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Respect Graduate School offers Master degree and certified programs in Islamic Sciences to its participants. The school supports students with scholarships and grants raised through donations and contributions from its supporters.

# Certificate Program

Islamic Studies Academy for Youth

Course Date: September 7, 2026 - August 31, 2027.

Islamic Studies Academy for Youth (ISA) is designed for youth (13+) who are seeking structured Islamic learning that goes beyond memorization and isolated facts. It is well suited for students who want to connect faith with contemporary questions, develop ethical judgment, and engage thoughtfully with others through discussion and inquiry. Students should be willing to participate actively, reflect critically, and approach learning with respect and humility.

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How Learning Works

Courses are built around inquiry-driven learning rather than passive content delivery. Each course combines live instruction, guided discussion, and independent engagement with readings or activities. Students are encouraged to ask questions, analyze ideas, and apply what they learn to real-world ethical and social issues.

Assessment and Expectations

Student learning is evaluated through participation, written or reflective work, and applied assignments that emphasize understanding and ethical reasoning rather than just memorization. Respectful dialogue & discussion, and consistent engagement are core expectations across all courses.

Who Can Join

Open to ages 13 and up, taught in two separate groups:

Ages 13–17: Start age reflects the student's age of comprehension and readiness, assessed before the program begins.
Ages 18 and up: Young adults and non-traditional learners welcome.

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Certificate Program Requirements

To complete the ISA certificate program, students must complete 12 full courses in total:

RequirementCourses
Core Courses (8 required courses)8 full courses
Electives (Student's choice of courses)3 full courses
Capstone Project (1 required project)1 full course
Total 12 full courses

How Courses Are Structured

ISA offers two course formats. Core courses and the Capstone Project are always full courses. Electives are available in two formats, giving students flexibility in how they complete their elective requirement.
Full course: 14 weeks | Short course: 7 weeks

Two short courses count as one full course toward your elective requirement. For example, a student completing their 3 elective full courses could take 3 full electives, 6 short electives, or any combination in between.

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Curriculum Overview

ISA is organized across three academic terms; Fall, Spring, and Summer. This balances core Islamic disciplines with elective offerings. The curriculum is designed to support steady progression and interdisciplinary thinking while allowing flexibility in course selection and pace.

Fall
Fiqh
Aqeedah
Elective 1
Elective 2
Spring
Islamic History
Hadith
Elective 3
Elective 4
Summer
Tafsir
Seerah
Elective 5
Elective 6
Always Open
Quran (Level 1)*
Arabic (Level 1)*
 
 

* Quran (Level 1) and Arabic (Level 1) are required core courses and are open for enrollment in any term.

Academic advising is available to all certificate program students throughout the program.

Capstone Project

The Capstone Project is the final requirement of the certificate program, where students apply their learning to a real-world context. Students may complete it as an academic paper or a community-based project, such as an interfaith dialogue event, a workshop, or a public presentation.

All Capstones are reviewed by an external committee and presented as a public presentation. Academic advising is provided throughout. One elective slot in the student’s final term will be completed as a Capstone Project.

Expected Learning Outcomes

After successfully completing all the requirements for the Islamic Studies Academy certificate program, students will be able to:

Read the Qur’an and creation together as sources of unified truth.

Think across disciplines, linking Islamic thought with contemporary knowledge.

Apply Islamic ethical values to personal and social decisions.

Practice inquiry and critical thinking with intellectual humility.

Engage respectfully in dialogue across differences.

Act responsibly through service and leadership grounded in faith and ethics.

Course Objectives

To challenge students to think for themselves

To help students navigate their lives through the Qur’an and Prophetic guidance.

To highlight the Qur’anic methodology of reflective thinking, contemplation, and experiential confirmation.

To challenge secularized and compartmentalized worldviews where religion is relegated to one of the many so-called boxes within one’s life.

To help students, especially the ones born and raised in Muslim families, discover the truths laid out in the Qur’an as opposed to “inheriting their parents’ religions.”

To instruct a holistic understanding of Prophetically-rooted moral action.

Course Schedule

The "Islam in Real Life" course runs for 7 weeks, beginning on June 22, 2026, with live sessions held every Monday and Thursday from 4.00 to 6.00 pm (EST).

Week 1

June 22 (Monday) – The Realm Beyond: Is there more to life than meets the eye?
An introduction to the unseen dimension of existence and the question of whether reality extends beyond what we perceive.

