Arabic Program

Arabic is a Semitic Language that constituted the main literary, scientific, intellectual, and religious medium of expression during the Middle Ages in a vast area stretching from Spain in the West to India in the East. It is the language of the Qur’an, which is the sacred book of 1.5 billion Muslims all over the world. Between the 8th and the 15th centuries the volume of literary, scholarly, and scientific book production in Arabic and the level of urban literacy among readers of Arabic were greater than any the world had ever known until that time. Today Arabic is spoken by 300 million people from the Arabian Gulf in the East to the Atlantic Ocean in the West.

Arabic Minor

The Arabic minor at Cleveland State University is designed to prepare students in acquiring the linguistic and cultural fluency necessary to negotiate both everyday and professional situations in Arab speaking societies. The program serves students from a wide variety of majors and minors (i.e., Middle Eastern Studies, History, Medieval Studies, Religious Studies, Political Science, and International Relations). Arabic instruction is a combination of Modern Standard and colloquial (Levantine dialect) forms of the language.  
Admission to minor: no requirement other than good academic standing in the
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences.

Minimum hours required for a minor: 20
Requirements for the Arabic Minor
A minor in Arabic consists of a minimum of 20 credits above the 100 level of which 12 must be at the 300-400 level. The required core and elective courses are distributed as follows:

Core Courses (14 credits)

11 credits in Arabic courses beyond the 100 level:

• ARB 201 Intermediate Arabic I (4)
• ARB 202 Intermediate Arabic II (4)
• ARB 301 Composition and Conversation (3)

One class taught entirely in Arabic from following list:

• ARB 302 Media and Writing (3)
• ARB 371 Introduction to Classical Arabic Literature (3)
• ARB 372 Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature  (3)
• ARB 393 Special Topics in Arabic (1-3)
• ARB 493 Special Topics in Arabic (1-3)

Two elective Course (6 credits):

• ARB 335 Arab Film (3)
• ARB 345 Arab Resources of Cleveland (3)
• ARB 378 Gender Boundaries and Sexuality in the Arab World (3)
• ARB 393 Special Topics in Arabic (1-3)
• ARB 493 Special Topics in Arabic (1-3)
• MLA 300 Practicum in Arabic (1-3)
• ARB 384 Arab Civilization and Culture (3)
• ARB 475 The Qur’an: Language, History, and Religion (3)

(credit hours)

Why Study Arabic?

• Proficiency in Arabic provides more job opportunities in various fields in the US and the Middle East.
• Arabic courses can be counted toward CLASS language requirements and other minors.
• The Cleveland area has the 5th largest Arab community in the US.
• Learning Arabic will increase awareness and understanding of Arabs and their culture.
• Arabic is the primary source of Media in the Middle East and the Arab World.
• Arabic is one of the six main languages used in the United Nations.

Contact Us

For additional program information on Arabic or Study Abroad please contact:
Dr. Abed el-Rahman Tayyara
Arabic Program Coordinator
216-687-5138 | a.tayyara@csuohio.edu

Cleveland State University
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
The Department of Modern Languages
Rhodes Tower, Room 1606
2121 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44115