transcripts, and standardized test scores. They may also be invited to partake in a phone interview before learning of their final admissions decision.
The College offers lower-division courses that cover introductory and general education requirements for the first two years of the program. Upon completion of these classes, students begin higher-division courses that are specific to their chosen major. Students who choose to major in Islamic law and theology also have the option to follow an additional track that certifies them to become imams or chaplains.
Although all current students are Muslim, the College welcomes people of all faiths and perspectives. The institution charges $11,000 each year for tuition and has five faculty members teaching various subjects. Eligible students may also apply for financial aid and tuition assistance.
Seeking to bring together the Islamic and American identity in a unique and novel way, the College mission statement reads: "Zaytuna College aims to educate and prepare morally committed professional, intellectual, and spiritual leaders, who are grounded in the Islamic scholarly tradition and conversant with the cultural currents and critical ideas shaping modern society."