Department website: https://guq.qatar.georgetown.edu/academics/minors/arabic-language-program-and-arabic-minor/
Georgetown University hosts one of the strongest university-level Arabic language programs in the world. Building on that tradition, Georgetown University in Qatar is proud to offer a dynamic, innovative, culturally immersive program in Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) tailored to the needs of students in the Gulf region.
Students attain proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic through two distinct tracks tailored to their needs: Arabic as a Second Language or Arabic as a Heritage Language. The program emphasizes the development and application of core skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Students who continue their studies beyond the advanced level in either track have the opportunity to reach the highest levels of proficiency in MSA, enabling them to function effectively in academic, professional, political, and social settings.
Curriculum by Program Track
Language and Culture Track
Ideal for students at the beginning level of proficiency who want to strengthen their Arabic and explore Arabic culture.
The Language and Culture track of the Arabic Minor requires the successful completion of seven courses, in addition to passing the Arabic Language Proficiency Exam. It is particularly well-suited for students who enter GU-Q with little or no prior knowledge of Arabic and are interested in developing their language proficiency and cultural understanding.
Requirements
The specific path to the Language and Culture track of the Arabic Minor depends on students’ placement level and language background.
Language and Culture Track Pathways
Second Language Learners (with no prior background in Arabic)
Students complete the six-course sequence in Modern Standard Arabic, followed by one Post-Advanced Arabic course or a course taught in English on Arabic language or culture. A post-advanced course may be a content- or skill-based, or cover literature and culture or linguistics.
Heritage Language Learners
Students complete the four-course sequence in the Heritage Language track, followed by three Post-Advanced courses in any category. One Post-Advanced course may be substituted with a course taught in English on Arabic language or culture. At least one of the post-advanced courses must be a literature and culture course. The remaining post-advanced course(s) may be content- or skill-based, or cover literature and culture, or linguistics.
Students Placed into Intermediate or Advanced Arabic
Students may count all remaining courses in the sequence, beginning at their placement level, toward the minor. To complete the seven-course requirement, they may then take additional Post-Advanced courses. One Post-Advanced course may be substituted with a course taught in English on Arabic language or culture. At least one of the post-advanced courses must be a literature and culture course. The remaining post-advanced course(s) may be content- or skill-based, or cover literature and culture or linguistics.
Advanced Studies Track
Designed for students entering at the intermediate level or higher who want to deepen their Arabic proficiency.
The Advanced Studies Track of the Arabic Minor requires the successful completion of six Arabic courses at the Advanced and Post-Advanced levels, in addition to passing the Arabic Language Proficiency Exam. This track is particularly well-suited for students who enter GU-Q at the intermediate level or beyond, and who wish to deepen their proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic across a range of skills and topics.
Requirements
All courses must be taught in Arabic.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Credits |
| Advanced MSA HL | |
| |
| |
| |
| Intens 3rd Lvl Md Stnd Arab I | |
| Intens 3rd Lvl Md Stnd Arab II | |
| |
| |
| |
Arabic Minor Advanced Credit, Transfer Credit, and Study Abroad
No more than three courses from outside of Georgetown (advanced credit, transfer credit, summer, and study abroad) can count toward the minor. If a student has two classes of advanced credit, a year of study abroad, and one transfer class, only three of those five classes can apply to the Arabic minor. Below are the limits for each:
- A student can bring in up to two advanced credit classes to count toward the minor.
- A student can bring in up to one study abroad class to the minor if away for a semester, or up to two classes to the minor if away for the academic year.
- A student can transfer in up to one class toward the minor. Georgetown summer programs that carry Georgetown course prefixes and numbers (excluding study abroad, as noted above) do not count against transfer limits.
Georgetown credit for advanced and transfer language credit is pending language placement. If a student took a year of Introductory Arabic, but then subsequently places into the first year of Introductory Arabic at GU-Q, the student does not receive transfer credit for that year of Arabic taken elsewhere.
