University President: His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
University Vice President: H.G. Bishop David,
Bishop of New York and New England
With the tremendous educational renaissance led by His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, Holy Sophia Coptic Orthodox University was established to spread Christian higher education using online systems. The university follows the steps and guidance of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II. It took several years to design its educational platform. Then, on July 1st, 2019, it was opened officially. The first courses began with the fall module of September 2nd, 2019.
Holy Sophia University’s President: His Holiness Pope Tawadros II
Vice President of the University: His Grace Bishop David, Bishop of the Diocese of New York and New England.
The university’s slogan: Where the wisdom of the early Church illuminates modern life.
Mission: Spreading the teachings of the Coptic Orthodox Church according to what we received from the Fathers of the Early Church. Holy Sophia University aims to bring to its students a transformative and accessible education rooted in the ancient wisdom of our Patristic heritage. Through the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ–the Holy Sophia–Holy Sophia’s goal is to enable the embodiment of Coptic Orthodoxy for healthy dialogue within the complexities of contemporary culture.
As for the usual American online educational system that Holy Sophia University adopted, any course is taught over only eight weeks, called a module. Holy Sophia University has six modules per year: fall 1, 3, spring 1, 3, and summer 1, 3. Each week starts from Monday to Sunday. Each week has its own readings and assignments, which consist of academic and journal writing and participation in the weekly online discussion. The interaction between the student and the professor takes place online on the university’s digital blackboard. The weekly assignments are presented at any time of the week. This means that studying at Holy Sophia is open throughout the year for those who are geographically far from the universities and whose busy lives are incompatible with their presence on the campus terraces.
There are several unique opportunities at Holy Sophia, all suited to the busy lifestyle and offered in both English and Arabic. A student can choose from:
– 144 online courses.
– 4 online Master’s programs in Arabic
– 17 online Master’s programs in English
– 6 online Ph.D. programs in Arabic
– Several certificate programs
– 46 expert faculty members
Since its establishment in 2019, Holy Sophia University has taught thousands of students. Although the number of students during the very first module was 34, currently, in 2023, the number of students in each module is around 250.
Being an online university, Holy Sophia has students from different countries such as England, Ireland, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, Australia, Fiji, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Coptic servants residing in China, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Hong Kong, and Indonesia. The majority are from the United States, Egypt, and Canada. There are students from
Colleges of Holy Sophia University in the order of their establishments:
– Coptic Orthodox College of Theology in English:
It is the first college in the university. Along with its graduate degrees, it offers courses on Theology, Apologetics, Biblical Studies, Church History, and Patristics.
– College of Christian Education in English:
It offers courses on Sunday school education via studying the latest modern educational methods and research in educating children and youth. It grants a master’s degree in Christian education.
– College of Christian Counseling in Arabic:
A master’s degree in counseling sciences is awarded after completing the practical training period to every student who has completed the academic courses.
– Coptic Orthodox College of Theology in Arabic:
The Master’s degree in Theology is awarded after completing a Master’s thesis in any of the specializations offered by the college, such as theology, church history, patristics, liturgy, etc.
With the blessing of His Holiness Pope Tawadros II, the doctoral study program was opened at the Faculty of Theology in the Arabic language.
– College of Orthodox Biblical Studies in the Arabic Language:
It grants a master’s degree in the Bible and apologetic theology after completing the master’s thesis.
Additional academic services:
The university provides three major additional academic services:
1. The Survey Research Center, in which the university constantly conducts various research questionnaires. The results of periodic questionnaires can be used scientifically by any academic researcher.
2. The Holy Sophia Press, which is devoted to publishing scientific research submitted by students to obtain their academic degrees at the university.
3. The app of “Coptic Scholar” that is produced and dedicated to publishing and circulating books in a digital way.
As of September 5th, 2023, Holy Sophia has been registered as a non-profit Coptic Orthodox University in the State of Connecticut.
This page is also available in:
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