Arabic Language Program and Minor
Arabic Language Program and Minor
- Director of the Arabic Program: Professor Youssef Haddad
Georgetown University hosts one of the strongest university-level Arabic language programs in the world. Building on that tradition, Georgetown University in Qatar is proud to offer a rich and dynamic program in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), serving both Foreign Second Language learners and Heritage Language speakers. All Arabic language courses employ innovative pedagogical approaches within a culturally immersive environment, tailored to the needs of students in the Gulf region.
Program Goals
The Arabic program is designed to help students attain proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic through two distinct tracks: Arabic as a Second Language and Arabic as a Heritage Language. The program emphasizes the development and application of core skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students who continue their studies beyond the advanced level in either track have the opportunity to reach the highest levels of proficiency in MSA, enabling them to function effectively in academic, professional, and social settings.
How to Enroll
- Eligibility: Arabic language courses are open to undergraduate students currently enrolled at Georgetown University in Qatar or one of its partner universities in Education City.
- Cross-Registration: Students from partner universities who wish to enroll in Arabic courses at GU-Q should contact the registrar at their home institution for details about the cross-registration process.
- Placement Test: All students are required to take an Arabic placement test before enrolling in a course. The test determines whether a student should follow the Second Language Program or the Heritage Language Program, and it identifies the appropriate level at which the student should begin.
Curriculum by Program Track
MSA Second Language Program
This program is designed for students who have no prior linguistic or cultural background in Arabic.
- ARAB 1011 & 1012 — Intensive Level 1 MSA, I & II (6 credit hours each)
- ARAB 1111 & 1112 — Intensive Level 2 MSA, I & II (6 credit hours each)
- ARAB 2216 & 2217 — Intensive Level 3 MSA, I & II (6 credit hours each)
MSA Heritage Language Program
This program designed for students with some colloquial or cultural knowledge of Arabic.
- ARAB 1020 & 1021 — Beginning MSA – Heritage Language, I & II (6 credit hours each)
- ARAB 1122 — Intermediate MSA – Heritage Language (6 credit hours each)
- ARAB 2227 — Advanced MSA – Heritage Language (6 credit hours each)
Shared Curriculum for Language Program
Post-Advanced Arabic Courses*
Upon completion of Level 3/Advanced MSA instruction, students in both the Second Language Program and the Heritage Language Program can continue their language studies in a variety of Post-Advanced topical and thematic courses offered in Arabic:
- Skill-based Courses
- Content-based Courses
- Literature and Culture Courses
- Linguistics Courses
Arabic Courses taught in English*
Upon completion of Level 1 / Beginning MSA instruction, students in both the Second Language Program and the Heritage Language Program can learn more about Arabic language and culture in a variety of topical and thematic courses offered in English:
- ARAB 2261 Inside Arabic: How it Works
- ARAB 2270 Variations in Standard Arabic and Dialects
- ARAB 3324 The Journey of Arabic
- ARAB 3331 Arabian Nights in Western Literature
- ARAB 3393 Arabic Sociolinguistics
*Course offerings vary by semester. Some courses have prerequisites.
Minor in Arabic Language and Culture
The Minor in Arabic Language and Culture requires the successful completion of seven courses, in addition to passing the Arabic Language Proficiency Exam.
Students may elect to pursue both a minor and a certificate, along with their other graduation requirements, as long as they can complete the requirements for all in time for graduation. To declare the minor, review the Arabic minor requirements, ensure that you can complete the requirements for the minor in time for graduation, then complete the Arabic Minor Declaration Form.
If you have any questions about the minor requirements and your graduation, please consult your curricular dean advisor.
Requirements for the Minor in Arabic Language and Culture
The specific path to the minor depends on students’ placement level and language background (Second Language or Heritage Language).
Pathways to the Minor in Arabic Language and Culture
- Second Language Learners (with no prior background in Arabic): Students complete the six course sequence in Modern Standard Arabic, followed by one Post-Advanced Arabic course or a course taught in English on Arabic language or culture.
- Heritage Language Learners: Students complete the four-course sequence in the Heritage Language Track, followed by three additional Arabic courses, at last one of which must be a Pot-Advanced course and no more than one course taught in English on Arabic language and culture.
- Students Placed into Intermediate or Advanced Arabic: Students may count all remaining courses in the sequence starting from their placement level toward the minor. They must also complete at least one Post-Advanced Arabic course, and no more than one course taught in English on Arabic language or culture.
Arabic Minor Advanced Credit, Transfer Credit, and Study Abroad
No more than three courses from outside of Georgetown (advanced credit, transfer credit, summer, and study abroad) can count toward the minor. If a student has two classes of advanced credit, a year of study abroad, and one transfer class, only three of those five classes can apply to the Arabic minor. Below are the limits for each:
- A student can bring in up to two advanced credit classes to count toward the minor.
- A student can bring in up to one study abroad class to the minor if away for a semester, or up to two classes to the minor if away for the academic year.
- A student can transfer in up to one class toward the minor. Georgetown summer programs that carry Georgetown course prefixes and numbers (excluding study abroad, as noted above) do not count against transfer limits.
Georgetown credit for advanced and transfer language credit is pending language placement. If a student took a year of Introductory Arabic, but then subsequently places into the first year of Introductory Arabic at GU-Q, the student does not receive transfer credit for that year of Arabic taken elsewhere.