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Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies

Bachelor of Arts in Arabic studies prepares students to achieve linguistic proficiency in Arabic while gaining a deep level of cultural knowledge. The program offers extensive linguistic training in both formal Arabic and Arabic dialects, providing students the ability to speak in a range of environments.

Arabic

Offered by the School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (SLLC) the Arabic major explores cultural trends, social issues and forms of difference across Arabic-speaking societies and diasporas. Students receive extensive linguistic training in both formal Arabic and at least one regional variety. Specialized courses enhance skills related to speaking, listening, grammar and cultural competence, preparing graduates for real-world situations in the workplace and overseas. Through language acquisition, cultural investigation and professional growth, graduates become well-rounded global citizens prepared for a variety of careers.

SCHOLARSHIPS & STUDY ABROAD

Arabic students have won prestigious grants and scholarships to support their studies from the Boren Awards, the Fulbright Program and the Critical Language Scholarship Program, among others. They have enjoyed study abroad opportunities in Morocco and Jordan. For information on study abroad programs contact your undergraduate advisor and UMD Education Abroad.

Requirements & Resources for the Major

World Language Placement

All students new to SLLC courses must take the online World Language Placement (WLP) before registering for classes.

Course Requirements

Core Language Sequence (18 Credits)

 

Course #

Course Name

Credits

Prerequisites

ARAB101

Elementary Arabic I

3

None

ARAB102

Elementary Arabic II

3

None

ARAB201

Intermediate Arabic I

3

ARAB102

ARAB202

Intermediate Arabic II

3

ARAB201

ARAB301

Arab Culture and Society: Skills and Topics I

3

ARAB202

ARAB302

Arab Culture & Society: Skills and Topics II

3

ARAB301

 

 

Electives

Electives (18 credits)

Foundation Electives (minimum of 9 credits)

 

Course #

Course Name

Credits

Prerequisites

ARAB190

Introduction to Arab Cultures & Societies

3

None

ARAB317

Key Moments in the History of the Middle East

3

ARAB202

ARAB222

Arabic for Daily Life I

3

ARAB102

ARAB322

Arabic for Daily Life II

3

ARAB202

ARAB225

Roots and Patterns: Verb Meaning in Arabic

3

ARAB102

ARAB325

Structure and Function of the Arabic Language

3

ARAB102

 

Optional Electives (Maximum of 9 Credits)

 

Course #

Course Name

Credits

Prerequisites

ARAB206

Egyptian Colloquial Arabic I

3

ARAB205

ARAB207

Egyptian Colloquial Arabic II

3

ARAB206

ARAB250

Food Cultures in the Global Middle East

3

None

ARAB398

Special Topics in Arabic Studies

3

ARAB304

ARAB401

Readings in Arabic Literature

3

ARAB305

ARAB410

Ideology of Stereotyping: American and Middle Eastern Film and Television

3

None

ARAB499

Special Topics in Arabic Studies

3

None

ARAB386

Experiential Learning

3

None

  • 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 World Language Placement (WLP).
  • 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

The 12 credits of the summer in each level can fulfill the 6 credits of the course sequence (101,102,201, etc...), plus 3 credits to fulfill one of the optional electives, and the last three credits will be credits that count towards graduation, but not the major.

Summer Courses

Total Number of Credits

Academic Year Equivalent

Number of Credits Applicable to Degree Program

ARAB104, ARAB105

12

ARAB101, ARAB102, ARAB2xx

9

ARAB204, ARAB205

12

ARAB201, ARAB202, ARAB2xx

9

ARAB315, ARAB316

12

ARAB301, ARAB302, ARAB3xx

9

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.

 

Declaring an Arabic Studies Major

We recommend that interested students declare their major as early as possible

Step 1

Review the Arabic Studies major courses checklist

Step 2

Bring signed form from previous step

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

Anny Gaul

School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Assistant Professor, Department Chair, Arabic

3128 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park MD, 20742

Arabic Program Advisor

Ahmed Hanafy

School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Senior Lecturer, Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Faculty Language Partner Program Coordinator, Arabic
Member, Maryland Language Science Center

3126 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park MD, 20742

(301) 405-3015