Nov 22, 2024

2008-2009 Academic Catalog

2008-2009 Academic Catalog [Published Catalog]

Arabic Studies (B.A.)

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The department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations provides a multi-disciplinary framework for the study of the history and culture of the Middle East since the rise of Islam. It seeks to explain the thought, movements, processes, institutions and identities of Arab-Islamic civilization. These include but are not limited to aesthetic and intellectual production, political and religious thought, cross-cultural interaction, commerce and economic relations, government, and social, political and religious loyalties. The study and appreciation of these fields forms an important part of the university’s mission to give students greater awareness and appreciation of the heritage of the Middle East.

Bachelor of Arts

The objective of the Bachelor of Arts is to develop a broad awareness of Arab-Islamic civilization and to develop in students the ability to examine critically the different aesthetic, intellectual and cultural components of this civilization. Each student is required to fulfill Arabic language requirements and take a common core of courses from Arabic Literature, Islamic Studies, Middle Eastern History and Islamic Art and Architecture. Students should find opportunities in any line of work where knowledge of Middle Eastern culture or analytical and communication skills are important.

A total of 120 credits is required for the degree in Arabic Studies.

Language Requirements

Students must demonstrate their proficiency in Arabic at the advanced level, either by completing ALNG 312 or its equivalent, or by taking a proficiency test, or by holding the Thanawiya ‘Amma.Students must reach this level of proficiency before their senior year. The department may give permission for deferral until the senior year in exceptional cases. However, students should note that advanced-level proficiency is a prerequisite for enrollment in certain Arabic literature courses, as described below. Students who are required to take Arabic language proficiency courses may use a maximum of 15 hours of their elective credits to take language courses in Intermediate or Advanced Arabic. Elementary Arabic courses may not be taken for credit.

Students should have the Thanawiya ‘Amma certificate, evidence of advanced-level proficiency or consent of instructor before enrolling in any Arabic literature course which is taught in Arabic, or in ARIC 317 and 417, for which the readings are in Arabic.

Core Curriculum (34-46 credits)

ARIC majors must fulfill their Core Curriculum Arab History and Arabic Literature requirements by taking any 300-level Arabic literature course and any Middle Eastern history course from the core curriculum list other than ARIC 343. They should take the introductory 200-level courses required by their major before fulfilling their Core Curriculum requirements.

Concentration requirements (48 credits)

All students must take 24 credit hours as follows:

Arabic literature (6 credits)

EITHER

OR

Middle Eastern history (6 credits)

Islamic Studies (6 credits)

ARIC 335 - An Introduction to Islam (3 cr.)
ARIC 435 - Studies in the Qur’an (3 cr.)

Islamic Art and Architecture (6 credits)

ARIC 206 - Art and Architecture of the City of Cairo (3 cr.)
ARIC 270-271 - Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture (3 cr. per semester)

Additional Requirements

Each student must take another 24 credits of ARIC courses, chosen with the help of the advisor. These must include two additional 400-level courses.

Specializations

Students may, if they wish, take a specialization in Middle Eastern History or in Arabic Literature.

Specialization in Middle Eastern History

Students who wish to specialize in this field must take a minimum of 18 of these 24 credits in Middle Eastern history, medieval and modern. These must include two 400-level courses, and at least one course on modern Middle Eastern history. Students may choose from among the following courses offered by the Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations (ARIC) and by the Department of History (HIST):

Specialization in Arabic Literature

Students who wish to specialize in this field must take a minimum of 18 of these 24 credits in Arabic literature, chosen from the list below. It is expected that these courses will be taken in Arabic. However, a student may take up to two Arabic literature courses taught in English, on condition that he/she reads the assigned texts in Arabic. In such cases, the course will be registered for that student under the rubric ARIC 317 or 417, Special Studies in Arabic Texts, as appropriate.

ARIC 301 - The Classical Tradition I (3 cr.)
ARIC 302 - The Classical Tradition II (3 cr.)
ARIC 303 - Constructions of Modernity I (3 cr.)
ARIC 304 - Constructions of Modernity II (3 cr.)
ARIC 305 - Arabic Literature and Gender (3 cr.)
ARIC 306 - Arabic Literature and Film (3 cr.)
ARIC 307 - The Writer and the State (3 cr.)
ARIC 308 - Colloquial and Folk Literature (3 cr.)
ARIC 309 - Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature (3 cr.)
ARIC 310 - Selected Themes and Topics in Arabic Literature in Translation (3 cr.)
ARIC 311 - Classical Arabic Poetry (3 cr.)
ARIC 312 - Classical Arabic Prose (3 cr.)
ARIC 313 - Modern Arabic Poetry (3 cr.)
ARIC 314 - The Arabic Novel (3 cr.)
ARIC 315 - Arabic Drama (3 cr.)
ARIC 316 - The Arabic Short Story (3 cr.)
ARIC 401 - Senior Seminar in Arabic Texts (3 cr.)
ARIC 402 - Senior Seminar in Arabic Literature in Translation (3 cr.)
ARIC 403 - Arabic Literary Criticism (3 cr.)

Electives (26 - 38 credits)

Depending on the number of credits needed to complete the 20 credits, the student is strongly advised to use some of their electives to take a suitable minor or minors. As stated above, he/she may use up to 15 credit hours to satisfy Arabic language requirements for the ARIC degree.

Specialization in Islamic Art and Architecture

In addition to the Islamic Art and Architecture courses (ARIC 206 and ARIC 270) stipulated in the Arabic Studies core requirements, the students must take an additional 8 courses (24 credit hours), of which two must be of the 400-level, from among the following:

ARIC 270-271 - Introduction to Islamic Art and Architecture (3 cr. per semester)

7 courses (21 credit hours) from among the following courses:

ARIC 368 - The Art of the Book in the Islamic World (3 cr.)
ARIC 369 - Islamic Pottery (3 cr.)
ARIC 370 - Pre-Islamic Influences on Islamic Art and Architecture (3 cr.)
ARIC 371-372 - Islamic Architecture in Egypt and Syria (3 cr. per semester)
ARIC 464 - Islamic Art and Architecture in India and Pakistan (3 cr.)
ARIC 465-466 - Islamic Architecture in Turkey, Persia and Central Asia (3 cr.)
ARIC 467 - Islamic Architecture in Spain and North Africa (3 cr.)
ARTV 310 - Modern and Contemporary Art (3 cr.)
ARTV 314 - Modern and Contemporary Architecture (3 cr.)
EGPT 261 - Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt I (3 cr.)
EGPT 262 - Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt II (3 cr.)

Notes:

In addition to the core and specialization requirements an additional 26-38 credit hours can be devoted to electives.

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