Full-Time Seminary Curriculum

The one year diploma in Arabic and Islamic Studies is designed for students who want to seek knowledge in a structured manner, but don’t have the opportunity to spend a number of years traveling and studying abroad. Ideally, it’s for high school or college students in transition, who have a year to dedicate to serious studying. The program will give them a functional grasp of the Arabic Language, and establish foundational literacy in the major branches of Islamic Studies including ‘Ulum Al-Quran (Quran Studies), ‘Ulum Al-Hadith (Hadith Studies), Fiqh (Jurisprudence), Usul Al-Fiqh (Principles of Islamic Jurisprudence), Tazkiyah (Spirituality) and History.

The program will also address common objections raised against our faith and tradition through guided readings of papers and discussions. The goal of the first year is to develop a solid foundation in the Arabic Language and the major Islamic Sciences. After completing the studies and receiving the diploma, students will be able to deliver lectures and sermons, lead study circles, and serve as after-school or weekend-school Islamic Studies teachers while simultaneously pursuing their careers.

The two-year Associate’s Degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies is designed for students to gain literacy in the Islamic Sciences. It will establish a foundation enabling them to pursue higher studies and to face challenges as Muslims in the West as active members of society. They will be able to teach introductory classes, lead study circles, deliver sermons, teach seminars and be effective after school and Sunday school teachers.

The bachelor’s degree program builds off the associate’s degree and is for those students who want to pursue a path of scholarship in Arabic and Islamic studies. The bachelor’s degree is designed to be equivalent to four years of study in a traditional Islamic Studies seminary or university. Careful attention is given to helping the student achieve proficiency and mastery of necessary classical texts and subject matter, contextualizing it, and training them to serve their communities through teaching, writing, and service.

The Master’s degree is designed to equip students with a holistic and comprehensive understanding of Islam’s primary sources and how they inform and intersect with Islamic thought, theology, law, practice, morals, and ethics. The program is designed for students who have completed the IOK Seminary Bachelor’s Degree in Arabic and Islamic Studies or its equivalent and are firmly grounded in the rich academic tradition of Islam. The coursework includes a detailed study of various Qur’ānic commentaries, the hadīth canon, comparative fiqh, research, and translation. The goal of the program is to prepare the next generation of thought leaders who have a deep understanding of the Islamic legal, moral, and ethical tradition that will help them serve their communities.