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undergrad
 Arabic Studies


Department of Arabic Studies
School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professors: B. O'Kane, M. El Rabie, H. Sakkout , G. Scanlon (on leave), M. Serag
Associate Professors: E. Fernandes, N. Hanna (Chair), H. Lutfi (on leave), S. Mehrez, E. Sartain
Assistant Professors:  T. AshShareef, C. Burt, C. Karim, S. Sears

The department of Arabic Studies provides a multi-disciplinary framework for the study of the history and culture of the Middle East since the rise of Islam.  It seeks to explain the thought, movements, processes, institutions and identities of Arab-Islamic civilization.  These include but are not limited to aesthetic and intellectual production, political and religious thought, cross-cultural interaction, commerce and economic relations, government, and social, political and religious loyalties. The study and appreciation of these fields forms an important part of the university's mission to give students greater awareness and appreciation of the heritage of the Middle East.

Bachelor of Arts

The objective of the Bachelor of Arts is to develop a broad awareness of Arab-Islamic civilization and to develop in students the ability to examine critically the different aesthetic, intellectual and cultural components of this civilization.  Each student is required to fulfill Arabic language requirements and take a common core of courses from Arabic Literature, Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern History and Islamic Art and Architecture.  Students should find opportunities in any line of work where knowledge of Middle Eastern culture or analytical and communication skills are important.

A total of 120 credits is required for the degree in Arabic Studies.

Language Requirements

Students must demonstrate their proficiency in Arabic at the advanced level, either by completing ALNG 312 or its equivalent, or by taking a proficiency test, or by holding the Thanawiya ‘Amma. Students must reach this level of proficiency before their senior year. The department may give permission for deferral until the senior year in exceptional cases. However, students should note that advanced-level proficiency is a prerequisite for enrollment in certain Arabic literature courses, as described below. Students who are required to take Arabic language proficiency courses may use a maximum of 15 hours of their elective credits to take language courses in Intermediate or Advanced Arabic.  Elementary Arabic courses may not be taken for credit. 

Students should have the Thanawiya ‘Amma certificate, evidence of advanced-level proficiency or consent of instructor before enrolling in any Arabic literature course which is taught in Arabic, or in ARBS 317 and 417, for which the readings are in Arabic.

Core Curriculum (40 credits)
ARBS majors must fulfill their Core Curriculum Arab History and Arabic Literature requirements by taking any 300-level Arabic literature course (or any two courses, where university regulations require this), and any 300-level Middle Eastern history course other than ARBS 343. They should take the introductory 200-level courses required by their major before fulfilling their Core Curriculum requirements.

 

Concentration requirements (48 credits)
All students must take 24 credit hours as follows:

 Arabic literature (6 credits)

EITHER

ARBS

201

Introduction to Classical Arabic Literature, 3 cr.

 
   

and

   
 

ARBS

202

Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature, 3 cr.

 


OR


ARB


203


Classical Arabic Literature in Translation, 3 cr.


 

   

and

   
 

ARBS

204

Modern Arabic Literature in Translation, 3 cr.

 


Middle Eastern history (6 credits)

ARBS

246

Survey of Arab History, 3 cr.

 
 

343

Arab-Islamic Civilization in the Classical Age, 600-945 A.D., 3 cr.

 

 


Islamic Studies (6 credits)

ARBS

335

Introduction to Islam, 3 cr.

 
 

435

Studies in the Qur'an, 3 cr.

 

 


Islamic Art and Architecture (6 credits)

ARBS

206

Art and Architecture of the City of Cairo, 3 cr.

 
 

270

Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture I, 3 cr.

 

 

Each student must take another 24 credits of ARBS courses, chosen with the help of the advisor. These must include two additional 400-level courses. Students may, if they wish, take a specialization in Middle Eastern History or in Arabic Literature.

 

Specialization in Middle Eastern History

Students who wish to specialize in this field must take a minimum of 18 of these 24 credits in  Middle Eastern history, medieval and modern. These must include two 400-level courses, and at least one course on modern Middle Eastern history. Students may choose from among the following courses offered by the Department of Arabic Studies (ARBS) and by the Department of History (HIST):
 

ARBS

320

Introduction to Sufism, 3 cr.

 

321

Social and Cultural History of the Middle East, 600-1800 A.D., 3 cr. 

ARBS

322

Land, Trade and Power: a History of Economic Relations in the Middle East, 600-1800 A.D., 3 cr.

