Arabic Studies Major
The 42-credit major in Arabic studies provides students with a solid background in the language, literature and culture of the modern Arab world.
The B.A. in Arabic studies prepares students for a range of professional opportunities, including careers in government, education, business and international development and communication. Students work toward competence in speaking, reading, writing and listening, as well as advanced knowledge of Arab cultures. The Arabic program offers extensive linguistic training in both formal Arabic (fusHa) and Arabic dialects, using an integrated approach where colloquial and formal Arabic are learned simultaneously. Students achieve cultural fluency by exploring diverse Arab societies and cultural zones and learn to approach them from a global perspective. Many undergraduates choose to double major in Arabic and another subject in the arts and humanities, business, science, politics or journalism.
Requirements for the Major
Foreign Language Placement Assessment
All students new to SLLC courses must take the online Foreign Language Placement Assessment (FLPA) before registering for classes.
Prerequisite Courses
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| 24 Credits |
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Electives
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- See Testudo for the current list of ARAB course offerings
- All students enrolling in an SLLC language course for the first time must take the Foreign Language Placement Assessment (FLPA).
- Students must take language acquisition courses sequentially. Once credit has been received in a higher-level language acquisition or grammar course, a lower-level course may not be taken for credit.
- Courses in Middle Eastern studies taught in English outside the department may be occasionally substituted on approval of the program advisor or program director.
- While most courses taught in Arabic are not open to fluent or native speakers of Arabic, others may be. Please talk to the program advisor before registering.
Transfer Credits
All transfer courses for which you wish to receive credit towards the major must be reviewed by the ARAB undergraduate advisor. Note that the student's final 30 credits must be completed in residence at UMD, of which at least 12 must be upper-level credits in the major.
Summer Institute
SUMMER INSTITUTE CREDIT EQUIVALENCIES
UMD students enrolled in the Summer Language Institute can count their summer courses towards their Arabic degree program. Please see the chart below for course equivalencies:
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Please note the following two rules:
(1) Although 3rd year Summer Institute students will earn 12 university credits in total, only 9 credits will be applicable towards their Arabic degree: the equivalents of ARAB304 and 305 (3 credits each) and one 3-credit upper-level content course in Arabic.
(2) During the Summer Institute, dialect is incorporated into the daily curriculum. Therefore those students who complete ARAB315 and 316 in the summer are not required to take ARAB206 and ARAB207 in the following fall and spring semesters, but instead can take two additional 3-credit electives in Arabic in place of ARAB206 and 207.
Study Abroad
For information on study abroad programs see the undergraduate advisor and contact UMD Education Abroad.
Declaring an Arabic Studies Major
We recommend that interested students declare their major as early as possible
Step 1
Carefully read ARAB major Requirements
Step 2
Download the ARAB major sign-up and Arabic studies advising form (please note there are slight differences for Arabic Flagship students who are also Arabic majors).
Arabic Studies/Arabic Flagship Program Advising Form
Step 3
Read through all forms carefully, and pencil in a sequence of courses to discuss with the program advisor, Ahmed Hanafy (ahmeda@umd.edu).
Step 4
Contact the Office of Student Affairs at the College of Arts and Humanities (301-405-2108) to make an appointment to discuss the non-Arabic aspects of your 4-Year plan (bring signed form from previous step), including CORE courses. Walk-in hours are also available.
Step 5
If you are adding Arabic studies as an additional major, check with your home department and college to identify paperwork you may need to complete.
Advising
The Arabic Program undergraduate advisor is available for consultation about any aspect of your study of Arabic. We recommend that every Arabic major confer with the program advisor at registration time each semester.
For Arabic advising, email Ahmed Hanafy | 3138 H.J. Patterson Hall | ahmeda@umd.edu
The College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) Office of Student Affairs provides college advising for all ARHU undergraduates in 1120 Francis Scott Key Hall.
Arabic Program Director
Peter Glanville
Associate Professor, Associate Director for Undergraduate Academic Affairs, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Associate Professor and Arabic Flagship Program Director, Arabic
3126 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park
MD,
20742
Arabic Program Advisor
Ahmed Hanafy
Senior Lecturer, Faculty Language Partner Program Coordinator, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Arabic
3141 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park
MD,
20742