June 25 (Thursday) – The “Negation-before-affirmation” methodology
Understanding how truth is established by first clearing false assumptions before affirming what is true.

Week 2

June 29 (Monday) – Communication
If there is a single Source behind everything, does that Source communicate with human beings? Exploring how and why.

July 2 (Thursday) – The Source: How does God define God?
A deeper inquiry into how the Divine introduces and defines Himself.

Week 3

July 6 (Monday) – Contemplation: What’s reflective thinking?
Exploring reflective thinking and its role in understanding reality.

July 9 (Thursday) – “Iqra / Read” – The journey begins. What to read? How?
Beginning the journey of reading and seeking knowledge with purpose and method.

Week 4

July 13 (Monday) – The foundations of the Message (Communication)
The centrality of resurrection and accountability in divine communication.

July 16 (Thursday) – Who responds? Who rejects? Who shape-shifts?
Recognizing belief, disbelief, and hypocrisy within oneself.

Week 5

July 20 (Monday) – Previous Prophets
Connecting the stories of previous prophets in the Qur’an with our present realities.

July 23 (Thursday) – Hadith Jibreel – Iman, Islam, Ihsan (Part 1)
Understanding the foundations of faith, practice, and excellence in religion.

Week 6

July 27 (Monday) – Hadith Jibreel – Iman, Islam, Ihsan (Part 2)
A deeper exploration of faith, practice, and spiritual excellence.

July 30 (Thursday) – Faith in Action
How to transform everyday actions into meaningful and sacred experiences.

Week 7

August 3 (Monday) – Healthy Balance
Balancing this world and the next; transforming one’s perception of life.

August 6 (Thursday) – The Prophetic Mission
Calling to good and repelling from evil as a lifelong responsibility.

Enrollment Form

Ready to enroll? Clicking the 'Enroll Now' button will take you to our secure enrollment form on a trusted external platform. Please fill out the form to complete your registration for the course.

Full Certificate Program

Complete structured pathway

$3,600
$2,400
Certificate program enrollment fee
  • Core Courses 8 full courses
  • Electives 3 full courses
  • Capstone Project 1 full course
  • Total 12 full courses
Scholarship Opportunities Available

As part of its commitment to supporting future generations and advancing Islamic learning, Respect Graduate School offers scholarship opportunities for eligible students. Students with financial need are encouraged to apply now for scholarship consideration.

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Full Certificate Program

Complete structured pathway

$3,600 Certificate program enrollment fee
  • Core Courses 8 full courses
  • Electives 3 full courses
  • Capstone Project 1 full course
  • Total 12 full courses
Scholarship Opportunities Available

As part of its commitment to supporting future generations and advancing Islamic learning, Respect Graduate School offers scholarship opportunities for eligible students. Students with financial need are encouraged to apply now for scholarship consideration.

Enroll Now

Application Options

Choose the full certificate pathway for the most complete and cost-effective learning experience, or take individual courses through open enrollment.

Recommended

Certificate Program Enrollment

Complete structured pathway

$2,400 $1,000 Gift Voucher Opportunity*
Full certificate program fee
  • Core Courses 8 full courses
  • Electives 3 full courses
  • Capstone Project 1 full course
  • Total 12 full courses
How the gift voucher works

* Students who complete the certificate program with at least 85% attendance and 85% or above in every course will receive a $1,000 gift voucher.

The voucher may be used toward other programs offered by the Department of Religious Studies for Youth.

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Individual Course Pricing

Open enrollment option

$3,600 Estimated total if courses are taken individually
  • Core courses $300 per course
  • Arabic (Level 1) $500
  • Qur’an (Level 1) $300
  • Elective full courses $300
  • Elective short courses $150
Registration Note

Open enrollment is suitable for students who want to take selected courses without pursuing the full certificate pathway. This option does not include the complete certificate package, structured pathway, or capstone sequence as a full certificate enrollment. Students choosing open enrollment must select and register for each course individually in the application form.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Students may enroll in individual courses to explore specific topics or learn at a flexible pace.

Open enrollment allows students to take individual courses based on interest, without pursuing the certificate program. The certificate program offers a structured pathway with academic advising, defined requirements, and a culminating capstone project.

No. Students may progress through the certificate program at a pace that fits their schedule. Courses are designed to be taken gradually, and students may enroll in one or more courses per term depending on availability and readiness.

