Undergraduate Bulletin 2009-2010 Table of Contents
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 two years of study are intensive in order to accelerate achievement 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.
At the third-year level, emphasis is placed on building fluency, advanced reading comprehension, and the ability to write and interact at advanced levels of proficiency. 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.
Required Courses for the Major12 Arabic (unless lower placement requires additional language work) consisting of:
- 2 Second Level Modern Standard Arabic
- 2 Spoken Arabic
- 2 Third Level Modern Standard Arabic
- 2 Third Level Modern Standard Arabic: Media
- 2 Introduction to Literature and Style
- 2 Introduction to Arabic Culture
- ARAB-011 & 012 Intensive First Level Modern Standard Arabic I and II
- ARAB-111 & 112 Intensive Second Level Modern Standard Arabic I & II
2 courses selected from the following:
- Spoken Arabic I & II
- ARAB-211, 212 Third Level Modern Standard Arabic I & II
- ARAB-213, 214 Media Arabic I & II
- ARAB-351, 352 Intro. to Arabic Culture I & II
(See Arab Studies Certificate of this Bulletin.)
Arabic Major with Business Coursework(See B. Business Coursework of this Bulletin.)
Overseas StudiesArabic 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 section on this topic in the 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 ArabicThe 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 seven-week session equilavent to one academic year.
The Sultan Qaboos bin Said ScholarshipsFour-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 section on this topic in the Bulletin.)
(For course listings for Arabic see http://explore.georgetown.edu/courses/)
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Undergraduate Bulletin 2009-2010 Table of Contents
Copyright 2009, Georgetown University.
