May 03, 2024  
2019 - 2020 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
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2019 - 2020 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Course Descriptions

 

Arabic Studies
  

  • ARAB 100 - Critical Questions in Arabic

    Credits: (4)
    College Curriculum: COLL 100
    An exploration of significant questions and concepts, beliefs and creative visions, theories and discoveries in Arabic for first-year students. Although topics vary, the courses also seek to improve students’ communication skills beyond the written word.
  

  • ARAB 101 - Elementary Arabic I

    Credits: (4)
    Training in reading, writing and aural-oral skills. Emphasis on modern standard Arabic, with introduction to spoken idiom. Work includes intensive practice in listening, reading and speaking. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required. For additional placement information, please see the Modern Languages and Literatures website.
  

  • ARAB 102 - Elementary Arabic II

    Credits: (4)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 101  or consent of instructor
    Training in reading, writing and aural-oral skills. Emphasis on modern standard Arabic, with introduction to spoken idiom. Work includes intensive practice in listening, reading and speaking. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required. For additional placement information, please see the Modern Languages and Literatures website.
  

  • ARAB 150 - First-Year Seminar

    Credits: (4)
    College Curriculum: COLL 150
    An exploration of a specific topic in Arabic Studies. A grade of C- or better fulfills the College 150 requirement. Although topics vary, the courses emphasize academic writing skills, reading and analysis of texts, and discussion.

     
  

  • ARAB 200 - Arabic Studies Abroad: Language, Literature and Culture

    Credits: (1-4)
    This number is intended for courses completed in an Arabic-speaking country.
    May be repeated for credit
  

  • ARAB 201 - Intermediate Arabic I

    Credits: (4)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 102  or consent of instructor
    Continued training in grammar, reading, writing and aural-oral skills. An emphasis on standard Arabic. Introduction of the spoken idiom is continued from Arabic 102. Reading and discussion focuses on modern texts with introduction to Classical texts. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required. For additional placement information, please see the Modern Languages and Literatures website.
  

  • ARAB 202 - Intermediate Arabic II

    Credits: (4)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 201  or consent of instructor
    Continued training in grammar, reading, writing and aural-oral skills. An emphasis on standard Arabic introduction of the spoken idiom is continued from Arabic 201. Reading and discussion focuses on modern texts with introduction to Classical texts. All scheduled sessions associated with the course are required. For additional placement information, please see the Modern Languages and Literatures website.
  

  • ARAB 240 - The Sound of Meaning: Sound Symbolism in Language, Linguistics, Literature, and Culture

    Credits: (3)
    College Curriculum: COLL 200
    Domain (Anchored): CSI
    Domain (Reaching Out): ALV
    Students will examine the relationship between the sounds of words and phrases and their meanings. Starting with an examination of Saussure’s claim that the relation between sound and meaning is “arbitrary” (one of the foundational principles of modern linguistics), the course will examine data which seem to contradict this claim, and will explore the implications of this for linguistics and language study, as well as its treatment in several different fields and theoretical frameworks including psychology, anthropology, and phenomenology. Following this, the course will examine the cultural effects of this phenomenon, including the exploitation of sound-meaning correspondences in a wide variety of cultural activities: classical poetry (both English  and Arabic), mysticism, magic, modern literary practice (both English language (Joyce, Manley-Hopkins) and popular Arabic songs and poetry, as well as its possible application in industry related activities. The ultimate goal of the course is to give students a more nuanced view of sound-meaning correspondences, and to develop a sense of the power of sound in influencing the comprehension of meaning in a wide variety of contexts.
    Cross-listed with: LING 240 
  

  • ARAB 290 - Topics in Arabic Dialects

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 202  
    An introduction to one of the four major Arabic dialects (Maghrebi, Egyptian, Levantine, Iraqi) focusing on the differences between Standard Arabic and the colloquial in order to develop basic proficiency in that dialect. Conducted entirely in Arabic. 
    Can be repeated for credit when topic (dialect) differs.
  

  • ARAB 291 - Clinics in Arabic Language and Culture

    Credits: (1)
    Corequisite(s): ARAB 102  or ARAB 201  or ARAB 202  or ARAB 301  or ARAB 302  or ARAB 304  or ARAB 307  or ARAB 308 
    One-credit courses or “clinics” in Arabic language and culture which address important linguistic or cultural elements in Arabic, such as calligraphy, popular film, dialect comparison, reading with cases (for Quran and poetry in classical Arabic), etc. Students must have taken at least one course in Modern Standard Arabic (ARAB 101 ) and should be co-enrolled in an Arabic language class between Arabic 102 to Arabic 308.
  

  • ARAB 300 - Advanced Arabic Studies Abroad: Language, Literature, and Culture

    Credits: (4)
    This number is intended for courses completed in an Arabic-speaking country.
    May be repeated for credit
  

  • ARAB 301 - Advanced Arabic I: Introduction to Arabic Literature and Society

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 202  or consent of instructor.
    Any student who has studied 3 years or more of Arabic as a first or second language or who has studied in an Arabic University in which the language of classes was in Arabic, will need the instructor’s permission to enroll. Examination of issues facing modern Arab societies through reading/ viewing and discussion of articles, literary texts and audio-visual materials. Conducted entirely in Arabic. Weekly writing assignments.
  

