Arabic Studies

From a global perspective, the study of the Arabic language has become increasingly important and Arabic speakers are in great demand in certain careers. Approximately 300 million people speak Arabic, making it one of the world's most widely spoken languages. It is the official language of 25 countries, as well as one of the official languages of the United Nations. Moreover, being the sacred language of the Qur'an, Arabic honors a rich and ancient heritage that is culturally vibrant today.

Since 2006, the Arabic studies program at Bucknell University has been targeting the acquisition of the Arabic language and promoting familiarity with the world's Arab cultures, literatures and histories. Language courses offered at Bucknell consist of beginning and intermediate Arabic courses in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and Spoken Arabic, particularly the Levantine dialect. The growth of the Arabic studies program prompted the College of Arts & Sciences and the Department of Languages, Cultures & Linguistics to approve a minor in Arabic studies in 2013.

Arabic & Arab World Studies

The structure of the Arabic & Arab world studies major consists of three components of knowledge: language skills, cultural and interdisciplinary knowledge, and a culminating experience. The Arabic & Arab world studies major comprises nine credits: four language credits beyond ARBC 101; and four interdisciplinary credits, two of which must be from the Arabic studies program and two of which may be completed within the Arabic studies program or from other disciplines, such as international relations, political science, religious studies, philosophy, history, or art & art history. Finally, students majoring in Arabic & Arab world studies are required to complete a 1-credit, 300-level seminar in Arabic language or a 1-credit ARBC 300-level independent study project. This requirement will fulfill the College of Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum (CASCC) Culminating Experience.

Students placed in ARBC 103 due to prior Arabic exposure are expected to complete a minimum of three Arabic language credits beyond the placement and five interdisciplinary credits, two of which must be from the Arabic studies program and three of which may be completed within the Arabic & Arab world studies program or from other disciplines. In addition, a 1-credit, 300-level Arabic language seminar or independent study project is required. 

A typical major in Arabic & Arab world studies would look like the following: 

Language Proficiency

ARBC 102	Beginning Arabic II	1
ARBC 103	Intermediate Arabic I ( prerequisite: ARBC 102 or equivalent)	1
ARBC 104	Intermediate Arabic II (prerequisite: ARBC 103 or equivalent)	1
ARBC 217	Advanced Arabic I (or any Arabic 200-level course and above)	1
ARBC 301	Advanced Topics in Arabic	1

Cultural & Interdisciplinary Courses totaling four credits. Two of the courses must be from the Arabic studies program. No more than two credits may come from any other department and only one of the four courses may be a 100-level course.

ARBC 110	Reading in Arabic	1
ARBC 120	Everyday Shami Arabic	1
ARBC 121	Arabic Conversation in Shami I	.5
ARBC 122	Arabic Conversation in Shami II	.5
ARBC 150	Topics in Arabic Studies	1
ARBC 201	Intermediate Arabic Conversation I	.5
ARBC 202	Intermediate Arabic Conversation II	.5
ARBC 205	Advanced Everyday Arabic	1
ARBC 206	Arabic Translation in the Age of AI	1
ARBC 218	Advanced Arabic II	1
ARBC 220	Transformations of Identities: The Arab Minority in Israel	1
ARBC 221	A Window into Middle Eastern Culture in Amman	1
ARBC 250	Topics in Arabic Studies	1
ARBC 251	Advanced Independent Study in Arabic	1
ARBC 260	Cinema in The Arab World	1
ARBC 261	Media, Power, and the Middle East	1
ARBC 301	Advanced Topics in Arabic (prerequisite: Advance II or equivalent; can be offered as an independent study as needed)	.5-1
ARBC 380	Independent Study in Arabic	.5-1
CLAS 244	Magic and Mystery of the Ancient Mediterranean World	1
HIST 100	Thinking about History (topic: ComicBook Histories Middle East)	1
HIST 255	Under Siege: The Modern Middle East 1914-2014	1
HIST 285	The Middle East in Global Perspective	1
HIST 290	Europe Imperialism and Colonialism	1
HIST 330	European History	1
HIST 399	Non-western History 1	1
HUMN 260	Introduction to Translation Studies	1
IREL 229	Middle East Conflict and Revolution	1
PHIL 267	Arabic Philosophy	1
POLS 224	Government and Politics of the Middle East	1
POLS 266	Nationalism	1
POLS 290	Topics in Politics 1	1
RELI 100	Introduction to Religion 1	1
RELI 201	Islam	1
RELI 234	Issues of Religion and Culture (This course will be listed as an elective course only if offered under the title "RELI 234-02: Drinking Coffee, Tasting God: The Mystical Path of Islam")	1
RELI 256	Islam in America	1
RELI 260	Women, Gender, Islam	1

¹

This course will count as an elective course only if the majority of the course material focuses on Middle Eastern/Arab world topics.

Culminating Experience

1. Complete a seminar at the ARBC 300 level (one credit):
This seminar will focus on one of the following fields: Arabic literature, culture or linguistics. At the end of this seminar, students should submit a critical research paper with a summary in Arabic. The research paper will be presented as an oral presentation at a symposium organized by the Arabic studies program on campus.