The certificate program is designed to be completed within one year at a full course load. Students may also progress at a slower pace by taking fewer courses per term.

Each course typically includes two hours of live sessions and some independent work on our learning management system every week. Workload may vary slightly by course.

Yes. Students may take breaks between courses or terms and resume their studies when ready. Academic advising is available to help students plan a sustainable learning path.

The program is designed for youth aged 13 and up.

No. Students may begin the certificate program in any academic term; Fall, Spring, or Summer. The program is designed to allow flexible entry points, and academic advising is available to help students plan their schedules.

No, no prior knowledge is required. Our courses are beginner friendly. None of our courses require prerequisite courses to be taken.

No. We offer exemption tests for both Qur'an (Level 1) and Arabic (Level 1). If you successfully pass the exemption test for either course, you do not need to take it. Please contact us at [email protected] to arrange an exemption test.

Application Form

Ready to join? Clicking the 'Enroll Now' button will take you to our secure enrollment form on a trusted external platform. Please fill out the form to complete your registration for the course.

$1200

instead of

$200

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  • Total 28h (2 Hours/Week)
  • Access to class recordings
  • Virtual Classroom Support
  • Certification of Attendance
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Do you have a question? Contact us: [email protected]

Our Team

Author, researcher, sociologist, and historian, he received his Ph.D degree in Sociology from Texas Women’s University and an MS in education from Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey. He has taught at various institutions and colleges and presented at numerous conferences and seminars. In addition, he has designed curricula for various Islamic study programs, particularly for Islamic middle and high schools, in the fields of Islamic faith, Islamic history and Quranic exegesis. He writes and speaks on various topics that deal with Qur'anic studies and the challenges of Islamic education in the United States.
Dr. Bilal Sabit
The instructor is a rising master’s student in neuropsychology, focusing on common psychiatric diseases such as major depressive disorder and anxiety to study therapeutic approaches for teenagers. She’s highly interested in adolescent psychology across high- and low-income countries and stands out for education right of girls. She’s dedicated to implementing research-based insights into school curricula to foster more inclusive, responsive and high-quality learning environments. Outside of her academic pursuits, she spends her free time painting, hiking, and baking while enjoying her time in Eastern Europe.
Yusranur Ozturk
A graduate of Edep Academy, he received comprehensive training in Qur’an recitation and memorization. He has taught individual and group Qur’an and mentorship classes in both English and Turkish to students of all ages and continues to guide learners on their Qur’anic journey. His current studies focus on Hifdh, Qur’anic Arabic, Maqamat, and Qira’at al-Ashar. He is also pursuing a bachelor's degree in biomedical engineering at Pennsylvania State University.
Ahmet Selim Demir
He is a software development student and a Hafiz. From an early age, he received extensive Qur’anic education. He studied Qur’anic Arabic and Tashih al-Huruf at Respect Graduate School. He has taught individual and group Qur’an classes and continues his work at the Respect Qur’an School. Currently, he is engaged in the study of Qira’at al-‘Ashar, Maqamat, and Qur’anic Arabic.
Abdullah Ihsan
Chaplain Usame currently serves as the Muslim Chaplain at Lafayette College in Easton, PA. An award-winning filmmaker and media producer, he has been active as a Muslim presenter in interfaith circles for the last two decades. He has also been leading halaqas/study circles in the Lehigh Valley area university campuses. He loves to discuss real-life implications of having a faith that’s based on conviction.
Chaplain Usama
Melisa Ozer is a master’s student in the Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy Program at Florida State University. She received her MA in Islamic Studies from Respect Graduate School and her BBA in Economics & Finance from the University of Texas at Arlington. Her research interests include moral economy, Islam, Islamic law, and the intersection of ethics, governance, and economic justice in historical and contemporary contexts.
Melisa Ozer
Alicia Terzioglu holds a BA in Anthropology and Human Biology and a Master’s degree in Islamic Studies, and brings over seven years of experience in healthcare management. She is currently in the process of chaplaincy training, further deepening her commitment to service and community care. With a unique interdisciplinary background, she is dedicated to educating in a way that bridges academic insight with real-world application. Instructor Alicia previously served as president of the student council at Respect Graduate School, demonstrating her leadership and commitment to student engagement. She is actively involved in meaningful dialogue and is passionate about fostering thoughtful, reflective learning environments.
Alicia Terzioglu

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