Course Work

This page provides links to descriptions of the courses offered in both Arabic and North African Studies.  For more information about cultural and academic activities, some of which are required parts of the program, please also see the Program Activities.

Arabic Language Courses

Placement and Proficiency Testing

Students will take both pre- and post-program proficiency tests. Their placement will depend on their performance in a written test and in an oral proficiency interview. Proficiency guidelines are those set by The American Council on Teaching Foreign Languages (ACTFL).

ARA 1511 Beginning Arabic *
ARA 1512 Beginning Arabic

ARA 2411 Intermediate Arabic **
ARA 2412 Intermediate Arabic

ARA 3411 Advanced Arabic
ARA 3412 Advanced Arabic

ARA 4611: Journalistic and Literary Arabic

ARA 1300: Moroccan Colloquial Arabic

Students in the intermediate and advanced levels are introduced to Moroccan Arabic structures necessary for basic interaction with native speakers. An additional objective is to illustrate the common differences between standard and colloquial varieties of Arabic. Instruction adopts a functional/communicative approach and uses materials developed by AUI faculty. This course consists of 16 contact hours.

Textbooks Used

Alif Baa, with DVDs. An Introduction to Arabic Letters and Sounds, Second Edition Kristen Brustad et al. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 2004.
Al-Kitaab fii Ta’allum al-’Arabiyya with DVDs. A Textbook for Beginning Arabic: Part one. Kristen Brustad et al. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 2004.
Al-Kitaab fii Ta’allum al-’arabiyya with DVDs. A textbook for Arabic, part 2. Second Edition, Kristen Brustad et al. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 2006.
Al-Kitaab fii Ta’allum al-’arabiyya, part 3, Kristen Brustad et al. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press, 2001.
An Introduction to Moroccan Arabic and Culture. Abdellah Chekayri. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2011.
*Arabic for Beginners (ARA 1511) will be offered in the second session only if ten students or more need it.
** A “Lower Intermediate” class may be created to accommodate those students whose proficiency requires that they start at a lower level.

North African Studies Courses

North African Studies courses are offered in the regular summer semester: June 3 - July 18, 2012

Each course carries 3 semester credit hours
HIS 1301 History of the Arabs
HUM 3302 Islamic Civilization
SSC 2306 Issues in Contemporary North Africa
LIT 2304: Introduction to Arabic Literature (Pre-requisite: Advanced Arabic I)