 

323

Marriage and the Family in the Medieval and Early Modern Middle East, 3 cr.

 

324

Non-Muslim Communities in the Muslim World, 3 cr.

 

336

Studies in Ibn Khaldun, 3 cr.

 

344

Arab-Islamic Civilization in the Middle Period, 945-1380 A.D., 3 cr.

 

345

Islamic Civilization, 1380-1800 A.D., 3 cr.

 

353

Muslim Political Thought, 3 cr.

 

404

Sira, Hadith and Tafsir, 3 cr.

 

439

Islamic Law, 3 cr.

 

440

Arabic Historical Literature, 3 cr.

 

451

Islamic Institutions, 3 cr.

 

460

Selected Topics in Middle Eastern History, 600-1800 A.D., 3 cr.

 

463

Selected Topics in the History of Islamic Thought and Institutions, 3 cr.

HIST

355

History of the Modern Middle East, 1700-1900, 3 cr.

 

356

History of the Middle East in the Twentieth Century, 3 cr.

 

454

Modern Movements in Islam, 3 cr.

 

462

Selected Topics in the History of the Modern Middle East, 3 cr.

 


Specialization in Arabic Literature

Students who wish to specialize in this field must take a minimum of 18 of these 24 credits in Arabic literature, chosen from the list below. It is expected that these courses will be taken in Arabic. However, a student may take up to two Arabic literature courses taught in English, on condition that he/she reads the assigned texts in Arabic. In such cases, the course will be registered for that student under the rubric ARBS 317 or 417, Special Studies in Arabic Texts, as appropriate.

ARBS

301

The Classical Tradition I, 3 cr.

 

302

The Classical tradition II, 3 cr.

 

303

Constructions of Modernity I, 3 cr.

 

304

Constructions of Modernity II, 3 cr.

 

305

Arabic Literature and Gender, 3 cr.

 

306

Arabic Literature and Film, 3 cr.

 

307

The Writer and the State, 3 cr.

 

308

Colloquial and Folk Literature, 3 cr.

 

309

Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature, 3 cr.

 

310

Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature in Translation, 3 cr.

 

311

Classical Arabic Poetry, 3 cr.

 

312

Classical Arabic Prose, 3 cr.

 

313

Modern Arabic Poetry, 3 cr.

 

314

The Arabic Novel, 3 cr.

ARBS

315

Arabic Drama, 3 cr.

 

316

The Arabic Short Story, 3 cr.

 

401

Senior Seminar in Arabic Texts, 3 cr.

 

402

Senior Seminar in Arabic Literature in Translation, 3 cr.

 

403

Arabic Literary Criticism, 3 cr.

 

Electives (32 credits)

The student is strongly advised to use some of their electives to take a suitable minor or minors.  As stated above, he/she may use up to 15 credit hours to satisfy Arabic language requirements for the ARBS degree.


Arab and Islamic Civilization Minor

Requirements (15 credits): Any five courses offered by the department (ARBS).

 

Arabic Literature Minor

Requirements (15 credits): 5 courses in Arabic or in English from the following, depending on the student's area of interest. ARBS 301 The Classical Tradition I, ARBS 302 The Classical Tradition II, ARBS 303 Constructions of Modernity I, ARBS 304 Constructions of Modernity II, ARBS 305 Arabic Literature and Gender, ARBS 306 Arabic Literature and Film, ARBS 307 The Writer and the State, ARBS 308 Colloquial and Folk Literature, ARBS 309 Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature, ARBS 310 Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature in Translation, ARBS 311 Classical Arabic Poetry, ARBS 312 Classical Arabic Prose, ARBS 313 Modern Arabic Poetry, ARBS 314 The Arabic Novel, ARBS 315 Arabic Drama, ARBS 316 The Arabic Short Story, ARBS 401 Senior Seminar in Arabic Texts, ARBS 402 Senior Seminar in Arabic Literature in Translation, ARBS 403 Arabic Literary Criticism.


Classical/Medieval Islamic History Minor

Requirements (15 credits): 5 courses from the following, depending on the student's area of interest: ARBS 320 Introduction to Sufism, ARBS 321 Social and Cultural History of the Middle East, 600-1800 A.D., ARBS 322 Land, Trade and Power: a History of Economic Relations in the Middle East, 600-1800 A.D., ARBS 323 Marriage and the Family in the Medieval and Early Modern Middle East, ARBS 324 Non-Muslim Communities in the Muslim World, ARBS 336 Studies in Ibn Khaldun, ARBS 343 Arab-Islamic Civilization in the Classical Age, 600-945 A.D., ARBS 344 Arab-Islamic Civilization in the Middle Period, 945-1380 A.D., ARBS 345 Islamic Civilization, 1380-1800 A.D., ARBS 353 Muslim Political Thought, ARBS 440 Arabic Historical Literature, ARBS 451 Islamic Institutions, ARBS 460 Selected Topics in Middle East History, 600-1800 A.D.


