Graduate Certificate for Imams and Community Leadership
Hartford Seminary, in cooperation with The Fairfax Institute is offering The Graduate Certificate for Imams and Community Leadership, a 24-credit (6 courses plus six credits of field experience) certificate program that prepares Muslim religious leaders for service in mosques and community agencies throughout the Greater Washington, D.C. area. The courses are offered on site at The Fairfax Institute, Herndon, Virginia, except for at least one residency requirement in Hartford during the summer session. The program began with a course in March 2010 (March 29-April 2) at The Fairfax Institute. It was a one-week intensive, taught by Professor Mahmoud Ayoub, on "Major Themes in the Bible and the Qur'an". Prof. Ayoub is Faculty Associate in Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary and Professor Emeritus of Temple University. He is a member of the Council of Scholars for the International Institute for Islamic Thought (IIIT).
After the March course, the Program brought students up to Hartford for two or three courses during the Seminary’s Summer Session. During the following Fall Semester, the program provided an additional two courses in Virginia and then is offering a course during the January 2012 intersession, a one-week intensive, also at the Fairfax Institute. During the Winter / Spring semester 2011, students will be undertaking an additional course and complete two field experience courses, one in an institutional setting (hospital, prison, or university) and one in a congregational or community agency setting. These will be the caps to experiences to their program, focusing on the practice of Islamic religious leadership. Thus, potentially, in 15 months students can complete 24 credits (6courses and two field experiences) and receive a Graduate Certificate that would prepare them to be better Imams and religious leaders in their communities in the United States.
Curriculum for The Graduate Certificate for Imams and Community Leadership:
The curriculum has four basic components: History, Theology and Ethics for Imams in America (HI, TH, ET); Scriptural Knowledge for Imams (SC); Practices of Ministry for Imams in America, including Interfaith Dialogue, Spirituality and Religion in Society (AM,DI, WS and RS) and Field Experience for Imams (FE).
Some specific courses tied to these areas may include:
· Introduction to Islamic History and Culture (HI)
· Islam in Contemporary North America (HI)
· The Qur’an and Its Place in Muslim Life in America (SC)
· Major Themes in the Bible and the Qur’an (SC)
· Introduction to Islamic Theology (TH)
Renewal of Muslim Theology: “A Common Word” and the Theology of Compassion (TH)
· Contemporary Islamic Ethics (ET)
· Introduction to Islamic Law (ET)
Muslim Life through "Fatwas": Ancient and Modern (ET)
· Global Ethics (ET)
· The Art of Preaching (AM)
· Pastoral Care and Counseling (AM)
· Understanding Congregations & Organizations in North America (AM)
· Muslim-Christian Relations & Interfaith Dialogue (DI)
· Field Education (FE)
· Clinical Pastoral Education (FE)
In addition, working knowledge of the Arabic Language is a requirement for graduation.
Admissions:
Admissions to The Graduate Certificate for Imams and Community Leadership is determined by the Hartford Seminary Admissions Committee. Admission requires (1) an accredited Bachelor’s Degree (with official transcripts of all previous higher education); (2) a previous formative Islamic education, whether at the undergraduate level or in local settings; (3) experience in administration, teaching or leadership in a local mosque, Muslim institutions or community organizations; (4) nomination and recommendation by local mosque or other religious organization, plus two other recommendations, including at least one being an academic reference; (5) a personal statement indicating commitment to religious leadership in the U.S. Islamic setting and theological and ministerial training for that setting.
A $50 fee will be charged for either paper or online admissions application processing.
For online application, please visit
www.hartsem.edu and click “Apply Here.” Paper applications may also be requested from the Admissions Office at Hartford Seminary (
mpavao@hartsem.edu or 860-509-9512). Applicants should indicate that they are applying for the “Graduate Certificate in Islamic Studies” on their application forms.
For additional information on the admissions process, please contact Vanessa Avery-Wall at
vaw@hartsem.edu or 860-509-9552.
Prior to filing a formal admissions application, potential students are urged to contact The Fairfax Institute for personal evaluation and advice regarding this program.
To apply, please write to:
admissions@fairfaxi.net or Call: 703-478-9222
To view the program Curriculum,
Please click here.