Department of Asian Studies

Arabic

Political and economic developments in the Middle East, as well as the internationalization of many businesses and professions, have made understanding, speaking, reading, and writing Arabic an increasingly valuable skill. As the fifth most widely spoken language in the world, as one of the official languages of the United Nations, and as the religious language of a quarter of the world's population, Arabic is also a language with a rich literary and cultural heritage that deserves to be studied in its own right.

The Department of Asian Studies offers Arabic language courses, advanced literature and culture courses in Arabic, and Arabic literature and culture courses taught in English. Students can major in Arab Cultures, minor in Arabic, or simply choose Arabic to satisfy their foreign language requirements.

Priority is given to freshmen and sophomores for registration in Elementary Arabic. Students who wish to take Arabic, or particularly those who need to take it as a major requirement, are advised to begin the sequence as early as possible. Students, particularly upperclassmen, may wish to consider starting Elementary Arabic in the summer, when there are no class-year restrictions and it is easier to get into the class.

Major concentration in Arab Cultures
Within the major in Asian Studies, students may take a concentration in Arab Cultures, which requires eight courses, in addition to ARAB 101, 102, 203, and 204. The eight major courses must consist of:

Two Arabic language courses above ARAB 204. (Students whose initial Arabic language placement is above ARAB 305 should consult the department.)
ARAB 223: Conversational Arabic, or ARAB 123: Conversational Arabic Abroad. Students who are already conversant with an Arabic dialect may substitute an additional literature or culture course with departmental permission.
One of the following introductory-level classes:
ARAB 150: Introduction to Arab Cultures
ARAB 151: Survey of Arabic Literature.
ASIA 50: First-Year Seminar: Real World Arabic
ASIA 51: First-Year Seminar: Cultural Encounters: The Arabs and the West
It is recommended that students take this course either prior to or concurrent with upper-level Arabic literature and culture classes.
Four Arabic literature and culture courses, of which at least three must be chosen from the following:
ARAB 350: Women and Leadership in the Arab World
ARAB 407: Readings in Arabic I (taught in Arabic)
ARAB 408: Readings in Arabic II ( taught in Arabic)
ARAB 433: Medieval Arabic Literature in Translation
ARAB 434: Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
ARAB 452: Imagining Palestine
ARAB 453: Film, Nation, and Identity in the Arab World
ARAB 681: Readings in Islamicate Literatures (taught in Arabic)
ASIA 451/INTS 451: Orientalist Fantasies and Discourses on the Other*
ASIA 452/INTS 452: Muslim Women in France and the U.S.
ASIA 455/INTS 455: Arabs in America
ASIA 692H: Senior Honors Thesis II

At most one course may be chosen from the following:
ART/ASIA 154: Introduction to Art and Architecture of Islamic Lands (8th-16th c. CE)
ART 351: Crusader Art
ART/ASIA 458: Islamic Palaces, Gardens, and Court Cultures
ART/ASIA 561: Art and Society in Medieval Islamic Spain and North Africa
GEOG/ASIA 447: Gender, Space, and Place in the Middle East
HIST/ASIA 138 : Introduction to Islamic Civilization*
HIST/ASIA 139: Later Islamic Civilization and the Modern Muslim World*
HIST/ASIA 275: History of Iraq
HIST/ASIA 276: The Modern Middle East
HIST/ASIA 277: The Conflict over Israel/Palestine
HIST/ASIA 536: Revolution in the Modern Middle East
HIST/ASIA 537:: Women in the Middle East
HIST/ASIA 538: The Middle East and the West*
RELI/ASIA 180: Introduction to Islamic Civilization*
RELI/ASIA 181: Later Islamic Civilization and Modern Muslim Cultures*
RELI/ASIA 187: Arab Histories
RELI/ASIA/INTS 192: Contemporary Middle East
RELI 480: Modern Muslim Literatures
RELI/ASIA 581: Sufism
RELI/ASIA 582: Islam and Islamic Art in South Asia
RELI/ASIA 584: The Qur'an as Literature
SOCI 419: Sociology of the Islamic World
or approved courses taken in UNC-sponsored study-abroad programs.
Students majoring in Arab Cultures are strongly encouraged to choose additional courses from this list to fulfill some of the General Education requirements or as electives.

* A student may not count toward the Arab Cultures concentration both of any of the following pairs of courses: ASIA 138 and ASIA 180; ASIA 139 and ASIA 181; ASIA 451 and ASIA 538.

With the approval of the associate chair of Asian studies, a student may count a course in directed readings (ASIA 496 or ARAB 496) in the concentration in Arab Cultures. To register for ASIA 496 or ARAB 496, a student must obtain the approval of the associate chair and the faculty member who will supervise the project.

Of the eight courses in the concentration in Arab Cultures, at least six must be passed with a grade of C (not C-) or better. No course in the concentration may be taken pass/fail.

