Arabic Courses

This is an introductory course in the Arabic Program. The purpose of Arabic 201 is to familiarize students with the Arabic writing and sound systems and to enable them to develop basic proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. At the end of the semester, students should be able to perform simple tasks such as: recognize and produce Arabic sounds, write Arabic letters in different word positions correctly, read short and simple texts and understand their content, initiate and sustain a simple conversation on a number of topics, and provide information about certain aspects of Arabic culture.

5 hours.

This is an introductory course in the Arabic Program. Students are expected to finish Arabic 201 before enrolling in this course. The purpose of Arabic 202 is to enhance students’ knowledge of the basic grammar of standard Arabic and to expand their reading, writing, speaking and listening abilities. At the end of the semester, students should be able to perform the following tasks: understand, form, and use many of the basic sentence structures of Modern Standard Arabic, initiate and sustain a simple conversation on a number of topics, read simple texts and understand their main ideas, guess the meaning of new words from the context, write simple passages about familiar topics, provide information about certain aspects of Arabic culture.

5 hours.

"This course will focus on one of the major spoken Arabic dialects in the Arab world. Students will be exposed to the variation between the dialect and Modern Standard Arabic in terms of vocabularly, grammar, and morphology. Students will develop conversational competency in the dialect, as well as general comprehension. Students will also be exposed to elements of the specific culture in which the dialect is spoken. Students must have completed ARAB 201 and ARAB 202 in order to enroll in this course."

4 Hours

Previous dialects that have been offered are Levantine (Fall 2012), and Moroccan (Fall 2013).

This is an intermediate course in the Arabic Program. Students are expected to finish Arabic 201 and 202 before enrolling in this course. The purpose of Arabic 403 is to increase the students’ knowledge of the core grammar of Modern Standard Arabic and to expand their vocabulary for both reading and writing. A special emphasis is put on students’ ability to communicate verbally with others in life-like situations. At the end of the semester, students should be able to perform the following tasks: understand the general meaning of simple but authentic texts, conversations, and other written or oral materials, express themselves in writing and speaking with some ease and with complex sentences, provide information about certain aspects of Arabic culture.

4 hours.

This is an advanced course in the Arabic Program. Students are expected to finish the above four Arabic courses before enrolling in this course. The purpose of this course is for the students to develop functional proficiency in Standard Arabic with special emphasis on reading and writing skills. In addition, the course aims to equip students with extensive vocabulary repertoire as well as the grammatical structures of Standard Arabic. Cultural background knowledge is viewed as particularly important to achieve competence in the target language, and therefore the course includes several cultural and historical readings and discussions. It is highly recommended and encouraged that students learn how to use Arabic-English dictionaries to achieve learners' autonomy in the future.

3 hours

This is an advanced course in the Arabic Program. Students are expected to finish Arabic 405 before enrolling in this course. The purpose of Arabic 406 is to extend students' knowledge of Arabic grammar and vocabulary and to give them the opportunity to deal with texts they might encounter in the media and other communication channels. The course delves more deeply into the Arabic culture, exploring in more depth different aspects of Arabic daily life. The themes and texts are selected based on their linguistic relevance and appropriateness to the students' language proficiency levels.

3 hours.

Selected readings from Modern Standard Arabic authors, with a focus on novels, plays, and basic poetry illustrative of Arab cultural issues and advanced level MSA grammar, as well as development of expository writing skills.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: Arabic 406.

Continuation of Arabic 407 with increased emphasis on the reading and comprehension of literary texts exemplified in advanced level novels, plays, and poetry, as well as on advanced mastery of expository writing skills.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: Arabic 407.

Introduction to Modern Standard Arabic in the professions as documented in selected newspapers, educational radio and TV programs, works of fiction, biographies, anthologies, and professional journals. Students will be introduced to argumentative writing in MSA, expected to make oral presentations, and to write a research paper in their field. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Arabic 408.

Continuation of Arabic 409 with increased emphasis on the development of comprehension and writing of professional language.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: Arabic 409.

Introduction to Arabic business language as used in basic business settings, including commercial advertisement and business correspondence. Emphasizes language skills that will enable students to conduct job searches and locate job vacancies that match their fields of study and their interests.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

May be repeated in separate terms if topics vary to a maximum of 6 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: ARAB 405 or consent of instructor.

