Arabic Studies, BA

Location(s): Main Campus

A Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies is offered through the Department of Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies (MEAMS). Arabic Studies focuses on Arabic language and literature as a gateway to the culture and civilization of the Arabic-speaking world.

Program Requirements

University General Education Requirements

All Binghamton University undergraduate students are required to fulfill this set of university-wide requirements to ensure that every graduate acquires the essential core of a SUNY university undergraduate education. Please refer to the General Education page for more information.

Harpur College Requirements

All students in Harpur College must fulfill additional requirements designated by Harpur College to complement and extend the general education requirements. Please refer to the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences page for more information.

Major Requirements

Course Requirements (10 courses total)

Students pursuing the major in Arabic are required to complete the following coursework:

Six courses in Modern Standard Arabic, including 101-102, 203-204 and 305-306
One course in Arabic Dialect
One course of an approved course numbered above 306 that is delivered primarily in an Arabic language (whether Modern Standard, Classical or dialect, other than Arabic Dialect required above)
Two additional elective courses*, carrying the ARAB rubric, or if not, approved by the undergraduate director (may be Arabic or English)
At least six of ten courses must be taken at the 300 or 400-level

Notes:

*Options include, but are not limited to, Arabic Literature, Arabic Literature in Translation (such as the Postcolonial Egyptian Novel, Race and Gender in Arab-American Literature), Arabic Word Formation and Origins, Introduction to Islam: Texts and Contexts, Introduction to Quranic and Classical Arabic, or courses in other critical languages of the Middle East, such as Hebrew or Turkish.

Additional Information About the Program

Any course in which a student receives a grade of P or D shall not count for the major.
Students with high school or other preparation in Arabic are placed at the appropriate level on the basis of individual consultation with faculty members or, in some cases, by placement tests.
Not more than two introductory-level (100-level) courses may be counted toward the major.

NOTE: Students who have previously been convicted of a felony are advised that this may impede their ability to study abroad. Students who have concerns about such matters are advised to contact the Office of International Education and Global Initiatives.

For more information on the Arabic BA program, please refer to the Middle Eastern and Ancient Mediterranean Studies website. To apply to the Arabic BA program, please visit the University Admissions website.