Q: Tuition & Fees

Non-credit enrollment. $300. $25 early registration discount. Certificate credit. $450. $25 early registration discount. Scholarships available. Transferable university or seminary credit. $900. $25 early registration discount. Scholarships available. Completion credit. Students enrolled for certificate or university credit who successfully complete a course with a passing grade will receive $50 credit toward tuition in another ISRME course.

Question 1

History & Distinctives

Accepted Answer

The Institute for the Study of Religion in the Middle East (ISRME) has a specific academic focus, Middle Eastern religions and their interaction, and is shaped by a Christian ethos. As confessing Christians, we want other Christians to better understand the relationship between Christianity and Islam so that they can engage Muslims constructively and with integrity. At the same time we seek to model such constructive engagement by warmly welcoming Muslim students and academic colleagues into conversation, listening to and learning from one another in a spirit of humility, and extending confessional and intellectual hospitality. Our program in Christian-Muslim Relations is guided by these core values of the ISRME.

Until now the Institute has focused on research and on bringing Muslim and Christian scholars together. Research remains an important focus of our work. But we also see an opportunity to make the expertise of our world-wide network of outstanding scholars more available to students anywhere in the world.

The Institute's academic program differs from many Christian-hosted programs on Islam, where Christians teach other Christians. Instead we aim to foster an environment in which we learn through engagement. We think that both Muslim and Christian students will benefit from studying together, learning from real-life opportunities to articulate their faith and hear one another. At the same time our program differs from many university-based programs on Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations because it is guided by a Christian ethos and because it engages squarely with the theological and ethical questions that Christians and Muslims care most about.

Question 2

Admission & Eligibility

Accepted Answer

All ISRME courses are taught at a Master’s level, and at present all courses are taught in English.  Non-native English speakers may be asked to provide evidence of facility in academic English.   A bachelor's degree or equivalent is ordinarily required to enroll in a course. Upper level undergraduates or students with relevant life experience will also be considered.  We welcome Muslim students, Christian students, or students of any faith.

Question 3

Curriculum

Accepted Answer

Our curriculum is built to reflect the strengths and experience of our faculty. Instructors are invited to teach on the topics in Christian-Muslim relations that they find most compelling and important. The curriculum is organized in four tiers: (1) Our Foundations course, presently under development, is designed to introduce the entire program by exploring a wide range of different ways of understanding the complex relationship of Christianity and Islam; (2) Core courses cover the topics and disciplines we think anyone concerned about Christian-Muslim engagement should study. These form the heart of the ISRME certificate program; (3) Electives focus on specialized topics or specific contexts, reflecting the particular experience or expertise of the instructor; (4) Research seminars and guided research courses are designed to serve students pursuing a research degree.

Question 4

Course delivery

Accepted Answer

Initially, to make the best use of our global network of faculty, all courses are offered online. In future we may introduce on-site intensive courses. Most of our courses involve real-time instruction over zoom; some, including our Foundations course, may also be offered asynchronously.

Our courses vary in length from 6 week intensives to 14 week full semester courses. For details, consult the academic calendar. The number of real-time sessions each week for any course is at the discretion of the instructor, and scheduling may also be adjusted to the needs of students.

Question 5

Faculty

Accepted Answer

Members of the ISRME faculty network live and work around the world. All have doctorates in fields related to Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations. Many are Christian by faith, but we expect Muslim colleagues to participate with us in teaching.  In addition to academic expertise, all of our instructors have long experience putting into practice what they teach, and deep knowledge of particular contexts of Christian-Muslim interaction, including Europe, North America, Egypt, North Africa, Turkey, and South Asia.

Question 6

Credit

Accepted Answer

In most of our courses, students can choose one of three different levels of participation:

(1) Non-credit. Non-credit students (auditors) are given full access to all course materials, including lectures, but are not expected to submit written work and receive no instructor feedback or evaluation. Auditors may participate in live zoom sessions subject to instructor approval.

(2) Certificate. Students at this level have full access to all course materials, are expected to fullfill all course requirements, and will receive instructor guidance and input on assignments. Credit counts toward an ISRME certificate, but will not transfer to other institutions and will not count towards a degree.

(3) Graduate credit. Master's level credit is available through Trinity International University. Students who wish to enroll for credit should fill out both the ISRME registration form and the supplemental TIU form. Transferable credit will be required for students in the MA program that we are presently constructing. Students who wish to enroll for transferable credit should describe in detail their particular needs in the pre-registration form, or write to registration@isrme.org.

Question 7

Tuition & Fees

Accepted Answer

Non-credit enrollment. $300. $25 early registration discount.

Certificate credit. $450. $25 early registration discount. Scholarships available.

Transferable university or seminary credit. $900. $25 early registration discount. Scholarships available.

Completion credit. Students enrolled for certificate or university credit who successfully complete a course with a passing grade will receive $50 credit toward tuition in another ISRME course.

Question 8

Deadlines & Tuition Refund Policies

Accepted Answer

See the academic calendar for upcoming pre-registration and enrollment deadlines.

Tuition refunds: Full refund for withdrawal prior to the second week; 80% during the second week: 50% during the third or fourth week; no refund after the beginning of the fifth week.

Course Listings

Eastern Christianity & Islam

Religious Experience in Christianity and Islam

Jesus in Islamic Perspective

Muhammad in Christian Perspective

Atonement in Biblical and Qur’anic Perspective

Perceiving God in Christianity and Islam

The Qur’an: an Introduction in the Context of Christian-Muslim Encounter

History of Christian Muslim Relations

Prophets and Prophecy in Biblical and Qur’anic Perspective

Qur’an & Bible: Comparative Approaches

Islam and the Challenges of Modernity

The Emergence of Islam