DEPARTMENT OF ARABIC

The goals of the Department of Arabic are to provide students with an in-depth knowledge of Arabic language and literature, to enable them to work in the fields of their specialization with competence and to pursue advanced studies.

Credits needed for the degree

A student majoring in Arabic needs to earn a total of 122 credits distributed as follows.

Students majoring in Arabic are provided with the opportunity to minor in a discipline other than their major Field. A student may take a minor program consisting of 18 credits in the Faculties of Arts, Sciences, and Business Administration.

Criteria for acceptance to major

Students are accepted to major in Arabic after their third semester provided that they have earned at least 40 credits and that all of the following conditions are met:

1. Minimum overall cumulative GPA of 1.90
2. Minimum major cumulative GPA of 2.00
3. Completion of ENGL 120 and ENGL 121
4. Completion of ARAB 120 and ARAB 121

Minors offered by the Arabic Department

In addition to the Major in Arabic, the Arabic Department provides the opportunity for students to follow a program leading to a minor in Arabic, Translation or Journalism.

MINOR IN ARABIC

The minor in Arabic requires successful completion of the following courses, totaling 18 credits.

MINOR IN TRANSLATION

The minor in Translation requires the successful completion of the following courses, totaling 18 credits.

MINOR IN JOURNALISM

The minor in Journalism requires the successful completion of the following required courses, totaling 15 credits, and 3 credits from the list of electives below.

Description of courses

ARAB 105 Arabic Handwriting (Cr. 1)
Students will study the history of Arabic calligraphy and will be introduced to all known types. The aim of this course is to enrich the student's skill in Ruq'a handwriting.

ARAB 120 Arabic Language Skills I (Cr. .3)
This course involves the analytical and critical study of literary and linguistic texts. It aims at enriching the student's skill in reading, conversation, comprehension and expression.

ARAB 121 Arabic Language Skills II (Cr. 3)
The aim of this course is to review the basics of good writing, with emphasis on the sentence, the paragraph, the subject, the title and punctuation. The art of the essay in Arabic literature with other forms of modern writings will be studied. Students will be trained on the principles of writing in the different genres of literary writings.

ARAB 142 Prosody (Cr. 3)
This course comprises a study of the science of prosody and its origin: the forms of Arabic poetry, rhyme and meters. A study will be made of prosody meters as formulated by Al-Khalil-Ibn Ahmad. The course involves a study of the music of modern Arabic poetry and the innovations introduced into it.

ARAB 211 Jahilite Literature (Cr. 3)
This course involves the study of the outstanding aspects of the Jahilite period, such as diction, social structure of the Jahilite society, prose writing, poetry and its sources. The course comprises an appreciative, critical and analytical study of Jahilite poetry. The students will study the poetry of 'Imru' al- Qays, Zuhayr and al-Shanfara.

ARAB 212 Islamic Literature (Cr. 3)
This course comprises a study of the following subjects: basic principles of Islam al-Qur'an, al-Hadith, and Islamic poetry. Students will study the poetry of Hassan bin Thabit, Ka'b bin Zuhyr and Islamic prose (the Prophet‘s speech). In addition, the most prominent trends in the Umayyad period will be studied: an-Naqa'id, al-Kawarij, the speech of Ziyad and the treatise of Abdulhamid al-Khatib.

ARAB 251 Introduction to Grammar I (Cr. 3)
Students will study in this course Arabic grammar under the following headings: etymology, inflection and derivation, parts of speech, word formation, temporal structure of the verb, gender in nouns, division of the noun according to number, diminution and attribution, i'lal, ibdal, idgham, the relative adjective, pronouns, modes of the verb and conjugation.

ARAB 252 Introduction to Grammar II (Cr. 3)
In this course students will study Arabic grammar under the following headings: diptotes, declension of nouns, nominal sentences, verbal sentences, the subject and the predicate, the weak verb, complements to the verbal sentence, requests, conditional sentences, the vocative, "exclamations" and oaths, the forms expressive of surprise or wonder, and practical applications of grammatical analysis.

ARAB 253 Introduction to Grammar III (Cr. 3)
Students will study in this course the following subjects: a general view of the verb and its forms, the voices, tenses of the verb, moods, numerals, particles, adverbs, complements, conditional and particles of meaning.

