Catalog Course Descriptions

Introduction to Arabic language, dialects, countries, and culture. Beginning modern standard and classical Arabic, with emphasis on the written language, script and phonology. Basic grammar covering gender, numbers, cases, prepositions, nominal sentences, and basic conversation and greetings. Equivalent to ARAB 110.

Introduction to developing reading skills in formal settings. Emphasizes modern standard Arabic in oral communication. Beginning grammar level focuses on verbal sentences, present tenses, questions, and compound nouns. Equivalent to ARAB 110.

Introduces elements of grammar, vocabulary, oral skills, listening comprehension, and reading. Equivalent to ARAB 101, ARAB 102.

Further development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Advanced level of vocabulary. Grammar covers past tenses, subordinated conjunctions, and introduction to passive voice. Notes: Also introduces Arabic dictionary. Limited to three attempts.

Emphasis on application of language skills to reading, composition, and discussion. Focuses on language structure, format of developing vocabulary from verbs, covering different derivations, and language patterns. Leads to learning the use of Arabic dictionary in depth. Grammar covers passive voice and verbal nouns. Limited to three attempts.

Introduces new complex syntactical and grammatical structures for critical enhancement of fluency in Modern Standard Arabic. Emphasis is plced on sentence structure and vocabulary enrichment. Students also gain additional exposure to linguistic diglossia, culture, and history. Limited to three attempts.

Studies works of major Arab writers or collections such as The Arabian Nights. Notes: Knowledge of Arabic helpful but not required. May be repeated when topic is different with permission of department. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.

Development of conversational fluency and reading skills in modern standard Arabic through class discussion, reports, and presentations. Includes readings from newspapers, journals, magazines, web sites, literary works, and other sources. Notes: ARAB 330 and 331 must be taken in sequence. Limited to three attempts.

Continuation of ARAB 330. Limited to three attempts.

Develops advanced reading skills through work with current written media in Arabic. Limited to three attempts.

Develops advanced listening and speaking skills through work with current broadcasts in Arabic TV and Radio. Limited to three attempts.

Multilevel open-source media analysis and advanced language acquisition class. In addition to developing effective strategies for discourse analysis in Arabic, students will gain exposure to core issues and debates within the current Arab world. Secondary source readings and lecture material focus on issues of rhetorical and aesthetic persuasion, propaganda, censorship, media bias and fake news. Limited to two attempts.

Focuses on major trends and issues in modern Arabic cultural production with an emphasis on the inter-connectivity of politics and art, socio-economic contexts, issues of censorship and regulation, and the means of access to production for Arab artists working beyond state apparatus. The course surveys works of art, cinema, media, and literature from across the Arabic speaking world. Notes: Prior knowledge of Arabic is not required. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.

Designed to highlight the influence of Black and other minority cultures on the formation of national identity in the modern Arab world. Will emphasize the work of Black artists and thinkers in places like Egypt, the Sudan, Morocco and the Arabian Gulf; Berber culture in North Africa; Copts and ethnic Christian minorities Egypt, the Levant and elsewhere; the Jews of North Africa, Yemen, or Iraq, Ethiopians in Israel/Palestine and more. In addition to focusing on the modern era, the class engages key literary and poetic contributions by minority voices drawn from the classical era, including selections from the seminal body of lyricism surrounding the Zanj rebellion of Abbasid Caliphate. The class is taught in English, but some knowledge of Arabic is recommended. Limited to three attempts.

Students gain access to career-specific lexica as developed and administered by professionals in the field. Drawing on the wealth of Arabic-speaking professionals in the DC metro area, this course aims to provide students the opportunity to interact and network directly with regional experts. Experiential dimensions of course may include site visits, guest lecturers, or workshops. Students may undertake case studies or research projects relevant to the expertise of the instructor and the subject matter of the class. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.

Designated study abroad programs in the Arab world. Notes: must be approved by Arabic program coordinator. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.

Study of the structure of one Arabic dialect with comparison to Modern Standard Arabic and the classical Fus-ha. Includes study of literature, proverbs, and culture associated with that dialect. Notes: May be repeated when dialect covered is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.

Explores the various forms that migration takes in contemporary Arab society, examining issues of uprising, diaspora, refugee crisis, and youth activism across literature, film, and journalism in the Middle East. Limited to three attempts.

Provides students with essential tools and techniques to translate Arabic texts to English. Includes practice applying these techniques to a variety of documents including literary, media, and legal texts. Limited to three attempts.

A survey of Arabic literature from its genesis to the present day. Limited to three attempts.

Introduction to traditional Arabic grammar. Covers parts of speech, sentence structure, case marking, and verb structure. Combines traditional with modern approaches to Arabic grammar and includes practical drills. Limited to three attempts.

Survey of the religious and intellectual heritage of the Arab world. Notes: May be repeated when topic and texts are different. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 9 credits.

Addresses core topics in the study of the Arab world through the lens of literature, language and aesthetics. Topics may include the Nahdha or ‘Renaissance’ period of the late nineteenth century, Black and minority cultural productions, diaspora studies, post-colonialism or literary movements of the twentieth and twenty-first century. Topics will vary. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.

Designated independent study in the United States or abroad under the direction of a full-time faculty member. Notes: Must be approved by Arabic program coordinator. Limited to three attempts.

Studies works of major Arab writers or collections such as The Arabian Nights. Notes: Knowledge of Arabic helpful but not required. May be repeated when topic is different with permission of department. May be repeated within the degree for a maximum 6 credits.

Study of the structure of one Arabic dialect with comparison to Modern Standard Arabic and the classical Fus-ha. Includes study of literature, proverbs, and culture associated with that dialect. Notes: May be repeated when dialect covered is different. May be repeated within the term for a maximum 6 credits.