About

In 2009, Zaytuna College was founded in Berkeley, California, with a mission that called for grounding students in the Islamic scholarly tradition as well as in the cultural currents and critical ideas shaping modern society.

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Academics

As a Muslim liberal arts college in the West, Zaytuna offers a curriculum that provides its students with a foundation in the intellectual heritage of two major world civilizations: the Islamic and the Western.

Academics Liberal Arts Bachelor's Degree: Liberal and Islamic Studies Master's Degree: Islamic Texts Faculty Directory College Catalog
Admissions & Aid

Our mission is to educate students to become morally, intellectually, and spiritually accomplished individuals ready to contribute to our contemporary world in ways that are proportionate to their gifts and to the needs of human society.

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Campus Life

Zaytuna’s campus is on Holy Hill and students enter the College as part of a cohort, a community of learners that travel together through the curriculum.

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Zaytuna BA Admissions FAQs

Curriculum

Questions	Answers
How many degrees does Zaytuna offer?	Zaytuna offers one bachelor of arts (BA) in Liberal Arts and Islamic Studies and one master of arts (MA) in Islamic texts.
Is there a part-time program?	No
Is there an online program?	No
Can students select courses?	Undergraduate students take a standardized curriculum with their cohort to foster a community of learning with their peers. Students in our master’s program will select one of two areas of concentration: philosophy and theology or Islamic law.
Is there a way to pursue other courses outside Zaytuna?	Yes, Zaytuna students have the option of simultaneously enrolling in University of California Berkeley Extension courses.

Financials

Questions	Answers
How much is tuition?	Please find a detailed breakdown of our fees under “Tuition & Financial Assistance.”
Are there scholarships and financial aid?	Yes, there are merit-based scholarships and zakat-based, financial-need grants.
Can international students apply for scholarships and financial aid?	Yes
What does financial aid cover?	Financial aid can cover up to 100 percent of tuition, books, and housing costs.

Student Life

Questions	Answers
Is there on-campus housing?	Yes
How much does on-campus housing cost?	$10,500/year
Is there a dress code?	Yes, please see the Zaytuna College Catalog for more details.
Is there a meal plan?	No, however, three free dinners are provided every week by the Zaytuna College Office of Student Life.
Is there a laundry room?	Yes, there are communal laundry machines in each dormitory.
Is there a kitchen in the dorm?	Yes, there is a communal kitchen and dining area in each dormitory.
How many students share one dorm room?	Most students share a room with one other person. A few students have two roommates in a large room, and some fourth-year undergraduates live alone.
Are there dormitories on campus?	Yes. We have separate dormitories for men and women.
Can students living on campus have their own room?	Most students share a room with another student. Some seniors have their own room.
Can I attend Zaytuna College online?	No

Prerequisites

Questions	Answers
Do I need to know Arabic to apply?	If you are a domestic applicant, you do not need to know Arabic before applying. However, you must acquire one year of college-level Arabic before the fall semester of your freshman year at Zaytuna. You may either do this on your own or attend the Zaytuna College Summer Arabic Intensive (SAI). One year of college-level Arabic is equivalent to the first twelve (12) chapters of Al-Kitaab fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya (Georgetown University Press, 2011). If you are an international applicant, you must pass the Arabic Proficiency Test in order to receive an offer of admission. This is because the regulations governing the F-1 visa bar us from allowing international applicants to attend the Summer Arabic Intensive before the freshman year. To prepare for the Arabic Proficiency Test you should cover material equivalent to the first twelve chapters of Al-Kitaab Fii Ta'allum al-'Arabiyya: A Textbook for Beginning Arabic, Part 1, 2nd Edition. You can learn more about the Arabic Proficiency Test on this webpage.
Do I need to have a background in Islamic studies?	No, but having a background in Islamic studies greatly strengthens your application.
Do I need to have a background in the liberal arts?	No, but having a background in the classical liberal arts greatly strengthens your application.

Application

Questions	Answers
When do applications open?	August 15, 2023
Who is eligible to apply?	Applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent
Can international students apply?	Yes
How much does the application cost?	$50
Is there a minimum SAT/ACT/CLT score to apply?	No
Is there a minimum high school GPA to apply?	No
Where can I get my forty hours of community service?	Time spent volunteering at a recognized organization whose leadership will attest to your community service may be counted toward your application. Examples of official organizations range from local community centers to international nonprofit organizations.
Who should write my three letters of recommendation?	We suggest that at least two of your letters of recommendation come from educators.
What can I do to strengthen my application?	Demonstrating a background in Arabic and/or the liberal arts will strengthen your application.
How do I access the Proof of Community Service form?	Please download and view our Proof of Community Service form.
What are the essay questions on the BA application?	Please download and view our Essay Questions & Instructions.
May I defer my enrollment?	See our deferral policy.
Can my admissions offer be rescinded?	See our rescission policy.

Transfers

Questions	Answers
When do applications open?	August 15, 2023
Does Zaytuna College accept transfer applicants?	Yes, however, all incoming students join as first-year students regardless of their prior educational background.
Will my credits transfer?	Due to the unique curriculum of the Zaytuna College BA program, few if any credits from other institutions of higher education are likely to be deemed equivalent to Zaytuna’s courses, and the College reserves the right to accept or reject credits earned at other institutions. Students at the College advance through their studies in cohorts; consequently, while transfer credits can reduce a student’s course load for any given semester, they do not advance a student to the next cohort.
As a transfer, will I have to complete all four years at Zaytuna College?	Yes, all enrolled undergraduate students must complete four years at Zaytuna College.
Do transfer applicants need to submit standardized test scores?	Due to the new Omicron variant and the risk this poses to our applicants, we are transitioning to a test-optional policy for this admissions cycle. You still have the option of submitting standardized test results (CLT, SAT, or ACT), and doing so may strengthen your application. However, you are no longer required to submit standardized test results for a complete application.