Research Making an Impact
The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a non-profit research and education institution, has collected and published research on Americans who are Muslim for nearly 20 years. That research provides the bedrock and context for these online courses, created by ReligionandPublicLife.org and supplemented by a collection of resources from other institutions and scholars.
The Institute for Social Policy and Understanding equips professionals with solution-seeking research in cultivating their understanding of the legal and political challenges faced by American Muslims. Many of these challenges arise as a result of the current geopolitical climate and widespread misinformation and misunderstanding. Anti-Muslim sentiment and targeted policies that infringe on personal and religious freedom are the new normal. Learn to apply ISPU’s public policy research and examine the structural barriers that hinder the American Muslim community from full inclusion and participation. The sources and exercises provide people with an accurate understanding of American Muslim communities, equipping them to build and sustain allyship and identifying common challenges and solutions.
We promote full and equitable inclusion with solution-seeking research
Earn a Certificate in American Muslim Life
Earn a professional certificate by applying objective research and education about American Muslims to support well-informed dialogue and decision-making.
- Complete the three-hour course 2501 Muslim Religious Liberty in Early America
- Complete the three-hour course 2502 Who Are American Muslims?
- Complete the three-hour course 2503 How are Muslims Represented?
- Complete the three-hour course 2504 How are American Muslims Treated?
- Complete the three-hour course 2505 Resilient Communities: Pathways Forward
All learners of ISPU’s online courses have full access to the rich benefits that come with ReligionAndPublicLife.org, a social learning community.
- Social Networking: Join a vibrant community by creating custom profiles, messaging peers, and engaging in dynamic discussions. Share documents, videos, and images, and stay connected through activity feeds and discussion forums. Organizers and staff can easily send group messages to keep everyone in the loop.
- Award-Winning Learning Management System: Benefit from an interactive, social learning platform that caters to diverse learning styles. Dive into compelling videos, participate in retention games, and gain insights from national experts while engaging with fellow learners in a rich, collaborative environment.
- Integrated Bookstore: Seamlessly enroll in courses and certificate programs using our integrated e-commerce system. Take advantage of discount and scholarship codes, and keep track of your purchase history, all within your social learning profile.
- Support Desk & Live Chat: Enjoy peace of mind knowing help is always at hand. Whether you need to submit a support ticket or engage in live chat with an advisor, our support services are available Monday through Thursday, 10 am to 3 pm Eastern. All interactions are seamlessly integrated into your profile for a personalized support experience.
- Free Mobile App: Our custom mobile app allows you to access your courses, profiles, discussion forums, and support services on the go. Available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, it ensures you stay connected to your learning community anytime, anywhere.
- Privacy and Security: Rest easy knowing that your privacy is protected by state-of-the-art security protocols. Our platform is optimized for speed and reliability, ensuring a safe and smooth learning experience.
Single-Course Bulk Pricing
Organizations take advantage of the following bulk pricing, allowing their users to choose any single course from the above list.
Users | Single Course | Discount | Total Cost | Savings! |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $ 56 | 0% | $ 56 | $ 0 |
100 | $ 5,600 | 10% | $ 5,040 | $ 560 |
150 | $ 8,400 | 15% | $ 7,140 | $ 1,260 |
200 | $ 11,200 | 20% | $ 8,960 | $ 2,240 |
Five-Course Certificate Bulk Pricing
Purchase the five-course certificate program for 100 users or more and enjoy the following exclusive benefits:
- Seamless Integration: Implement Single Sign-On (SSO) for .edu accounts, ensuring a smooth and secure login experience for all your users.
- Onsite Presentation: Welcome a national ISPU expert to your campus for a 90-minute presentation, inclusive of a Q&A session, multimedia, and downloadable slides for 100+ attendees. (Travel not included.)
- Professional Certificate: Upon completion of the five courses, learners will receive a professional certificate that they can easily sync to their LinkedIn profile, enhancing their professional credentials and visibility.