ARAB 291 Research Methods in Language and Literature (Cr. 2)
The student will study the following subjects: methods of research, the term paper, the report, sources of information, documentation, footnotes, ethics of research, research outline and the organization of the study, the subject and its importance, the aims of the study, definition of terms, abbreviations, references, bibliography, general writing form, the library, and methods of classification.

ARAB 310 Syntactic Skills (Cr. 3)
This course is offered to students from outside the Arabic Department. It comprises the study of the following subjects: language, its structure and methods of study. Students will study also the science of linguistics, the characteristics of Arabic sounds, Arabic grammar: parts of speech, Arabic structural patterns and the construction of utterances.

ARAB 311 Abbasid Literature (Cr. 3)
This course involves the study of the development of the intellectual, economic and social fields in the Abbasid period through the study of poetry, which focuses on prominent poets such as Abu-Tammam, al-Buhturi, Al-Mutanabiy and al-Ma'ary. Varieties of prose, their development, and prominent prose writers such as Ibn-ul-Muqaffa', Al-Jahiz, Badi' az-Zaman and al-Maqamat will also be studied.

ARAB 312 Andalusian Literature (Cr. 3)
This course deals with the general features of the cultural and literary life in al-Andalus in the different periods to help the student to be acquainted with the aspects of the Andalusian literature. The course will focus on the following Andalusian poets: 'Asim bin Zayd, Hasanah Tamymyah, Yahya al-Ghazal, Ahmed Abdrabu, Ibn Hani, al Qastali, Ibn Shuhayd, Ibn Zaydun, al-Mu'tamid Bin Abad, Ibn Hamdis, Ibn Khafaja, Ibn Abdun, Ibn al-Anbar, Ibn al-Khatib. The students will study also the arts in which the Andalusians excelled, al-Muwashshahat, az-Zajal, prose and the influence of the Andalusian environment on poetry.

ARAB 313 Literature of Egypt and Syria (Cr. 3)
This course aims to study political, military, economic and scientific developments during the Zenki, Ayyoubi and Mamluki period as well as intellectual trends. The following poets will be studied: Ibn-ul-Qaisaraniyy, Usama-Ibn-Munqidh, Ibn-as-Sa'atiyy, Ibn ‘Innin, Ibn Sana' al-Mulk, al-Baha' Zuhayr and al Busiyri. The course will also comprise the study of the works of various prose writers in this period: al-Qadi al-Fadil, Ibn al-Sayrafi, al-Imad al-Katib, Izzidine Bin as-Salam, and the influence of this period on Arabic literature.

ARAB 314 Modern Poetry (Cr. 3)
This course comprises the study of the renaissance of Arabic poetry in the 19th century, the various schools in modern Arabic poetry, and their development: ad-Diwan, Apollo and al-Mahjar, together with the study of various specimens. The course will comprise a study of the free verse poetry and its development. The most prominent poets will be studied, and extracts from their poems will be analyzed.

ARAB 315 Palestinian Literature (Cr. 3)
In this course students will study the following subjects and texts: characteristics of the literary renaissance in Palestine, traditional and modern trends in poetry, the national trend in Palestinian poetry. Texts by Abulkarim al-Karmi, Ibrahim Tuqan, and Mahmud Darwish will be examined. The short story, the novel and prominent novelists writers, and the different trends in Palestinian prose literature will also be studied.

ARAB 316 Comparative Literature (Cr. 3)
This course comprises the study of the origin of comparative literature in the West and in the Arab World, as well as comparative literature research methods. Western influences on Arabic literature: the novel, drama, poetry, and literary criticism will be studied along with literary schools. The delineation of national literatures of countries and nations, and the French influence on Taha Husain will also be studied.

ARAB 317 Popular Literature (Cr. 3)
This course will familiarize students with the different genres of popular literature in Palestine and the Arab World. Special emphasis will be placed on the myth, tale and lyrical poetry. Students will study methods of research and analysis of the popular literature in Arabic and Western literatures, the tools used in the gathering, classification and analysis of collected material

ARAB 321 Principles of Translation (Cr. 3)
This course introduces the students to the general principles of translation both from English to Arabic and from Arabic to English. Emphasis is placed on the different stages of the translation process, the difference between translation and transliteration, the use of dictionaries, translation procedures and the translation of idioms. The student will proceed from simple concepts and structures to more advanced and complex work.