Or

2. Complete a 1-credit ARBC 300-level independent study project successfully during senior year:
The project should result in a research paper combined with a summary of the project in Arabic as well as an oral presentation at a symposium organized by the Arabic studies program on campus. With the permission of the Arabic studies adviser during the second semester of junior year, students who are majoring in Arabic & Arab world studies may pursue an honors thesis in Arabic studies.  

Satisfying the College of Arts & Sciences Core Curriculum (CASCC) Disciplinary Depth Goals 

The fulfillment of the CASCC disciplinary depth goals for a bachelor in Arabic & Arab world studies is as follows:

1. Writing within the major ARBC 200-level courses, ARBC 300-level courses, independent study project in senior year, and all W2 courses listed in the cultural and interdisciplinary courses;
2. Information literacy in ARBC 200-level courses, ARBC 300-level courses, and independent study project in senior year;
3. Formal presentation as part of the culminating experience.   

Arabic Studies - Study Abroad

The Arabic studies program at Bucknell does not yet have its own study abroad program. The Arabic studies program welcomes participants in other study abroad programs in any Arabic-speaking countries; no more than two of the study abroad courses may count toward fulfilling the Arabic & Arab world studies major requirements at Bucknell. Language courses and/or courses in Arabic literature, Arabic culture, Middle Eastern history, and the politics of the Middle East may be credited toward the major requirements. Study abroad courses toward the major must receive course approval from the director of the Arabic studies program before starting the study abroad program.

The Arabic studies minor consists of five courses. Students must complete the sequence of the core language courses through ARBC 104, plus additional coursework to reach a total of five credits toward the minor. The additional coursework may be taken in Arabic studies or other disciplines, such as international relations, political science, religion, philosophy and history. Students placed in ARBC 102 or ARBC 103 due to prior Arabic exposure but lack official credentials at the college level will need to enroll in additional courses to reach a total of five courses. These courses may be in Arabic language or/and interdisciplinary and cultural courses in Arab world studies, politics and history of the Middle East and Islamic studies. Three to four core courses:

ARBC 101	Beginning Arabic I	1
ARBC 102	Beginning Arabic II	1
ARBC 103	Intermediate Arabic I	1
ARBC 104	Intermediate Arabic II	1

One Elective course¹:

ARBC 110	Reading in Arabic	1
ARBC 120	Everyday Shami Arabic	1
ARBC 121	Arabic Conversation in Shami I	.5
ARBC 122	Arabic Conversation in Shami II	.5
ARBC 201	Intermediate Arabic Conversation I	.5
ARBC 202	Intermediate Arabic Conversation II	.5
ARBC 205	Advanced Everyday Arabic	1
ARBC 221	A Window into Middle Eastern Culture in Amman	1
ARBC 250	Topics in Arabic Studies	1
ARBC 301	Advanced Topics in Arabic	.5-1
HIST 100	Thinking about History (The Question of Palestine)	1
HIST 290	Europe Imperialism and Colonialism	1
HIST 399	Non-western History (U.S. in the Middle East since 1945)	1
IREL 229	Middle East Conflict and Revolution	1
PHIL 267	Arabic Philosophy	1
POLS 224	Government and Politics of the Middle East	1
POLS 266	Nationalism	1
RELI 201	Islam	1
RELI 256	Islam in America	1
RELI 260	Women, Gender, Islam	1

¹

Two half-credit courses are considered as one course toward fulfilling the minor requirements.

Arabic minors are strongly encouraged to participate in approved study abroad programs in any Arabic-speaking country. No more than two of the study abroad courses may count toward fulfilling the Arabic minor requirements. Arabic minors who opt to apply for an Arabic study abroad program must receive course approval from the director of the Arabic studies program before starting the program.  

Students interested in the minor should consult the director of the Arabic studies program for the appropriate sequencing of courses.

The goal of the Arabic major is to equip Bucknell students with definable linguistic proficiency in four skills: speaking, writing, listening and reading, which are in line with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Language’s (ACTFL) Standards for the Arabic language. The major also aims to familiarize Bucknell students with the various cultural aspects of Arabic-speaking countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Students with an Arabic major will attain at least a high-intermediate level of proficiency in Arabic, which will furnish them with a solid foundation in their pursuit of academic and professional careers for which this is a prerequisite.

Students majoring in Arabic Studies will be able to:

1. Achieve at least a high-intermediate level of proficiency according to ACTFL standards and guidelines. (2, 4, 7, 8, 9)
2. Demonstrate proficiency in both Standard and Spoken Arabic by their ability to engage with native speakers of Arabic. An Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) test will be conducted at the end of each academic year. (1, 3, 6, 7)
3. Understand customs, perspectives and gestures commonly found in various Middle Eastern cultures and compare them to their own. (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
4. Implement their linguistic skills as well as their knowledge of the Arab culture outside the classroom setting. (2, 3, 9)
5. Apply knowledge of other disciplines in the course of their Arabic  Studies minor, promoting exchanges of knowledge that enhance interdisciplinary education. (1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)

Numbers in parentheses reflect related Educational Goals of Bucknell University.

Faculty

Associate Professor: Martin Isleem (Director)

Assistant Professor: Dena Isleem (Teaching)