Cordoba University

Admission may be granted on a competitive basis to qualified applicants who hold bachelors degree from an accredited college or university or equivalent from a foreign college or university and have demonstrated the minimum requirements for admissions to the program. The School offers an intensive summer Arabic language program and encourages all applicants to take advantage of it prior to starting their graduate studies at the School.

Applicants are required to submit the following:

Application form with all required fields completed by the applicant, signed and dated.
Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work submitted in sealed envelopes and included in the application packet or mailed directly from the office of the registrar of that academic institution.
At least two letters of recommendation from academics and/or professional contacts who have known the applicant through work or through research and teaching relationships and can testify to the applicants' preparation and readiness for graduate studies.
Statement of purpose based upon set of questions provided with the application form.
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) score for students who are not native speakers of English and do not hold a degree from a university where English is the language of instruction. A test score of at least 213 for a computer-based TOEFL or at least 550 for a paper-based TOEFL is required.
Students who have attended colleges and universities outside of the United States must provide a Report of Evaluation of Educational Credentials. If English was not the language of instruction, an original transcript plus certified English translation of the transcript must be provided. Certified copies of transcript can be accepted only in extreme cases where originals are no longer available.
If the applicant is not a U.S. citizen, a copy of his/her permanent resident card, visa and I-94 departure card, or his/her employment authorization card and I-94 departure card must be provided with the application.
Financial Aid form for applicants interested in obtaining financial aid from the School in the form of fellowships and/or tuition assistance.

If any required document proves to be false, or to have been altered, the applicant will not be considered for admissions. If the student is already enrolled in The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences when false documentation is discovered, he/she will be expelled from the School and the School will be absolved of any financial responsibility.

"The School has a very promising mission - that is, to approach Islamic studies from a social science perspective and approach social sciences from an Islamic studies perspective. In its capacity, the School is a bridge, not only between places, times, and fields of study, but also between cultures and civilizations. The fruits of Islamic knowledge and social sciences developed over centuries are here combined, and sometimes synthesized, moving us a step forward in an endless journey to understand the texts as they relate to the ever-changing world, and to reform the world with the guidance of the scriptures."

-A. Salem, Class of 1999

"GSISS is very unique. I looked at many other programs in this country and abroad, and GSISS stood out due to its structure, scholars, and approach. As a program it emphasizes study of the religion and its sciences, rather than a sociological or cultural approach to studying Muslim people. Beyond that, it really teaches you what the Islamic worldview is and how to utilize that worldview to evaluate and critique information, actions, and other worldviews. It teaches you about the methodologies of the Islamic sciences, thereby equipping you to actively and constructively engage in your specific discipline and the world around you. This program is highly challenging - both academically and personally - but the rewards are abundant."

ADMISSIONS