The following courses are offered in the Arabic program at James Madison University:
ARAB 101. Elementary Arabic I.
4 credits. (Offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer.)
The fundamentals of Modern Standard Arabic through listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Practice in pronunciation and development of comprehension. If a student has had two or more years of the language in high school, he/she will not receive credit for the course.
ARAB 102. Elementary Arabic II.
4 credits. (Offered in the Fall, Spring, and Summer.)
The fundamentals of Modern Standard Arabic through a higher level of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Practice in pronunciation and development of comprehension. If a student has had two or more years of the language in high school, he/she will not receive credit for the course.
Prerequisite: ARAB 101 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 109. Accelerated Review of Elementary Arabic.
3 credits. (Offered in the Spring.)
Reviews elementary Arabic grammar, reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills in Arabic. For students who have had no more than two or three years of Arabic in high school and qualify through the placement exam. Native speakers are excluded.
Prerequisite: Permission of the department head or sufficient score on the foreign language placement exam.
ARAB 111. Intensive Arabic I (Elementary).
6 credits. (Offered in the Summer.)
The fundamentals of Arabic through intensive listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This four-week course is the equivalent of ARAB 101-102.
ARAB 212. Intensive Arabic II (Intermediate).
6 credits. (Offered in the Summer.)
A thorough review of grammar, vocabulary building, conversation, composition, and reading. This four-week course is the equivalent of ARAB 231-232.
Prerequisite: ARAB 102, or ARAB 109, or ARAB 111, or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 231. Intermediate Arabic I.
3 credits. (Offered in the Fall and Summer.)
A thorough review of first-year grammar and vocabulary building. Conversation, composition and reading will be chosen to reach competency at the lower intermediate level Arabic.
Prerequisite: ARAB 102, or ARAB 109, or ARAB 111, or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 232. Intermediate Arabic II.
3 credits. (Offered in the Spring and Summer.)
A thorough review of grammar, vocabulary building, conversation, composition, and reading.
Prerequisite: ARAB 231 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 300. Arabic Grammar and Communication.
3 credits. (Offered in the Fall.)
Intensive training in grammatical structures and their application to oral and written communication. Instruction is in Arabic. Fulfills the College of Arts and Letters writing-intensive requirement for the major.
Prerequisite: ARAB 212 or ARAB 232 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 307. A History of Islamic Civilization, 600-1600 A.D.
3 credits. (Offered in the Fall in alternate years. Next offerings: Fall 2023, Fall 2025.)
A study of society, economics, politics, culture, and the arts of the Islamic world from the rise of Islam to the establishment of the gunpowder empires (Ottoman, Safavid, and Mughal). Instruction is in English.
ARAB 308. Contemporary Islamic Civilization.
3 credits. (Offered in the Spring in alternate years. Next offerings: Spring 2024, Spring 2026.)
A study of society, economics, politics, culture, and the arts of the Islamic world, with a focus on the Arabic-speaking regions, from 1700 A.D. to the present. Instruction is in English.
ARAB 320. Arabic Oral and Written Communication.
3 credits. (Offered in the Spring.)
Intensive training in the use of modern, everyday Arabic with emphasis on conversation and composition. Readings in Arabic will provide a context for discussion and writing.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 330. Business Arabic.
3 credits.
A study of commercial and trade vocabulary and customs in conjunction with practice in commercial communication, including letter writing, interviews, and interpretations. Instruction is in Arabic.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 339. Literatures of the Islamic World 600-1500 A.D.
3 credits.
A thorough analysis of selected passages from important authors from early Arabic and Persian literature up to the beginning of the 16th century AD. The material studied will include Arabic poetry and prose from the period just before the rise of Islam to about 1500, and Persian poetry and prose from the spread of the use of New Persian in the 10th century to about 1500.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 340. Intermediate Arabic Conversation.
3 credits.
Course emphasizes oral communication at the intermediate level. Students will use the vocabulary they have learned in the previous Arabic language classes. In addition, students will acquire new vocabulary from in- and out- of class conversational situations.
Prerequisite: ARAB 212 or ARAB 232 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 371. Advanced Arabic Grammar and Translation.
3 credits.
Arabic/English translation applied in several fields. In this course students analyze the main grammatical differences between Arabic and English with the focus on producing accurate and idiomatic translations into both languages.
Prerequisites: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 385. The Arabian Nights.
3 credits.
This course introduces the collection of popular tales known as "The Arabian Nights" or "The Thousand and One Nights." Readings also include medieval and modern European short stories that are adapted from the "Nights", or which appropriate themes and techniques from the "Nights." Instruction is in English.
Prerequisites: ARAB 300 or permission of instructor.
ARAB 386. Arabic Fables and Short Stories.
3 credits.
This course provides an overview of short Arabic literary texts, ranging from the Animal fables translated by Ibn al-Muqaffa' in the 8th century to Arabic short stories from the 20th century. Readings include a selection of texts in classical and modern standard Arabic (with some dialogue in colloquial Arabic) by some of the most prominent Arabic-writing authors of the last thirteen centuries.
