Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies
Explore global cultures, change the world.
THE BACHELOR OF ARTS IN ARABIC STUDIES prepares students to achieve linguistic proficiency in Arabic while gaining a deep level of cultural knowledge. The program offers extensive linguistic training in both formal Arabic and Arabic dialects, providing students the ability to speak in a range of environments. Through language acquisition, cultural investigation and professional growth, graduates become well- rounded global citizens prepared for a variety of careers.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL
The School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures (SLLC) at the University of Maryland integrates language learning with in-depth literary and applied linguistics studies. SLLC students explore cultural landscapes in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish. Small class sizes ensure personalized attention.
COURSEWORK
Arabic coursework explores cultural trends, social issues and forms of difference across Arabic-speaking societies and diasporas. Students receive extensive linguistic training in both formal Arabic and at least one regional variety. Specialized courses enhance skills related to speaking, listening, grammar and cultural competence, preparing graduates for real-world situations in the workplace and overseas.
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Arabic students have won prestigious grants and scholarships to support their studies from the Boren Awards, the Fulbright Program and the Critical Language Scholarship Program, among others. They have enjoyed study abroad opportunities in Morocco and Jordan.
Language House students live in a multicultural community of 11 language clusters where they develop language fluency and cultural appreciation. Led by native-speaking mentors, residents engage in hands on, immersive activities that prepare them for future global engagement.
The Language Partner Program provides students with structured one-on-one weekly interactions with an international student to develop conversation skills, deeper linguistic understanding and cross-cultural awareness.
Career Readiness
The College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) offers courses designed to ensure students are ready to enter the workforce, along with integrated and individualized academic and career advising. Additionally, SLLC offers an annual Language Career and Internship Fair, connecting students to a robust list of employers. Alumni continue on to graduate school or forge their careers in a variety of industries and fields. The creative ways to apply your ARHU degree are truly limitless! Here are some placements specific to Arabic majors:
Internship Placements
- Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence & Security (ARLIS)
- International Rescue Committee
- U.S. Department of the Navy
- U.S. House of Representatives
Graduate School Placements
- New York University
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
- University of Arizona
- Yale University
Employer Placements
- Carnegie Institute for PEace
- Maryland Workforce Alliance
- National Democratic Institute
- PBS NewsHour
- U.S. Department of Justice
Course Examples
- Arab Culture and Society: Skills and Topics
- Arabian Nights: Popular Culture in Middle Eastern History
- Arabic for Daily Life
- Food Cultures in the Global Middle East
- Key Moments in the History of the Middle East
Alumni Job Titles
- Arabic Interpreter
- Cyber Threat Analyst
- Foreign Affairs Offices
- Human Resources Specialist
- Intelligence Analyst
- Painter
- Program Manager
- Sanctions Licensing Officer
- Senior Asylum Officer
Requirements for the Major
World Language Placement
All students new to SLLC courses must take the online World Language Placement (WLP) before registering for classes.
Course Requirements
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3 | ARAB102 | |||
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3 | ARAB202 | |||
| ARAB302 |
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3 | ARAB301 | ||
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Electives
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3 | ARAB202 | ||
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| ARAB499 |
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- See Testudo for the current list of ARAB course offerings
- All students enrolling in an SLLC language course for the first time must take the World Language Placement (WLP).
- Students must take language acquisition courses sequentially. Once credit has been received in a higher-level language acquisition or grammar course, a lower-level course may not be taken for credit.
- Courses in Middle Eastern studies taught in English outside the department may be occasionally substituted on approval of the program advisor or program director.
- While most courses taught in Arabic are not open to fluent or native speakers of Arabic, others may be. Please talk to the program advisor before registering.
Transfer Credits
All transfer courses for which you wish to receive credit towards the major must be reviewed by the ARAB undergraduate advisor. Note that the student's final 30 credits must be completed in residence at UMD, of which at least 12 must be upper-level credits in the major.
Summer Institute
SUMMER INSTITUTE CREDIT EQUIVALENCIES
The 12 credits of the summer in each level can fulfill the 6 credits of the course sequence (101,102,201, etc...), plus 3 credits to fulfill one of the optional electives, and the last three credits will be credits that count towards graduation, but not the major.
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Please note the following two rules:
(1) Although 3rd year Summer Institute students will earn 12 university credits in total, only 9 credits will be applicable towards their Arabic degree: the equivalents of ARAB304 and 305 (3 credits each) and one 3-credit upper-level content course in Arabic.
(2) During the Summer Institute, dialect is incorporated into the daily curriculum. Therefore those students who complete ARAB315 and 316 in the summer are not required to take ARAB206 and ARAB207 in the following fall and spring semesters, but instead can take two additional 3-credit electives in Arabic in place of ARAB206 and 207.
Study Abroad
For information on study abroad programs see the undergraduate advisor and contact UMD Education Abroad.
Declaring an Arabic Studies Major
We recommend that interested students declare their major as early as possible
Step 1
Review the Arabic Studies major courses checklist
Step 2
Bring signed form from previous step
Step 3
Read through all forms carefully, and pencil in a sequence of courses to discuss with the program advisor, Ahmed Hanafy (ahmeda@umd.edu).
Step 4
Contact the Office of Student Affairs at the College of Arts and Humanities (301-405-2108) to make an appointment to discuss the non-Arabic aspects of your 4-Year plan (bring signed form from previous step), including CORE courses. Walk-in hours are also available.
Step 5
If you are adding Arabic studies as an additional major, check with your home department and college to identify paperwork you may need to complete.
Advising
The Arabic Program undergraduate advisor is available for consultation about any aspect of your study of Arabic. We recommend that every Arabic major confer with the program advisor at registration time each semester.
For Arabic advising, email Ahmed Hanafy | 3138 H.J. Patterson Hall | ahmeda@umd.edu
The College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU) Office of Student Affairs provides college advising for all ARHU undergraduates in 1120 Francis Scott Key Hall.
Arabic Program Director
Anny Gaul
Assistant Professor, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Assistant Professor, Department Chair, Arabic
3128 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park
MD,
20742
Arabic Program Advisor
Ahmed Hanafy
Senior Lecturer, Faculty Language Partner Program Coordinator, School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Senior Lecturer and Undergraduate Academic Advisor, Arabic
Member, Maryland Language Science Center
3141 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park
MD,
20742
BOLDLY HUMAN FEARLESSLY CREATIVE
ABOUT THE COLLEGE
When you join the University of Maryland College of Arts and Humanities (ARHU), you become part of a supportive and inclusive community committed to solving the world’s grand challenges. ARHU is reimagining an education in the arts and humanities by empowering students to make sense of the world using empathy, creativity and intellectual rigor. Our faculty and staff experts are focused on preparing competitive, versatile and visionary leaders equipped to address the complexities of the human experience. Graduates are purposefully prepared for successful careers and fulfilling lives.