Islamic Art and Architecture Minor

This minor gives a greater appreciation of the cultural heritage of the Arab-Islamic world to interested students.

Requirements (15 credits):  ARBS 206 Art and Architecture of the City of Cairo, ARBS 270 and 271 Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture; and two of the following: ARBS 370 Pre-Islamic Influences on Islamic Art and Architecture, ARBS 371 or 372 Islamic Art and Architecture in Egypt and Syria, ARBS 465 or 466 Islamic Art and Architecture in Turkey, Persia, and Central Asia.


Islamic Studies Minor

The minor is designed for students, particularly those coming from abroad, who wish to gain a deeper knowledge and appreciation of Islam as a culture.

Requirements (15 credits):  ARBS 404 Sira, Hadith and Tafsir; ARBS 435 Studies in the Qur'an; ARBS 451 Islamic Institutions; and two of the following: ARBS/HIST 336 Studies in Ibn Khaldun, ARBS/POLS 353 Muslim Political Thought, ARBS/PHIL Islamic Philosophy, ARBS/HIST 454 Modern Movements in Islam, ARBS/HIST 463 Selected topic in the History of Islamic Thought and Institutions.


Arabic Studies Courses (ARBS)

 CourseNum CourseTitle

201

Introduction to Classical Arabic Literature

202

Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature

203

Classical Arabic Literature in Translation

204

Modern Arabic Literature in Translation

206

Art and Architecture of the City of Cairo

246

Survey of Arab History

270-271

Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture

301

The Classical Tradition I

302

The Classical Tradition II

303

Constructions of Modernity I

304

Constructions of Modernity II

305

Arabic Literature and Gender

306

Arabic Literature and Film

307

The Writer and the State

308

Colloquial and Folk Literature

309

Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature

310

Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature in Translation

311

Classical Arabic Poetry

312

Classical Arabic Prose

313

Modern Arabic Poetry

314

The Arabic Novel

315

Arabic Drama

316

The Arabic Short Story

317

Special Studies in Arabic Texts

320

Introduction to Sufism

321

Social and Cultural History of the Middle East, 600-1800 A.D.

322

Land, Trade and Power: a History of Economic Relations in the Middle East, 600-1800 A.D.

323

Marriage and the Family in the Medieval and Early Modern Middle East

324

Non-Muslim Communities in the Muslim World

335

An Introduction to Islam

336

Studies in Ibn Khaldun

343

Arab-Islamic Civilization in the Classical Age, 600-945 A.D.

344

Arab-Islamic Civilization in the Middle Period, 945-1380 A.D.

344

Arab-Islamic Civilization in the Middle Period, 945-1380 A.D.

345

Islamic Civilization, 1380-1800 A.D.

353

Muslim Political Thought

354

Islamic Philosophy

355

History of the Middle East, 1700-1900 A.D.

356

History of the Middle East in the Twentieth Century

370

Pre-Islamic Influences on Islamic Art and Architecture

371-372

Islamic Architecture in Egypt and Syria

400

Independent Study

401

Senior Seminar in Arabic Texts

402

Senior Seminar in Arabic Literature in Translation

403

Arabic Literary Criticism

404

Sira, Hadith, and Tafsir

413-414

Arabic Syntax (Nahw)

415

Arabic Morphology (Sarf) and Prosody (‘Arud)

417

Special Studies in Arabic Texts

425

Linguistics of Arabic

426

The Phonetics of Arabic

435

Studies in the Qur'an

439

Islamic Law

440

Arabic Historical Literature

451

Islamic Institutions

454

Modern Movements in Islam

460

Selected Topics in Middle East History, 600-1800 AD

462

Selected Topics in the History of the Modern Middle East

463

Selected Topics in the History of Islamic Thought and Institutions

464

Islamic Art and Architecture in India and Pakistan

465-466

Islamic Architecture in Turkey, Persia, and Central Asia

467

Islamic Architecture in Spain and North Africa

468

Painting in Islam

469

Islamic Pottery

477-478

Islamic Minor Arts

 

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