ARAB 322 Journalistic Translation (Cr. 3)
This course is an introduction to the translation of journalistic passages from English to Arabic and vice versa, leading to more advanced work and covering a wide range of subjects and styles. Emphasis will be placed on translating articles from various branches of knowledge representing a variety of styles in order to acquaint the student with requisite vocabulary and terminology. Attention will be paid to the use of special dictionaries, the translation of scientific terms, translation exams and translation in the United Nations.
Prerequisite ARAB 321

ARAB 323 Literary Translation (Cr. 3)
This course comprises translation of selected texts of modern and classical literature, including selected extracts from the works of major English writers, in addition to passages from Arabic literature and Arabic poetry. Attention will be given to the theory of translation, and the role of translation, the translation of styles and literary expression.
Prerequisite ARAB 322

ARAB 324 Oriental Languages (Cr. 3)
The course comprises the study of an Oriental language such as Hebrew, Syriac or Persian, in order to facilitate the comparison of Arabic with other languages.

ARAB 328 Advanced Translation (Cr. 3)
This course intends to develop those translation skills acquired earlier. Emphasis will be placed on the structural systems and lexical coverage inherent in both languages, focusing on more difficult English and Arabic classical texts. Attention will be given, to the translation of poetry, religious texts, translation and culture.
Prerequisite ARAB 322

ARAB 329 Conference Interpretation (Cr. 3)
This course is intended to train students in the techniques of both simultaneous and consecutive interpretation. The course is based on practical work in order to make the students familiar with the equipment used in interpretation. Students will be expected to interpret speeches and lectures on a variety of subjects.
Prerequisite ARAB 322

ARAB 331 Arabic Criticism (Cr. 3)
This course comprises the study of classical Arabic criticism under the following titles: the concept of literary criticism, Arabic criticism during the Jahilite, Islamic, Umayyad and Abbasid periods, the works of Ibn al-Mu'taz, Ibn Sallam, Qudamah, al-Amidiyy and al-Qadi-al-Jurjani, and literary criticism in the sixth and seventh centuries A.H.

ARAB 332 Modern Criticism (Cr. 3)
Students will study, in this course modern criticism under the following headings: the nature of the criticism process, elements of literary work, origins of literary criticism, Greek criticism, methods and schools of literary criticism. The course also involves a study of the ten main characteristics of narrative and dramatic Arabic literature.

ARAB 333 Arabic Rhetoric (Cr. 3)
Students will study the science of rhetoric, its origin and collection, technicalities and its different schools.

ARAB 334 Arabic Novel and Drama (Cr. 3)
This course aims at familiarizing students with dramatic and narrative art in modern Arabic literature by studying its historical development. Special emphasis will be placed on the study of the origins of the narrative and dramatic art in Egypt, Syria and Iraq. Modern narrative and dramatic texts by Tawfiq al-Hakim, and Najib Mahfuz will be critically studied.

ARAB 341 Prosody and Rhetoric (Cr. 3)
This course comprises a study of sounds in Arabic concentrating on the analysis of syllables. A study will be made of prosody meters as formulated by Al-Khalil-Ibn Ahmad. The course involves the study of the music of modern poetry and the innovations introduced into it. Students will study the science of rhetoric, its origin and collection, technicalities and different schools.

ARAB 351 Studies in Grammar (Cr. 3)
This course comprises a study of selected topics from traditional Arabic grammar compilations to enable students to understand them and familiarize the students with the style of old prominent grammarians. The students will review selected texts from Sibawayh, Ibn-Mada', Ibn-ul-Anbariy, al-Farra', Az Zamakhshariy, Ibn-Jinniy, Ibn Hisham and Abu Hayyan. The course will comprise an introduction to modernization efforts in grammar.
Prerequisite: ARAB 251, 252

ARAB 352 Grammatical Practice (Cr. 3)
In this course students will study grammatical practice under the following titles: the nominal sentence, subject and predicate, case forms, sisters of kana, kada, inna and ma, the verbal sentence, the verb and its modifications, the subject, complements, participles, numbers, and particles of meaning. Students will study texts which will help them to understand the syntax of the sentence.
Prerequisite: ARAB 251, 252

ARAB 353 Schools of Grammar (Cr. 3)
This course comprises the study of the various grammar schools of Basra, Kufa, Baghdad, Egypt, al-Andalus, and their role in developing Arabic grammar. Detailed attention will be paid to the modern critical studies of Arabic grammar and efforts for its re-classification and simplification.
Prerequisite: ARAB 251, 252

ARAB 354 Modern Linguistics (Cr. 3)
Emphasis in this course is placed on the development of linguistics and its research methods under the following headings: language, phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, the Arabic sounds, intonation, the Arabic word, the syllable, stems, as well as transformational and generative grammar.
Prerequisite: ARAB 251, 252

ARAB 371 Sciences of the Qur'an and Hadith (Cr. 3)
This course comprises a study of the Qur'anic sciences, Meccan and Medinite exegesis and their impact on Arabic literature, the kinds of al-Hadith, its sources and methods of transference and quotation in language and literature, and the influence of al-Hadith on literature and grammar.

