THE FACULTY OF LANGUAGES AND LINGUISTICS

VI. DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAMS

ARABIC and islamic studies

Georgetown has the oldest Arabic undergraduate major program in the United States. The Arabic language is the key to understanding an important group of 22 nations and over 200 million native Arabic speakers. Many Arabic majors start with no previous knowledge of Arabic; others have been exposed to Arabic as heritage learners, or from experience living abroad. The focus in our undergraduate major is on building both linguistic and intercultural skills to an advanced level of communicative competence. The department also has a graduate program in Islamic Studies and a graduate program in Arabic.

The first three years of study are intensive in order to accelerate achievement of proficiency. Emphasis is placed on building fluency, advanced reading comprehension, and the ability to write and interact at advanced levels of proficiency. Arabic majors first study Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), the common written language of all countries of the Arab world. Courses in spoken Arabic, such as Egyptian Colloquial, and Formal Spoken Arabic, are offered in addition to MSA at the second year level.

The fourth year gives an overview of traditional and contemporary literature together with analysis of writing styles as an introduction to the stylistic features of Arabic literature.

Other upper-level undergraduate courses are offered in various aspects of Arabic and Islamic culture, in advanced writing skills and in Arabic language structure, allowing the advanced student to focus on specific topics within the field. Native speakers are ineligible for Basic or Intermediate language classes.

Major in Arabic

12 General Education courses

12 Arabic (unless lower placement requires additional language work) consisting of:

• ARAB-111 & 112 Intensive Second Level Modern Standard Arabic I & II
• ARAB-113 & 114 Spoken Arabic I & II
• ARAB-201 & 202 Introduction to Islamic Civilization
• ARAB-215 & 216 Intensive Third Level Modern Standard Arabic I & II
• ARAB-351 & 352 Introduction to Arabic Culture I & II
• 2 Arabic Electives

Minor in Arabic

• ARAB-011 & 012 Intensive First Level Modern Standard Arabic I and II
• ARAB-111 & 112 Intensive Second Level Modern Standard Arabic I & II

Plus

2 courses selected from the following (does not need to be in sequence):

• ARAB 113 & 114 Spoken Arabic I & II
• ARAB-215, 216 Intensive Third Level Modern Standard Arabic I & II
• ARAB-213, 214 Media Arabic I & II
• ARAB-351, 352 Intro. to Arabic Culture I & II

Arab Studies Certificate

(See the Arab Studies Certificate section of this Bulletin.)

Arabic Major with Business Coursework

(See the Business Coursework section of this Bulletin.)

Overseas Studies

Arabic majors are required to spend a year, a semester, or a summer studying at an approved educational institution in an Arabic-speaking country. In particular, the American University in Cairo, Egypt is one with which Georgetown has institutional ties. (See the Overseas Study section of this Bulletin.)

Scholarships for advanced study of Arabic in Cairo are available through the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA). Advanced students are encouraged to participate in the annual CASA competition for scholarship awards to attend the American University in Cairo.

Summer Programs in Arabic

The Arabic Department and the Georgetown University School for Summer and Continuing Education offer an intensive program in Arabic each summer. Courses are offered at the basic, intermediate, and advanced levels in addition to spoken Arabic for two five-week sessions, equivalent to one academic year.

We also offer Georgetown-in-Alexandria, Egypt, an intensive language program at all levels for one eight-week session equivalent to one academic year.

The Sultan Qaboos bin Said Scholarships

Four-year scholarships, based on financial need and merit, are available to students pursuing a major in Arabic. Interested students should contact the Chair of the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

Accelerated Bachelor/Master Degree Program

(See the section on this topic in the Bulletin.)

(For course listings for Arabic see http://courses.georgetown.edu/)

Undergraduate Bulletin 2012-2013 Table of Contents
Copyright 2012, Georgetown University.