A-to-Z Index

Arabic Courses

The following courses are offered in the Arabic program at James Madison University:

ARAB 101. Elementary Arabic I.
4 credits. Offered fall.
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 spring.
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 111. Intensive Arabic I (Elementary).
6 credits. Offered May.
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 May or June.
A thorough review of grammar, vocabulary building, conversation, composition and reading. This four-week course is the equivalent to ARAB 231-232.
Prerequisite: ARAB 102 or 111 or permission of the instructor.

ARAB 231. Intermediate Arabic I.
3 credits. Offered fall.
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 111 or permission of the instructor.

ARAB 232. Intermediate Arabic II.
3 credits. Offered spring.
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 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 232 or 212 or permission of the instructor.

ARAB 307. A History of Islamic Civilization, 600-1600 A.D.
3 credits. Offered fall.
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 spring.
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 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. Offered fall or spring.
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 AD.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring or summer.
Overview of Arabic and Persian literature from the rise of Islam until the 16th century AD. Readings are in English.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor for Arabic minor students. No requirements for other students.

ARAB 340. Intermediate Arabic Conversation.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
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 232 or 212 or permission of the instructor.

ARAB 371. Advanced Arabic Grammar and Translation.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
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 400. Advanced Arabic Writing and Conversation.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
Discussions and writings deal with topics of current interest.
Prerequisite: ARAB 300 or permission of the instructor.

ARAB 410. Media Arabic.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
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 446. Special Topics in Arabic Literature.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
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 for Arabic minor students. No requirements for other students when taught in English.

ARAB 447. Special Topics in Arabic Civilization and Culture.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
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 for Arabic minor students. No requirements for other students when taught in English.

ARAB 448. Special Topics in Arabic Linguistics.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
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 490. Special Studies in Arabic.
3 credits. Offered fall or spring.
Special topics or independent studies in Arabic.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.