{"id":281221,"date":"2026-05-06T12:16:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/281221\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T12:16:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:16:07","slug":"first-us-online-stem-with-mandatory-islamic-studies-backed-by-mayor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/281221\/","title":{"rendered":"First US Online STEM with Mandatory Islamic Studies Backed by Mayor"},"content":{"rendered":"

Richardson Mayor Amir Omar is publicly supporting the launch of TexAM University, <\/a>a new online institution based in the city that offers STEM degrees with mandatory Islamic studies coursework.<\/p>\n

Omar, who became Richardson\u2019s first Muslim and first Arab mayor in May 2025, spoke at a recent promotion event for the school. In video from the gathering, he praised the university\u2019s plans, joked about selecting space for a future second campus, and offered to connect TexAM with local businesses for student internships and hires.<\/p>\n

TexAM University, also known as Texas American Muslim University,<\/a> is located at 1100 E. Campbell Rd. in Richardson. The school shares its building with the Dallas Diyanet Mosque and Islamic Seminary of America. It provides fully online undergraduate and graduate programs in fields such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, health informatics and Islamic economics. Roughly 25 to 30 percent of required coursework consists of Islamic studies.<\/p>\n

The university is actively recruiting international students and features a \u201cSpecial Initiative for Pakistani Students\u201d with promotional tuition rates as low as $99 per three-credit course for overseas enrollees. Officials describe it as the first U.S. university to embed mandatory Islamic studies into STEM degree programs.<\/p>\n

TexAM operates as a nonprofit registered under the name Texas American Institute for Technology at Dallas. It does not hold regional accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).<\/p>\n

Mayor Omar has positioned his support as consistent with his goal of expanding educational and economic opportunities in Richardson from pre-K through Ph.D. level. The university\u2019s arrival has generated both excitement and questions among residents about its academic standards and long-term impact on the community.<\/p>\n

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