  • ARAB 302 - Advanced Arabic II: Arabic Literature and Society

    Credits: (4)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 301  or consent of instructor.
    Domain (Anchored): ALV
    Any student who has studied 3 years or more of Arabic as a first or second language or who has studied in an Arabic University in which the language of classes was in Arabic, will need the instructor’s permission to enroll. Examination of issues facing modern Arab societies through reading/ viewing and discussion of articles, literary texts and audio-visual materials. Conducted entirely in Arabic. Weekly writing assignments.
  

  • ARAB 303 - Media Arabic

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 302  
    This course, concentrating on Arabic as used in television and radio broadcasts, involves intensive listening exercises of authentic up to the minute materials (news broadcasts, interviews, documentaries, etc.) as well as some writing and speaking exercises. Conducted in Arabic.
  

  • ARAB 304 - Introduction to Arabic Dialects

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 201  
    An introduction to Arabic dialects from a comparative perspective, including an overview of the general characteristics of the major Arabic dialects (phonological, morphological, & syntactic) as contrasted with Standard Arabic, followed by a concentration on two main dialect areas (Egyptian and Moroccan) to develop basic proficiency in these dialects. Conducted in Arabic.
  

  • ARAB 305 - Directed Readings in Arabic

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 302  or consent of instructor
    This course is designed for students who are interested in pursuing the study of the Arabic language through in-depth readings in Arabic literature or other types of cultural expression.
  

  • ARAB 306 - Directed Readings in Arabic

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 305  or consent of instructor
    This course is designed for students who are interested in pursuing the study of the Arabic language through in-depth readings in Arabic literature or other types of cultural expression.
  

  • ARAB 307 - Arab Civilization in Transition: Self, Culture, and Society in the Modern Period

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 302  or consent of instructor
    This course explores various themes pertinent to modern Arab political and sociological thought, using texts and audio as a basis for student writing, discussion and oral presentations. Themes may include: Islam and politics, women & gender, environmental issues, the role of politicians and intellecutuals (Abd al-Nasser, Muhammad Abdo, Qasim Amin, Taha Hussein). The student will be expected to make analytical comments on the content of the material presented as well as to handle the language at a 300-level course (high intermediate to advanced). The overall goal of this content course is to prepare students for independent work in Arabic as they grow comfortable with more advanced texts and those taken directly from sources in the Arabic speaking world, such as news broadcasts or documentaries from Al-Jazeera, etc. The combination of textbook and supplemental materials provides this transition from “class work” to “real world.”
  

  • ARAB 308 - Bridging Heritage and Modernity: Modern Forms and Classical Themes in Arabic Literary Writing

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 302   or consent of instructor.
    This course considers texts from a wide range of literary genres and themes from the Arabic-speaking world, including texts drawn from both the Arabo-Islamic tradition (al-turaath or “cultural heritage” texts), as well as from the modern period. The course will address the essential characteristics of literary forms, themes, schools, and genres in the Arabic tradition, emphasizing how these elements changed and evolved through time. Students will become familiar with both canonical and non- canonical Arabic writers in various genres, from classical times to the present. Emphasis will be on understanding both the underlying cultural world views expressed in the texts as well as their artistic and aesthetic elements. All readings are in Arabic, and students are expected to develop their reading comprehension skills as well as their knowledge and understanding of Arabic literary forms and culture.
  

  • ARAB 309 - Survey of Arabic Literature in Translation

    Credits: (3)
    A survey of Arabic literary tradition from the 7th century to the present, with a focus on continuity and change, influence, and major trends, themes and genres. Students with advanced language skills, with the consent of instructor, may take a 4th credit for reading and discussions (one additional hour per week) in the original language.
  

  • ARAB 310 - Topics in Modern Arabic Literature in Translation

    Credits: (3)
    An in-depth study of genre/theme in modern Arabic literature emphasizing the importance of literature as a representation of modern Arab culture and society. Students with advanced language skills, with the consent of instructor, may take a 4th credit for reading and discussions (one additional hour per week) in the original language.
    (May be repeated for credit when topic varies.)
  

  • ARAB 311 - Special Topics in Arabic Culture

    Credits: (3)
     This course will address specific issues relating to Arab culture and civilization as well as cross-cultural issues related to the interaction of this culture with other cultures.  May be repeated when topic varies.

     
    May be repeated when topic varies.

  

  • ARAB 401 - Classical Arabic Literature

    Credits: (3)
    Prereq/Corequisite(s): ARAB 302  or equivalent
    An introduction to the classical Arabic literary canon (al-turaath) conducted entirely in Arabic covering the major eras and genres of Arabic literature from the pre-Islamic period (6th century) until the 15th century.
  

  • ARAB 402 - Advanced Topics in Arabic Language, Culture, and Literature

    Credits: (3)
    Prerequisite(s): ARAB 306 , ARAB 308  or equivalent
    Domain (Anchored): ALV
    Taught in Arabic. An in-depth study of a limited topic in Arabic language, culture, or literature.
    May be repeated for credit if topic varies
  

  • ARAB 411 - Independent Study

    Credits: (1-3)
    This course is designed to permit in-depth study of Arabic texts in an area of language or literature not available in current course offerings. A written petition to the instructor and approval of the section coordinator are required before registration.
  

  • ARAB 412 - Teaching Practicum

    Credits: (1)
    A mentored teaching internship experience for students to work closely with a faculty member in teaching either a language or content course.
    May be repeated up to a maximum of 4