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General Information

Undergraduate Studies

• Admissions
• Academic Requirements & Regulations
• Student Finances
• Student Life
• The Core Curriculum
• Fields of Undergraduate Study: Academic Degrees & Course Listings
• Language Institutes
• Study Abroad and Summer Session

Graduate Studies

Research

Continuing Education & Training Programs

Appendix: Personnel & Enrollment

Department of Arabic Studies
School of Humanities and Social Sciences

Professors Emeriti:  H. Sakkout, E. Sartain
Professors:  N. Hanna, B. O'Kane, M. El Rabie, G. Scanlon, M. Serag, A. Shiha
Associate Professors: E. Fernandes (Chair), H. Lutfi, S. Mehrez (Sabbatical)
Assistant Professors: J. Lumbard, R. Mckinney, M. Badrawi

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
• Specialization in Middle Eastern History
• Specialization in Arabic Literature
• Arab-Islamic Civilization Minor
• Arabic Literature Minor
• Classical/Medieval Islamic History Minor
• Islamic Art and Architecture Minor
• Arabic Courses (ARBS)

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.

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 ARBS 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.    322 Land, Trade and Power: a History of Economic Relations in the Middle East, 600-1800 A.D., 3 cr. ARBS 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.   315 Arabic Drama, 3 cr.   316 The Arabic Short Story, 3 cr. ARBS 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.

Arabic Studies Courses (ARBS)

CourseNum CourseTitle 201 Introduction to Classical Arabic Literature 202 Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature 204 Modern Arabic Literature in Translation 206 Art and Architecture of the City of Cairo 246 Survey of Arab History 270 Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture 271 Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture 299 Selected Topic for Core Curriculum 301 The Classical Tradition I 302 The Classical Tradition II 303 Classical Arabic Literature in Translation 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 311arbs 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 325 On The Fringes of Society: Marginals in History 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 Period945-1380 A.D 345 Islamic Civilization, 1380-1800 A.D. 353 Muslim Political Thought 354 Islamic Philosophy 355 State and Society in the Middle East, 1699-1914 356 After Empire: Nationalism and Social Change in the Middle East, 1914-Present 370 Pre-Islamic Influences on Islamic Art and Architecture 371  Islamic Architecture in Egypt and Syria 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  Arabic Syntax (Nahw) 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 445 Selected Topics in Coptic Studies 451 Islamic Institutions 454 Modern Movements in Islam 460 Selected Topics in Middle Eastern 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 Islamic Architecture in Turkey, Persia, and Central Asia 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 Islamic Decorative Arts 478 Islamic Decorative Arts