ARAB 372 Islamic Philosophy (Cr. 3)
This course will focus on the most prominent philosophies introduced into Arab Muslim society. Emphasis will be placed on the strife of their ideologies with the Arab Muslim civilization. The course will also concentrate on the study of the most prominent Muslim philosophers. Selected extracts from their works, particularly those of al-Kindiy, Avicenne, al-Farabiy, Averroes and al-Ghazali will be studied.
Prerequisite: ARAB 212

ARAB 389 Senior Seminar (Cr. 1)
The course aims to give senior students the chance to do original research on a topic in Arabic language and literature under the supervision of an instructor from the Department. Students will give an oral presentation of their research to their colleagues and teachers followed by a discussion of the main results.

JOURNALISM MINOR COURSES

JMCO 131 Introduction to Journalism (Cr. 3)
This course is an introductory survey of the theory, history, structure and functions of journalism. The course focuses on print journalism with special emphasis on the history of the Arab Press. Students will study the structure of the newspaper, sources of information, types of newspapers, and public opinion. The rights and responsibilities of journalists and ethics of journalism will be discussed.

JMCO 132 News Writing (Cr. 3)
A study and practice of basic writing and editing techniques used in the print media will be discussed. The course offers to the students various methods of writing newspaper articles and writing for magazines. Assignments will focus primarily on gathering and writing news.

JMCO 231 Introduction to Reporting (Cr. 3)
This course examines the basic news reporting principles, strategies and tactics needed by today’s journalists. Practice in gathering, organizing and presenting news is a major concern. Emphasis is on print journalism.

JMCO 232 Story and Magazine Articles (Cr. 3)
This course is an intensive practice in researching, organizing, writing and analyzing feature articles for magazines and newspaper magazine supplements and free-lancing for print media.

JMCO 331 Palestinian Media: History, Law and Contemporary Issues(Cr. 3)
This course offers a review of the development of the Palestinian press during the Ottoman, British Mandate, Jordanian and Israeli periods, its relationship with political, economic, and social institutions, the legal aspects of mass communication in Palestine, and the most important media institutions and organizations in Palestine.

JMCO 332 Editing and Design (Cr. 3)
The focus will be on laboratory practice in design and layout and intensive training to master basic skills. Other areas of study include principles and practice of news media editing, copyediting, headline writing, and page layout.

HEBREW LANGUAGE COURSES

HEBR 101 Conversational Hebrew I (Cr. 3)
This is an introductory course with practice in the basic language skills needed for everyday communication. Emphasis will be placed on the skills of listening, speaking and reading.

HEBR 102 Conversational Hebrew II (Cr. 3)
This is a continuation of practice in basic language skills with appropriately increasing difficulty. This course will involve a contrastive study of Arabic and Hebrew phonological, morphological and syntactic structures.

HEBR 103 Intermediate Hebrew (Cr. 3)
The aim of the course is to reinforce former learning (grammar, basic structures, and vocabulary), and to improve reading and writing skills. Emphasis will be placed on oral communication in Hebrew and reading advanced materials. Selections from Hebrew literary texts, as well as from newspapers, will be used.

Academic Programs

Degree Requirements

• Arabic
• English
• Humanities
• Religious Studies
• Social Sciences
  

Faculty of Business Administration

• Accounting
• Business Administration
• MICAD - Master in International Cooperation and Development
  

Faculty of Education

• Teacher Preparation Programs
• Rehabilitation Studies
  

Faculty of Nursing

• Nursing Program
• Registered Nurse Program
• Midwifery Program
• Neonatal Nursing Program
  

Faculty of Science

• Biology
  • Master Program in Biotechnology
• Chemistry
• Mathematics
• Information Sciences
  

Institute of Hotel Management and Tourism

• Travel Agency Management
• Tourism Management
• Tour Guiding