Arabic Studies Minor
David Hollenberg, Director of Arabic Studies
349 Susan Campbell Hall
541-346-8096
religion@uoregon.edu
The minor in Arabic Studies facilitates proficiency in the Arabic language, familiarizes students with the cultures of the Arabic-speaking world, provides facility with the Arabic textual tradition, and affords a foundation for professional and graduate work using the Arabic language. Coursework trains students to read, interpret, and contextualize “texts,” broadly construed as written, oral, and audio-visual. This is accomplished through mastering the Arabic language, increasing knowledge of Arab cultural themes, and engaging apposite scholarly literature necessary to understand Arabic texts in an informed, relevant way.
Courses used to satisfy minor requirements must be taken for letter grades and passed with a mid-C or better.
Arabic Studies Minor Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Category I: Third-Year Arabic | ||
| ARB 301–303 | Language and Culture | 12 |
| Category II: Advanced Arabic | ||
| ARB 331 | Reading Classical Arabic | 4 |
| An additional course, approved by an advisor | 4 | |
| Category III: Arabic Culture and Society | ||
| An elective from the following list (or any course with substantial content in Arabic, Middle Eastern, or Islamic studies): | 4 | |
| Special Studies: [Topic] | ||
| Comparative Comics | ||
| Cultural Intersections: [Topic] (Orientalism) | ||
| Studies in Identity: [Topic] (Multiculturalism and Empire) | ||
| Geography of the Middle East and North Africa | ||
| Special Studies: [Topic] (The Iraq War; Islamic Civilization I or II; Islam in the Modern World) | ||
| Special Studies: [Topic] (The Iraq War) | ||
| Special Studies: [Topic] | ||
| Seminar: [Topic] | ||
| Development and the Muslim World | ||
| Issues in International Communication: [Topic] (The Arab World and the Media) | ||
| Special Studies: [Topic] (Egypt; Politics of the Middle East) | ||
| World Religions: Near Eastern Traditions | ||
| Introduction to Islam | ||
| History of Eastern Christianity | ||
| Introduction to the Qur'an | ||
| Islamic Mysticism: [Topic] | ||
| Multicultural Theater: [Topic] (Arab American Theater) | ||
| Total Credits | 24 | |
Modified Requirements for Students with Prior Literacy in Arabic
Students who already have skills that satisfy the equivalent of the ARB 301–303 third-year sequence—whether from native proficiency, study abroad, or courses from another university—may choose to test out of one or more of these courses by passing a proficiency examination, administered by the UO Testing Center, designed to demonstrate basic literacy in Arabic. If students wish to transfer their third-year Arabic courses from other universities or from overseas study, they may do so contingent on the successful completion of an examination at the appropriate level, to ensure proper placement.
Students who pass the proficiency exam must still complete 24 credits for the minor in Arabic studies, including at least 12 from among Category II courses and up to 12 from among Category III electives.