Users | Five-Courses | Discount | Total Cost | Savings! |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | $ 280 | 0% | $ 280 | $ 0 |
100 | $ 28,000 | 40% | $ 16,800 | $ 11,200 |
150 | $ 42,000 | 45% | $ 23,100 | $ 18,900 |
200 | $ 56,000 | 50% | $ 28,000 | $ 28,000 |
Our Experts. Your Success.
Saher Selod
Director of Research
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
Petra Alsoofy
Senior Outreach and Partnerships Manager
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
Erum Ikamullah
Senior Research Project Manager
Institute for Social Policy and Understanding
Our Services
Hire experts from the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding to serve as keynote speakers and panelists for online and onsite events. Schedule online or onsite workshops for journalists, government officials, law enforcement, religious leaders, and teachers. Hire ISPU consultants to design research projects, strategic plans, community programs, and educational experiences. All fees benefit the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, a nonprofit research organization.
Live
Webinar
Customized Educational Experience
Donation benefits the Institute for Social Policy
and Understanding
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90-minute workshop
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Breakout rooms
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Cloud recording
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Downloadable slides
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Up to 100 attendees
Onsite
Presentation
Keynote from National Expert
Donation benefits the Institute for Social Policy
and Understanding
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90-minute program
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Q&A Period
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Multimedia
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Downloadable slides
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For 100+ attendees
Professional
Development
Specialized Training Program
Donation benefits the Institute for Social Policy
and Understanding
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Customized training for journalists, government officials, law enforcement, religious leaders, teachers
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One day retreat
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Downloadable slides
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For 10–50 attendees
Custom
Consultation
Hire ISPU Experts
Donation benefits the Institute for Social Policy
and Understanding
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Curriculum Design
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Policy Analysis
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Program Planning
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Strategic Planning
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Research Project
News Feed: Institute for Social Policy & Understanding
- ISPU in the New York Times: Mamdani’s First Ramadan February 17, 2026The New York Times: Mamdani Ushers in a New Tradition: Ramadan in City Hall ISPU’s Muslims for American Progress NYC report is used to contextualize the first Ramadan celebrated by […] The post ISPU in the New York Times: Mamdani’s First Ramadan appeared first on Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.Bushra Aljaber
- ISPU in Aljazeera: Trump’s JPMorgan Chase lawsuit revives debanking concerns in US January 27, 2026Aljazeera: Trump’s JPMorgan Chase lawsuit revives debanking concerns in US United States President Donald Trump’s $5bn lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase resurfaces his accusations of debanking – the act of removing a person […] The post ISPU in Aljazeera: Trump’s JPMorgan Chase lawsuit revives debanking concerns in US appeared first on Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.Bushra Aljaber
- ISPU in the Texas Observer: With Islamophobia on the Rise, Houston Becomes Home to First Ismaili Center in the Country December 11, 2025Texas Observer: With Islamophobia on the Rise, Houston Becomes Home to First Ismaili Center in the Country Between 2022 and 2025, the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding’s Islamophobia Index increased […] The post ISPU in the Texas Observer: With Islamophobia on the Rise, Houston Becomes Home to First Ismaili Center in the Country appeared first […]Bushra Aljaber
- ISPU in Aljazeera: The bipartisan comfort with Islamophobia harms us all November 8, 2025Aljazeera: The bipartisan comfort with Islamophobia harms us all This week, Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani made history by becoming the first Muslim mayor of New York City. His road to […] The post ISPU in Aljazeera: The bipartisan comfort with Islamophobia harms us all appeared first on Institute for Social Policy and Understanding.Bushra Aljaber
- ISPU in RNS: Mosque cafes brew community for younger, less religious generations of Muslims November 3, 2025RNS: Mosque cafes brew community for younger, less religious generations of Muslims OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (RNS) — As Manahil Khan stood at the balloon-decorated entrance of Salsabeel Cafe, she took […] The post ISPU in RNS: Mosque cafes brew community for younger, less religious generations of Muslims appeared first on Institute for Social Policy and […]Bushra Aljaber