Arabic Program & Curriculum

Requirements for the Minor in Arabic Language

Students may obtain a minor in Arabic by completing the following six courses: Arabic 101, 102, 201, 202, 301, and 302 or an approved course in Arabic literature.

Students with previous knowledge of Arabic may obtain a minor in Arabic by taking one course at their present level of proficiency, three additional courses above their present level, and one approved course in Arabic literature.

Requirements for the Major in Arabic Studies

MESAS also offers a major in Arabic Studies, with students reaching advanced-plus proficiency in Arabic language and applying methods of literary and linguistic interpretation of Arabic texts. Click here for more information about the Major in Arabic Studies.

Graduate Study in Arabic Language

The Arabic program at Emory also offers graduate level courses in topics related to a particular student's field of study. For more information, contact the Arabic language coordinator, Prof. Rkia Cornell, recorne@emory.edu.

Arabic Language Courses

ARAB 101. Elementary Arabic I

The first course in the Arabic program sequence, designed to introduce basic and fundamental concepts of the formal and spoken Arabic. No prior knowledge of Arabic is required for this class. In this course the student learns:how to read and write using Arabic script; vocabulary related to immediate environment; and basic grammar and the syntactic structures of simple sentences.

ARAB 102. Elementary Arabic II

The second course in the Arabic program sequence, designed to continue introducing basic and fundamental concepts of formal and spoken Arabic, and develop the vocabulary and grammatical knowledge and ability of the students. This course is suitable for students with very little Arabic knowledge and the ability to produce basic sentences in Arabic. In this course the student learns:oral and aural proficiency to function in daily communication situations informed by Arabic cultural skills; reading and writing skills for functional literacy; foundational grammar for complex sentence buildup.

ARAB 201. Intermediate Arabic I

The third course in the Arabic program sequence, designed to continue introducing fundamental concepts of the language with more complex grammatical structures, but in this course the focus shifts to include reading and writing functional narratives. The students concentrate on significantly improving their ability to read and write descriptive narratives. In this course the student learns:analytical skills to understand the structure of the Arabic language; conversing on personal topics in limited situations; writing narrative and descriptive texts of one- to two-page length; and to read narrative and descriptive texts with a greater level of understanding.

ARAB 202. Intermediate Arabic II

The fourth course in the Arabic program sequence, designed to advance the Arabic learner to the intermediate-high level, by expanding the analytical understanding of the structure of the Arabic language. The students concentrate on significantly improving their speaking and comprehension skills as well as working on writing longer form text. In this course the student works on:reading expository texts and extended narratives; writing descriptive informative texts of three- to four-pages in length; verbal communication on a wide range of topics; expanding analytical understanding of the structure of the Arabic language.

ARAB 301. Advanced Arabic I

The fifth course in the Arabic program sequence, designed to advance the Arabic learner to the advanced level, by focusing mostly on enriching the vocabulary and advancing speaking skills. Materials used in this class include literary texts and modern media articles. Students are expected to complete multiple expository and/or argumentative essays as well as participate in classroom discussions about contemporary issues in the Arab world.

ARAB 302. Advanced Arabic II

The sixth course in the Arabic program sequence, designed to advance the Arabic learner to the advanced level and beyond, by focusing mostly on enriching the vocabulary, advancing speaking skills and literary text analysis. Materials used in this class include literary texts, modern media articles and other Arabic texts related to contemporary life in the Arab world. In this course the student will work on how to write essays, book reviews, journalistic reports as well as continuing to develop skills for public discourse.

ARAB 401. Advanced-Plus Arabic I

This course builds on the previously acquired proficiency language skills of students of Arabic by combining textbook-based instruction with selected texts that introduce students to various genres of Arabic literature. Students will practice the four skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing, with particular emphasis on written expression. All class activities, including writing assignments will be conducted entirely in Arabic.

ARAB 402. Advanced-Plus Arabic II

The course is designed to introduce students to various Arabic literary genres selected from both classical and modern periods. These texts will cover a wide range of topics: history, sociology, travel, biography, poetry, literature, literary criticism, philosophy, current newspapers, scholarly journals, biography of the Prophet Muhammad (Sira), and Qur'anic exegesis (Tafsir).

ARAB 410R. Advanced Language and Culture

Study and discussion of written and audio visual texts dealing with various aspects of Arab culture and society. Texts vary according to interests of students; may be repeated for credit.

ARAB 425R. Arabic Dialectology

Arabic dialects have been spoken continuously from Mauritania in the west to Iraq in the east. This course combines a broad introduction to the field with concrete experience working with Arabic dialects, exploring the historical development of the dialects and their relationship to Literary Arabic.

ARAB 497R. Supervised Reading in Arabic (Undergraduate)

Prerequisite: Arabic 302 or equivalent and approval of MESAS curriculum committee. For advanced students who wish to pursue independent study and research of Arabic texts.

ARAB 797R. Directed Reading in Arabic (Graduate)

Graduate students who wish to study Arabic must contact the Arabic language coordinator, Prof. Rkia Cornell, recorne@emory.edu, to discuss placement and to receive permission to register for ARAB 797R.

Related Courses in Arabic Literature (taught in English)

MESAS 211. Arabic Literature

An introduction to the main trends and works of Arabic literature in the twentieth century. No knowledge of Arabic required.

MESAS 315. The Qur'an

The Qur'an in translation, from historical and literary perspectives, looking at its use in Islam, its language, stylistics, modes of narrative, and its relationship to Jewish, Christian, and Arabian traditions.

Placement Information

Students with prior knowledge of Arabic should contact the Language Coordinator, Prof. Rkia Cornell, recorne@emory.edu, for more information.