Academic Programs back to top
Summer Arabic Intensive
Are evening or weekend classes available?
No. The Zaytuna Summer Arabic Intensive offers classes only during the day, Monday through Friday. The timings of classes are from 9 am to 2 pm.
No. Due to the rigor of the Arabic Intensive, Zaytuna College will not introduce auxiliary programs such as Qur'an memorization or tajwid.
Yes. Students who are 16 or 17 years old can attend the program with a parental waiver. These students are subject to additional interviews for admission. Students under 16 can only attend if accompanied by a parent.
No. The Arabic Intensive currently does not provide student visas. U.S. immigration laws are complex and depend on many factors unique to an individual’s particular circumstances. For these reasons, we strongly recommend that any international applicant seek the advice of an attorney knowledgeable in U.S. immigration laws regarding their potential visit to the United States. General information about immigration law can be found at the websites of the United States State Department and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Attorney referrals can be found at the website of the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
Though we encourage all Summer Arabic Intensive students to live at Westminster House in order to take part in the community of learning, we understand that personal circumstances may not permit this for some. For those individuals, we have a tuition-only plan that will include tuition and books, but not housing.
Westminster House works hard to maintain a secure living environment for all residents. Residence floors are accessible only to those who live in Westminster House. Every student will receive a key to allow them entry into the residence floors and their individual dorms.
Yes. There will be one female resident assistant and one male resident assistant to help support students living at Westminster House.
Students are encouraged to bring their laptops to the Arabic Intensive. Westminster House provides a wireless internet connection for all residents. Students will also have access to a computer and printer in the Arabic Intensive administrative office.
Yes. Berkeley is a thriving university city with plenty of nearby shops and eateries to which students can walk. There is also abundant public transportation near Westminster House.
No. Unfortunately, there is no parking available at Westminster House for students who wish to bring their cars. There are garages in the area that provide monthly rates, and students can inquire with Arabic Intensive staff for further information.
Academics back to top
Does Zaytuna College offer online courses?
No. Unfortunately, courses from the Zaytuna College curriculum are not currently offered in an online format. Students who are interested in online learning can visit Zaytuna’s distance learning portal, which offers a selection of downloadable courses and knowledge resources that are not formally part of the College curriculum.
Incoming freshmen must have completed the equivalent of one year of university-level Arabic prior to enrolling at Zaytuna College. Applicants who believe they have satisfied this requirement must take a proficiency exam administered by Zaytuna College. Accepted applicants who have not satisfied this requirement prior to admission, or who do not pass the proficiency exam administered by Zaytuna, must enroll in Zaytuna’s Summer Arabic Intensive program (June 21 – August 13, 2010).
Zaytuna College strives to maintain small class sizes to enrich the student learning experience. The student-faculty ratio is generally expected to be 20:1; some classes will have lower ratios.
Students will have a choice of enrolling in legal (fiqh) courses that are based upon one of the following three Sunni schools: Hanafi, Maliki, or Shafi’i. Zaytuna College hopes to introduce courses in more legal schools in the future.
The lower-division courses, which students must complete in their first two years, are identical for both majors because they cover introductory and general education requirements intended to prepare all students for the final two years of their specific majors. The final two years are comprised of upper-division courses in the specialized subject matter of the individual majors.
The language of instruction for all courses, with the exception of higher-level Arabic courses, will be English. In addition, some third- and fourth-year Islamic Law and Theology courses will require an advanced level of proficiency in Arabic.
At present, the Zaytuna College curriculum is designed to meet the immediate needs of the American Muslim community and not to grant teaching licenses (ijazahs) in the classical sense. In the future, Zaytuna College plans to explore possibilities of adding academic work that will satisfy the requirements for granting classical teaching licenses.
Students who graduate with this major may be certified to become imams or chaplains upon completion of additional units on the advice of a Zaytuna College academic counselor.
Students who opt to participate in Zaytuna College’s imam or chaplain certification track will be required to take an exit examination based on proficiency in tajwid, the proper pronunciation during recitation of the Qur’an, and Qur’anic memorization. These students will be directed to classes that will prepare them for this exit examination. Students who have not entered this track may also participate in these classes, but the exit examination will not be a requirement for them.
Until Zaytuna College acquires full accreditation, any decision on accepting credits or degrees is up to each college or university in accordance with their own specific policies.
Yes. Imam Zaid Shakir, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Dr. Hatem Bazian, Ustadh Abdullah Ali, and other teachers associated with Zaytuna will be part of the Zaytuna College faculty.
Admissions & Administration back to top
Are students required to enroll full-time?
Yes. Zaytuna College, as a new venture, plans on a small inaugural freshman class, which precludes students from attending the College part-time. As the College grows in the next two to five years, we hope to add more classes, which may create more options for students who may not be able to attend full-time.
No. Until Zaytuna College achieves accreditation, students will not be eligible for any state and federal grants or loans.
No. Zaytuna College welcomes students and teachers of all faiths and perspectives.
No. Unfortunately, Zaytuna College cannot currently accept international students due to legal requirements involving student visas. We hope to be able to accommodate international students in the future.
Currently, the Zaytuna College policy is not to accept any transfer credits from other colleges or most credits from high school AP courses. A limited number of high school AP courses in the fields of science and mathematics will be considered for acceptance. We are unable to accept college transfer credits because, as a new college, we can only admit students as freshmen despite previous credit from other colleges.
Zaytuna College hopes to provide accommodations at its own facility. If the College is unable to secure a facility for academic year 2010—2011, then it will assist students in finding independent housing that is safe and comfortable. In either case, Zaytuna will seek to provide residential arrangements at a reasonable cost. Please continue to check our website for updates regarding student housing.
Donations back to top
Are donations to Zaytuna College tax-deductible?
Yes. All donations to Zaytuna College are tax-deductible. Zaytuna College is a California corporation that is registered with the IRS as a 501(c)(3) organization (non-profit organization). All U.S. residents can make tax-deductible donations to the College. If you are not a U.S. resident, please refer to the tax laws of your country of residence to determine if your donations to Zaytuna are tax-deductible. If you made a donation to Zaytuna and have not received a tax receipt or written acknowledgment of your gift, please contact our fundraising staff at (510) 548.8316 or via our online Contact Form.
No. All donations to Zaytuna can only be applied to Zaytuna programs and operations. Donations cannot be designated to any individual employee, guest, student, or affiliate of Zaytuna College.
Yes. Zaytuna College does accept some in-kind donations, including material assets and services. However, without an agreement in advance, we generally do not accept jewelry, automobiles, or other property that must be sold or auctioned. Before making any non-monetary gift to Zaytuna, please contact our fundraising staff at (510) 548.8316.
Yes. Zaytuna College accepts zakat donations. The College does not apply zakat donations towards general operating or program-related expenses. All donations indicated as zakat will be used as direct financial aid (tuition) for full-time students and discounts for other students in need. For instance, if a student is unable to afford learning materials or class tuition, zakat donations can be used to pay for those educational expenses. Zaytuna College does not distribute zakat to individuals or families in need of general financial support because it is beyond the scope of our mission. Please note that zakat donations are subject to strict rules and regulations and cannot be designated for a particular person or program by the donor.
Providing financial transparency is our goal at Zaytuna College. We attempt to keep our donors abreast of all relevant academic, administrative, and financial updates through our website, as well as through periodic newsletters, emails, letters, reports, and telephone calls. If you require additional information, please contact our fundraising staff at (510) 548.8316.