Minor in Arabic
The minor in Arabic consists of four courses. Three courses must be language courses beyond ARAB 203 (the first semester of Intermediate Arabic), with the exception of ARAB 223, which cannot count for the minor.. (A student who is already advanced beyond the available language offerings may, at the discretion of the department, be permitted to substitute courses from the list below in order to complete the minor. Consult the department.)
The other course must be chosen from among the following:

ARAB 150: Introduction to Arab Culture
ARAB 151: Survey of Arabic Literature
ARAB 350: Women and Leadership in the Arab World
ARAB 433: Medieval Arabic Literature in Translation
ARAB 434: Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
ARAB 452: Imagining Palestine
ARAB 453: Film, Nation, and Identity in the Arab World
ARAB 681: Readings in Islamicate Literatures (taught in Arabic)
ART/ASIA 154: Introduction to Art and Architecture of Islamic Lands (8th-16th c. CE)
ART 351: Crusader Art
ART/ASIA 458: Islamic Palaces, Gardens, and Court Cultures
ART/ASIA 561: Art and Society in Medieval Islamic Spain and North Africa
ASIA 50: First-Year Seminar: Real World Arabic
ASIA 51: First-Year Seminar: Cultural Encounters: The Arabs and the West
ASIA 451/INTS 451: Orientalist Fantasies and Discourses on the Other*
ASIA 452/INTS 452: Muslim Women in France and the U.S.
ASIA 455/INTS 455: Arabs in America
GEOG/ASIA 447: Gender, Space, and Place in the Middle East
HIST/ASIA 138 : Introduction to Islamic Civilization*
HIST/ASIA 139: Later Islamic Civilization and the Modern Muslim World*
HIST/ASIA 275: History of Iraq
HIST/ASIA 276: The Modern Middle East
HIST/ASIA 277: The Conflict over Israel/Palestine
HIST/ASIA 536: Revolution in the Modern Middle East
HIST/ASIA 537:: Women in the Middle East
HIST/ASIA 538: The Middle East and the West*
RELI/ASIA 180: Introduction to Islamic Civilization*
RELI/ASIA 181: Later Islamic Civilization and Modern Muslim Cultures*
RELI/ASIA 187: Arab Histories
RELI/ASIA/INTS 192: Contemporary Middle East
RELI 480: Modern Muslim Literatures
RELI/ASIA 581: Sufism
RELI/ASIA 582: Islam and Islamic Art in South Asia
RELI/ASIA 584: The Qur'an as Literature
SOCI 419: Sociology of the Islamic World

* A student may not count toward the Arabic minor both of any of the following pairs of courses: ASIA 138 and ASIA 180; ASIA 139 and ASIA 181; ASIA 451 and ASIA 538.

Courses in Arabic

ARAB 101: Elementary Arabic I (4). Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic, including the Arabic script, basic grammar and vocabulary, and developing skills in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Fall, Summer I. FL.
* Freshmen and sophomores are given priority for registration in Elementary Arabic. *
ARAB 102: Elementary Arabic II (4). Prerequisite: ARAB 101 or permission of instructor. Spring, Summer II. FL.
ARAB 123: Conversational Arabic Abroad (3). Conversational course introducing one of the major dialects of Arabic. Only offered within the context of a University faculty-led study abroad program in the Arab world. FI.
ARAB 203: Intermediate Arabic I (4). Prerequisite: ARAB 102 or permission of instructor. A proficiency-based course centered on reading and listening to Modern Standard Arabic with an emphasis on understanding the application of grammatical structures and vocabulary development. Fall. FL.
ARAB 204: Intermediate Arabic II (4). Prerequisite: ARAB 203 or permission of instructor. Spring. FL, FI.
ARAB 223: Conversational Arabic (3). Prerequisite, ARAB 203 or permission of instructor. Conversational course introducing one of the major dialects of Arabic. Egyptian and Levantine dialects each offered in alternate years. Emphasis on building oral proficiency while increasing awareness of Arab culture. Spring. FI.
ARAB 305: Advanced Arabic I (3). Prerequisite: ARAB 204 or permission of instructor. Intensive reading of a variety of texts; films, oral presentations, and formal and informal writing; extensive vocabulary development. Fall. FI.
ARAB 306: Advanced Arabic II (3). Prerequisite: ARAB 305 or permission of instructor. Spring.
ARAB 308: Arabic Languages Across the Curriculum Recitation (1). Prerequisite, ARAB 204 or permission of the supervising faculty member. Arabic recitation offered in conjunction with selected content courses. Weekly discussion and readings in Arabic relating to attached content courses.
ARAB 407: Readings in Arabic I (3). Prerequisite: ARAB 306 or permission of instructor. Classical and/or modern readings in Arabic, according to the students' interest.
ARAB 408: Readings in Arabic II (3). Prerequisite: ARAB 306 or permission of instructor. Classical and/or modern readings in Arabic, according to the students' interest.
ARAB 496: Independent Readings in Arabic (1-3). By departmental permission. For the student who wishes to create and pursue an independent project in Arabic under the supervision of a selected instructor. Maximum three credit hours per semester.
ARAB/RELI 681: Readings in Islamicate Literatures (3). Prerequisite: permission of instructor. Study of selected religious, literary, and historical texts in Arabic. On demand. Ernst.

For related courses taught in English, please see the complete list of courses.