New Imam Program Introduction

Graduate Certificate in Imam EducationMacdonald Center at Hartford Seminary and The Fairfax Institute at IIIT : 

Graduate Certificate in Imam EducationMacdonald Center at Hartford Seminary and The Fairfax Institute at IIIT www.fairfaxi.net / 703-478-9222

Graduate Certificate in Imam Education : 

Graduate Certificate in Imam Education Hartford Seminary, in cooperation with The Fairfax Institute, has begun the process to seek approval for a Graduate Certificate in Imam Education, a 24-credit (6 courses plus six credits of field experience) certificate program that would prepare Muslim religious leaders for service in mosques and community agencies throughout the Greater Washington, D.C. area.   The courses would be offered on site at The Fairfax Institute, Herndon, Virginia, except for at least one residency requirement in Hartford during the summer session. As an introduction to this program, Hartford Seminary will offer a pilot course in March 2010 (March 29-April 2) at The Fairfax Institute. This will be 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).

Proposed Program Structure : 

Proposed Program Structure Some details of the program, still in the process of being worked out as crafted by the Hartford Seminary faculty and The Fairfax Institute, and pending final approval, include: After the March course, the Program will bring students up to Hartford for two or three courses during the Seminary’s Summer Session.  During the following Fall Semester, the program will provide an additional two courses in Virginia and then a course during the January 2011 intersession, a one-week intensive, also to be offered at the Fairfax Institute.  During the Winter/Spring semester 2011, students will be undertaking 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 capstone experiences to their program, focusing on the practice of Islamic religious leadership. Thus, potentially, in 15 months students can complete 24 credits (6 courses 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.

Proposed Curriculum for the Imam Education Graduate Certificate Program : 

Proposed Curriculum for the Imam Education Graduate Certificate Program The curriculum, as currently proposed, will have 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 ·        Introduction to Islamic Theology (TH) ·        Contemporary Islamic Ethics (ET) ·        Introduction to Islamic Law (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, good knowledge of the Arabic Language is a requirement for graduation.  Courses will be offered to fulfill this requirement.

Initial Courses in Program : 

Initial Courses in Program The schedule of courses for this program is planned as follows: March 29 - April 2, 2010 – one week intensive in Virginia: Major Themes in the Bible and the Qur'an, with Professor Mahmoud Ayoub. Summer Session 2010 – June in Hartford – students would choose from among the following courses being offered in the upcoming summer session (one, two but no more than three): DI-650 Building Abrahamic Partnerships (Landau) June 6-13 (intensive schedule, includes some evenings)RS-541 Understanding Congregations (Thumma) June 28-July 2; Monday-Friday 9:00AM-4:00PMTH-686 Renewal of Muslim Theology: “A Common Word” and the Theology of Compassion (Nayed) June 7-11; Monday-Friday 9:00AM-4:00PMWS-602 Spiritual Resources for Muslim Chaplains* (Mattson) June 14-18; Monday-Friday 9:00AM-4:00PM

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Fall 2010 - two courses in Virginia, one with Harford Seminary faculty (e.g. Islamic History or Theology with Yayha Michot) on weekend intensives; one with local adjunct – Pastoral Care and Counseling or the Art of Preaching.  January 2011 – week long intensive with Hartford Seminary faculty (e.g., Understanding Congregations & Organizations with Scott Thumma or The Qur’an and Its Place in Muslim Life in America with Mahmoud Ayoub).  Winter/Spring Semester 2011 – Field education and Clinical Pastoral Education – two settings, one clinical, one congregational in order to practice ministry under supervision.

Admissions : 

Admissions Admissions to this proposed Graduate Certificate Program in Imam Education will be determined by the Hartford Seminary Admissions Committee. Preliminary thinking, which may change pending review by the Hartford Seminary faculty, is to require a (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.

Applications : 

Applications 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).  Until final approval is received for this program, 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.

Advisement : 

Advisement Prior to filing a formal admissions application, potential students are urged to contact The Fairfax Institute for personal evaluation and advise regarding this program. Please write to: admissions@fairfaxi.net or call 703-478-9222.