The College Program on Islam
From having faith to understanding it to believing in it
Are you ready to deepen your understanding of your faith and identity? The College Program on Islam (CPOI) is a residential academic program held at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, where you engage with distinguished scholars and connect with fellow Ismailis from across the United States and Canada. Dates for the 2027 program will be announced soon.
We invite all Ismailis ages 18–25 from the United States and Canada to apply.
“[W]e want to make sure that we understand the evolution of Ismaili thought, in the past. It is a religion of the brain, a religion of the mind. It is not just a religion of the soul. It is a faith of reason. And so we want to try to make sure that the philosophies of the past are well understood and can have adequate space in modern life.”
Imam Shah Karim Shah, Expresso Magazine Interview (Lisbon, Portugal), July 21st, 2018
What is the College Program on Islam (CPOI)?
The College Program on Islam (CPOI) is a week-long residential academic program designed for Ismailis ages 18–25 who seek to deepen their understanding of their Shia Imami Ismaili Muslim faith and identity through scholarly inquiry and intellectual engagement. The program introduces participants to the academic study of Islam, with a focus on historical analysis, social contexts, and cultural expressions of Muslim life.
Through interacting with distinguished scholars in Islamic studies and the humanities, participants engage with pressing questions, from the evolution of religious authority and the intersections of race and religion, to Islamic intellectual traditions, the ethics of development, and the challenges of pluralism. Facilitated conversations with mentors and peers create space to meaningfully engage with new ideas and perspectives.
The curriculum is built around two complementary tracks: Anthropology & Material Cultures and Intellectual History. Every participant experiences both. This journey is for the individual, but taken with the collective group, building lasting friendships with Ismaili peers from across North America.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is CPOI for?
CPOI is for rising college freshmen, college students, and recent graduates from the United States and Canada. Anyone aged 18–25 is welcome to apply. The program fee is $850 USD and financial assistance is available for households with genuine financial hardship. The fee covers accommodation, meals, program materials, and the cost of scheduled activities. The program fee does not include the cost of airfare.
If you are 26 or older but interested in a program like this, we invite you to apply to the Adult Program on Islam (APOI).
For more information, follow us on Instagram @collegeprogramonislam.
How is CPOI structured?
The program is structured around two complementary tracks, Anthropology & Material Cultures and Intellectual History, meant to expose students to diverse approaches in the academic study of Islam. Each participant experiences both tracks, offering an unparalleled opportunity for intellectual exploration and academic engagement. Learn more on the Curriculum page.
For more information, follow us on Instagram @collegeprogramonislam.
Where is CPOI held?
CPOI is held at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Participants stay in campus housing and have access to dining, libraries, and study spaces, a setting that is both intellectually stimulating and conducive to learning and discussion. Learn more on the Location page.
For more information, follow us on Instagram @collegeprogramonislam.
When can I apply?
Applications for the 2027 program will open soon. Program dates and the application timeline will be posted here and announced on our Instagram. Visit the Apply page for the latest details.
For more information, follow us on Instagram @collegeprogramonislam.
Straight from our Alumni
What Past Participants Say
“The CPOI experience, a weeklong program filled with informative faith-related dialogue, was significantly transformative in developing my understanding of Islam in an academic paradigm, proving instrumental to my journey not only as an Ismaili, but a Muslim. For anyone looking to critically explore Islam, Ismailism, historical theology, and faith, the CPOI curriculum offers an engaging approach in an environment that encourages thoughtful inquiry, insightful discourse, and most importantly, a space to ask even the most challenging questions.”
Anzar, USA, CPOI ‘24
“CPOI has been a transformative experience, profoundly deepening my faith and strengthening my Ismaili identity. Through engaging discussions with distinguished scholars and thought-provoking seminars, I gained invaluable insights into aspects of my faith that I had not previously explored. This journey has not only enriched my spiritual understanding but also fostered a stronger, more meaningful connection to my Ismaili identity.”
Rehana, Canada, CPOI ‘24
“CPOI has permanently altered my approach to understanding my faith. Through academic study and lectures on the background, interpretations, and context of hard-hitting subjects in Islam, CPOI created a safe environment that encouraged critical thinking and philosophical discussions on topics that are relevant to young Ismaili Muslims. They also provided the resources for me to further research and develop my knowledge in these areas.”
Rayaan, USA, CPOI ‘24
“CPOI taught me to approach Islam with a critical eye, especially by exploring the diversity within Ismaili heritage. It gave me the tools to analyze texts, engage with different perspectives, and deepen my understanding of the faith’s rich complexities.”
Jenny, Canada, CPOI ‘24
“CPOI expanded my understanding of my faith by introducing me to various academic frameworks. The distinct ways these frameworks approached the study of Islam was particularly insightful for me as they helped me feel more connected to both the broader Muslim ummah but also more appreciative of our own tariqah.”
Azam, USA, CPOI ‘24
“Hearing from speakers outside of the Ismaili community helped provide a different lens. CPOI gave me a new perspective on Islam and how my role as an Ismaili Muslim connects with the Ummah as a whole.”
Arisha, USA, CPOI ‘23
“CPOI emphasizes the methods of studying Islam rather than focusing solely on its content, which I think makes it so unique. It introduced me to the use of the historical-critical method as a tool to explore how Islam has evolved over time. Studying Islam only in its present form can lead to incomplete or skewed perspectives.”
Ali Muhammad, USA, CPOI ‘24
“My peers at CPOI were friendly, intelligent, and enthusiastic, and they pushed me to think on a higher level. I made many friends there, and we still have a participants group chat to keep in touch even now.”
Aseela, USA, CPOI ‘24
“CPOI helped me understand my faith in a way that has clarified my beliefs more.”
Shazan, USA, CPOI ‘23
Applications
Applications for the 2027 program will open soon. Program dates will be announced here. Follow us on Instagram for updates.
“The main challenge for the study of Islam is to describe how its universalistic or abstract principles have been realized in various social and historical contexts without representing Islam as a seamless essence on the one hand or as a plastic congeries of beliefs and practices on the other.”
Shahab Ahmed, What is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic, pg. 8