Center for Islamic Studies

Welcome to the Center for Islamic Studies at the Graduate Theological Union.

With the academic and religious resources to offer a distinctively inter-religious and interdisciplinary approach, the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) founded the Center for Islamic Studies (CIS) in 2007. The center is building an academic platform to help scholars and students of many faiths learn about the richness of Islam and the diversity of Muslims, and emphasizes study and dialogue among contemporary Jewish, Christian, and Muslim communities.

In cooperation with GTU member schools and the University of California, Berkeley, the CIS offers introductory and advanced courses in Islamic Studies in a range of academic disciplines, including interdisciplinary approaches, theories, and methods. The Center offers a Certificate in Islamic Studies, and a Master of Arts with a primary focus on the study of contemporary Islam in its theological, historical and cultural contexts. CIS also supports Islamic Studies in various GTU doctoral tracks, especially in the Cultural and Historical Studies of Religions.

The Center for Islamic Studies sponsors conferences, symposia, workshops, and research projects to foster scholarly exchange and to build bridges of understanding across religions and cultures.

The Center also serves as a liaison with local Muslim communities and study centers, sharing resources in interfaith education and dialogue, and religious leadership.

Contact

Mailing Address: Center for Islamic Studies, 2400 Ridge Road, Berkeley, CA 94709.
Offices are located at 2452 Virginia Street, Berkeley.
510/649-2563, cis@gtu.edu