Bachelor of Arts - Arabic and Islamic Civilizations

The Arabic and Islamic Civilizations Program offers students the unique opportunity of a full immersion in the Arabic language and its rich literature and culture, from Spain to Afghanistan.

Students enrolling in the Major or Minor in Arabic and Islamic Studies can expect to excel in the field of Arabic both in terms of linguistic and cultural competence. Besides language courses from absolute beginner to advanced, we offer a wide range of courses which span Arabic poetry, folk-tales, cinema, music, Islamic medicine, the contemporary Middle East, feminist movements in the Arab world, media Arabic, Koranic Arabic, contemporary literature and local linguistic variants of Arabic such as Levantine and Egyptian.

By enrolling in our program students can expect to gain a comprehensive knowledge of both the classical and the contemporary Arab world, paired with a high proficiency in spoken and written Arabic. You will have the opportunity to focus on momentous issues in the Arabic-speaking world: women's rights and feminist movement, the role of Islam, the media, independent cinema and social movements. You will also have the opportunity to learn about the role of Arabic in literary history and its impact on what we perceive as the "western canon".

The Arabic and Islamic Civilizations Program is currently developing a partnership with the Noor Majan Institute in Muscat, Oman, where students will be able to improve their Arabic among native speakers through Summer, Semester or Year abroad programs.

A degree in Arabic, besides its invaluable cultural capital, is a unique asset towards exciting careers in a number of fields, including international business and finance, art and archaeology, journalism, diplomacy and foreign relations.