Arabic Studies Major
The 36-credit major in Arabic Studies (ARAB) prepares students to engage with the rich diversity of the Arabic-speaking world through comprehensive studies in language and culture.
The major provides students with extensive linguistic training in both formal Arabic and at least one regional variety. An interdisciplinary curriculum acquaints students with global perspectives on social issues, cultural trends, and forms of difference across Arab societies and the diaspora. The program prepares students for a range of careers in fields like government, education, business, international development, communication, and the arts. Many undergraduates combine Arabic Studies with a double major in another discipline, including arts and humanities majors, international relations, business, computer science, and journalism.
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 |
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3 |
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3 | ARAB102 | |||
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3 | ARAB201 | |||
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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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3 | ||
| ARAB386 |
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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