Prerequisites: ARAB 300 or permission of instructor.
ARAB 400. Advanced Arabic Writing and Conversation.
3 credits.
Discussions and writings deal with topics of current interest.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 405. The Arabic Novel.
3 credits.
This course provides an introduction to novels written in the Arabic language. The goal is to study the development of the modern Arabic novel from the nineteenth century to the present through a selection of ten texts written by authors originating from a number of different Arabic countries. The texts will be placed within the social and political contexts in which they were written. Additionally, social, religious and historical aspects of modern Arab culture will be explored through the texts. The students will gain some familiarity with the major literary trends, themes, and genres of this time period. Readings are in English and Arabic. Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 410. Media Arabic.
3 credits.
An introduction to the vocabulary and language of Arabic press media and to the history of mass media in the Arabic speaking world. The focus is on print and Internet media, although media broadcasting in other forms is also covered.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 411. Colloquial Egyptian Arabic I.
3 credits.
This course provides an introduction to Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA), the most widely spoken and understood Arabic dialect. Students will learn the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic particularities of ECA, and the major differences between Modern Standard Arabic and ECA, while developing their listening and speaking skills necessary for personal everyday life.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or the permission of the instructor.
ARAB 412. Colloquial Egyptian Arabic II.
3 credits.
This course is a continuation of Colloquial Egyptian Arabic I. It is the second part of an intensive introduction to Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA). Students will build on previously learned material through scenarios of everyday life.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or the permission of the instructor.
ARAB 413. Colloquial Levantine Arabic I (Jordanian/Palestinian).
3 credits.
This course provides an introduction to Jordanian and Palestinian Colloquial Arabic (JCA and PCA), the Arabic dialects spoken in Jordan and Palestine/Israel. Students will learn the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic particularities of JCA and PCA, and the major differences between them and Modern Standard Arabic, while developing their listening and speaking skills necessary for personal everyday life.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or the permission of the instructor.
ARAB 414. Colloquial Levantine Arabic II (Syrian/Lebanese).
3 credits.
This course provides an introduction to Syrian and Lebanese Colloquial Arabic (SCA and LCA), the Arabic dialects spoken in Syria and Lebanon. Students will learn the phonological, morphological, syntactic, and semantic particularities of SCA and LCA, and the major differences between them and Modern Standard Arabic, while developing their listening and speaking skills necessary for personal everyday life.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or the permission of the instructor.
ARAB 428. Muhammad and the Qur'an.
3 credits.
A study of the life of the Prophet Muhammad and the contents of his message as found in the "Sira" (his biography), the Qur`an, and the "hadith" (reports concerning his sayings and actions).
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 429. Introduction to Qur'anic Arabic.
3 credits.
An introduction to the Arabic vocabulary and grammar of the Qur’an and hadith literature. The course provides an intensive overview of Arabic grammar, from basic to advanced topics. Students will gain the ability to read excerpts from the Qur’an and other Islamic religious texts in Arabic.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 446. Special Topics in Arabic Literature.
3 credits.
Study of a particular topic in Arabic Literature. May cover all or specific Arabic literature genre. May be repeated if content changes.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 447. Special Topics in Arabic Civilization and Culture.
3 credits.
Students will study a particular topic in the civilization and/or culture of Arabic countries. Course may be repeated if content changes.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 448. Special Topics in Arabic Linguistics.
3 credits.
Students will study a particular topic in Arabic linguistics. Topics could include an introduction to Arabic sociolinguistics and psycholinguistics. Course may be repeated if content changes.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 465. Arabic Cinema.
3 credits.
This course provides an introduction to the history of Arabic cinema from its inception at the beginning of the twentieth century to the present. Films are chosen for their artistic qualities and their cultural content. Students will be acquainted with contemporary Arabic culture through the study of a number of films from various Arabic countries. The focus will be on the relation of these films to important elements of the history, societies, cultures and literatures of the Arabic-speaking world. Some films are based on novels or novellas; students will compare these literary works and their visual interpretation in the films. Films will be analyzed in terms of their social, political and intellectual contexts.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.
ARAB 484. Literatures of Islamic Spain and Italy.
3 credits
This course introduces the literature of Islamic Sicily (Ar. Ṣaqalliyya or Ṣiqilliyya) and Andalusia (Ar. al-Andalus = Spain and Portugal) from the eighth to the fifteenth century, from the Muslim conquest of the territories to the Swabian rule of southern Italy and the Christian Reconquista of the Iberian Peninsula. This course is intended for students who are interested in Arabic literature and Islamic history and culture, but can also be of interest to students of history, medieval studies, and of Spanish culture and civilization.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of instructor.
ARAB 490. Special Studies in Arabic.
1-4 credits.
Special topics or independent studies in Arabic.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
