Islamic Studies Department / الدراسات الاسلامية

The Graduate Theological Foundation has established a variety of relationships with such institutions as the North American Imams Federation (NAIF) in Washington, D.C., and the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) in Indianapolis, for the purpose of cooperating in providing educational opportunities relevant to the GTF degree requirements. Imam Omar Shahin, Ph.D., President of the Executive Committee of the North American Imams Federation, has been appointed both Director of Islamic Studies and Professor of Islamic Law at the GTF. In collaboration with ISNA and our Islamic faculty, the GTF has put in place three degree programs in Islamic Studies: the Doctor of Philosophy, the Master of Theology, and the Bachelor of Theology. 

• Faculty Listing in Arabic
• Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Studies
• Master of Theology in Islamic Studies
• Bachelor of Theology in Islamic Studies
• How to Apply
• Tuition Information
• Online Tuition Payment
• Transcript Request
• Islamic Studies Alumni
• Master’s and Doctoral Theses in Islamic Studies

Faculty

Omar Ahmed Shahin, Ph.D.

Dean of Islamic Studies

Naser Alshaikh, Ph.D.

Chair of the Exegesis Department

Safwat Ali Morsy Mahgoob, Ph.D.

Chair of the Jurisprudence and its Foundations Department

Mohamed Moussa Ph.D.

Chair of the Hadeeth Department

Mohammad Qatanani, Ph.D.

Hana Taleb Jaber, Ph.D. 

Shaykh Mohamed Elbar, Ph.D.

Ahmad Khaled Yousef Shukri, Ph.D.

Watheq Alobaidi, Ph.D.

Imam Aly Soliman Mohamed Kamel, M.Th.

How to Apply

Graduate Applications: Ph.D. and M.Th.

1. Only those who have been in ministry for at least five years may apply. (See Ministry Defined) Applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent for master’s programs and a seminary/graduate degree from an academic or professional institution for all doctoral programs.
2. Academic transcripts or educational records (undergraduate for master’s applicants and seminary/graduate for doctoral applicants) are to be sent directly from the issuing institution to the GTF administrative offices.
3. Applications are accepted and processed throughout the year. Evaluation of applications takes approximately two weeks.*
4. A ministry statement is required of all applicants. This statement should express the applicant’s own personal commitment to the program chosen and why the applicant feels it would serve his/her professional needs. Ministry experience should be listed as part of this statement. This is the central core of any application. For a definition of ministry, please Click Here.
5. Two letters of recommendation are required for all degree programs. These letters may be from a professional colleague, former professor, lay member of the parish, or ministry professional.
6. A non-refundable application fee of $65.00 must accompany the application or may be paid by visiting our secure payment website.

* NOTE: A completed application file includes the application, ministry statement, two letters of recommendation, highest degree transcript, and application fee. Applications are accepted throughout the year.

To download an application form, click here (pdf) 

Undergraduate Applications: B.Th.

1. Download, print and complete an application form. Only those who have been in ministry for at least five years may apply. (See Ministry Defined.)
2. Complete the Undergraduate Portfolio Requirement.  Students must develop and submit an Undergraduate Portfolio with the application form to provide evidence of five or more years of post-high school, professional-level paid or volunteer work experience in a social service ministry or faith community. 
3. Academic transcripts, educational records, or copy of high school diploma are to be submitted to the Office of the Registrar upon formal application.  Applicants must hold a high school diploma, GED or equivalent for all undergraduate programs.
4. A ministry statement is required of all applicants.  This statement should express the applicant’s own personal commitment to the program chosen and why the applicant feels it would serve his/her professional or personal needs.  Ministry experience should be described in detail as part of this statement. 
5. Two letters of recommendation are required for all degree programs. These letters may be from a professional colleague, former teacher, member of the parish, or ministry professional. One or both of the required letters of recommendation must verify five or more years of ministry experience.
6. A non-refundable application fee of $65.00 must accompany the application.

To download an application form, click here (pdf) 

Tuition Information

Total Program Cost: $23,460

A limited number of scholarships are available and any student who would like to be considered for a scholarship should contact Dr. Omar Shahin, Director of Islamic Studies and chair of the scholarship committee, directly. The scholarship committee meets twice annually. 

Degree candidates are bound by the regulations of the Student Handbook of the year in which they are accepted into their program of study. Tuition fees will not change during a student’s course of study, providing the student submits payments and papers on schedule and completes the degree program within the prescribed time. If the student does not conform to scheduled payment and/or paper submission deadlines, the student’s file will be deactivated. Upon reactivation, the student will be responsible for the tuition and degree requirements which are current at the time of reactivation. 

Tuition payment schedule

$2,300 due within 30 days of acceptance

$2,300 due yearly on anniversary of date of acceptance

Final balance due by April 1 of the year of graduation

To make tuition and fee payments online click here.  

Master of Theology (M.Th.)        

Total Program Cost: $19,890

A limited number of scholarships are available and any student who would like to be considered for a scholarship should contact Dr. Omar Shahin, Director of Islamic Studies and chair of the scholarship committee, directly. The scholarship committee meets twice annually. 

Degree candidates are bound by the regulations of the Student Handbook of the year in which they are accepted into their program of study. Tuition fees will not change during a student’s course of study, providing the student submits payments and papers on schedule and completes the degree program within the prescribed time. If the student does not conform to scheduled payment and/or paper submission deadlines, the student’s file will be deactivated. Upon reactivation, the student will be responsible for the tuition and degree requirements which are current at the time of reactivation. 

Tuition payment schedule

$2,300 due within 30 days of acceptance

$2,300 due each year on the anniversary of the date of acceptance

Final balance due by April 1 of the year of graduation

To make tuition and fee payments online click here.  

Bachelor of Theology (B.Th.)            

Total Program Cost: $15,100

A limited number of scholarships are available and any student who would like to be considered for a scholarship should contact Dr. Omar Shahin, Director of Islamic Studies and chair of the scholarship committee, directly. The scholarship committee meets twice annually. 

Degree candidates are bound by the regulations of the Student Handbook of the year in which they are accepted into their program of study. Tuition fees will not change during a student’s course of study, providing the student submits payments and papers on schedule and completes the degree program within the prescribed time. If the student does not conform to scheduled payment and/or paper submission deadlines, the student’s file will be deactivated. Upon reactivation, the student will be responsible for the tuition and degree requirements which are current at the time of reactivation. 

Tuition payment schedule

$2,300 due within 30 days of acceptance

$2,300 due yearly on the anniversary of the date of acceptance

Final balance due by April 1 of the year of graduation

To make tuition and fee payments online click here. 

Online Tuition Payment

For students who would like to make tuition payments online by credit card, the GTF provides a secure online payment option. 

Click here to make an online payment.

Transcript Request

Students and alumni requesting transcripts must contact both the Office of the Registrar and the Office of the Bursar to request a transcript.  

• Transcript requests must be submitted in writing to the Office of the Registrar by email, mail or by using our online form.  The communication must include the student name, year of graduation, degree program, and transcript recipient address.
• There is a $15.00 fee per official transcript copy that must be paid to the Office of the Bursar.  This fee can be paid by check, money order, by credit card over the phone, or by using the secure online form on the Graduate Theological Foundation’s website here. 
• Transcripts cannot be issued to another institution or individual without prior written request from the student and payment at the time of request.

To request a transcript using our online transcript request form click here.