This is an introductory translation course that introduces students to translation methodolgy and the profession of translation, with particular emphassis on the development of Arabic-to-English translation techniques and the acquisition of related knowledge above and beyond language skills. Students will be exposed to a variety of text types from different Arabic-speaking countries and learn to produce quality, professional translations and apply effective strategies to deal with the challenges of fully preserving the meaning of the original text while conveying the appropriate tone (style/register) and paying attention to grammar, mechanics, and audience-specific needs.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: advanced standing in Arabic.

Course is identical to REL 214 except for the additional writing component. See REL 214.

4 Hours.

History of Islamic thought from the time of Muhammad to the present, including the prophethood of Muhammad, the Qur'an, theology and law, mysticism and philosophy, sectarian movements, modernism and legal reform, and contemporary resurgence.

3 Hours.

Introduction to the Qur'an (Koran), the holy scripture of Islam, examining its major doctrines, thematic development, literary style, and its relationship to pre-Qur'anic, especially Biblical, traditions. Special attention is given to various methods Muslims have used to interpret the Qur'an. Same as CWL 223.

3 Hours.

Examines mystical concepts and practices in Islam through the ages, through the lives and writings of important mystics and Sufi holy men and women, as well as the integration of mysticism and the Sufi Orders into Muslim society and Islamic orthodoxy. No knowledge of Islam or foreign language is required.

3 Hours.

Examination of gender ideologies and social realities affecting the lives of women in various Muslim countries. Same as ANTH 403, GLBL 403, GWS 403, and HIST 434.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: A course in Islam or the Middle East, or consent of instructor.

Examines the role of Islam in contemporary politics, the contemporary resurgence of Islam, and the articulation of Islamic approaches to the new economic order, nationalism, and the changing role of women. Same as PS 408.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours.

Prerequisite: Junior standing or consent of instructor.

Exploration of contemporary, often revisionist Muslim ideas on a broad range of ethical issues that face societies today, such as human rights, democracy, gender equality, just war, pluralism, and bioethics. Same as SAME 481. 3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. Prerequisite: Previous coursework on Islam or the Middle East.

Explores the complexity of Muslim-Christian interactions since early Islam, including theological and philosophical exchanges, debates, polemics, interfaith dialogue, perceptions of each other, Muslim minorities in the West, and Christian minorities in the Muslim world, and the relationship of religion to culture.

Introduction to fourteen centuries of Middle East history from the rise of Islam to modern times. Examines the development of Islamic thought, and of religious, social, and political institutions, as well as the transformations of the 19th and 20th centuries, in the area consisting of Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, Arabia, Turkey, and Iran.

3 Hours.

Examines the main themes of Palestinian history since 1800. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict frames the latter part of this history, but it is not the central issue. The focus of the course is Palestinian political, social, and cultural history.

3 Hours

Political, social, cultural, and ideological developments in Egypt, Arabia, the Fertile Crescent, Iran and Turkey from the mid 16th century to the eve of World War I. Premodern society and institutions, the question of "decline" and "awakening", encounters with Europe and self-strengthening reforms, relations between Muslims, Christians, and Jews, the role of women and the family, class formation, and religion and nationalism. Same as JS 335.

3 Hours

Political-economic, social and ideological developments in Egypt, Arabia, and Fertile Crescent (including Israel), Iran and Turkey since 1918 to the present, including U.S. involvement.

Examines the twentieth-century history of Egypt, emphasizing the internal social, political, economic, and ideological developments, with attention to Egypt's role in regional and international politics. Readings include novels and short stories to introduce students to modern Egyptian culture. Same as AFST 338.

3 Hours.

Analyzes the transformation of Middle Eastern society from Morocco to Iran, as case studies in political modernization. The politics of the area are studied with special reference to causes and character of modernization, role of leadership, ideologies and institutions, methods and theories for analyzing political systems undergoing fundamental transformation, and implications for U. S. policy. Same as ASST 347.

3 Hours

Same as HIST 438. See HIST 438

Organized around major cultural/historical/religious topics presented in literature through Western and Islamic eyes, beginning with the Crusades and proceeding into the present. This course will examine stereotypes, fantasies, identifications and political opportunism promoted by the encounter between the West and the Islamic World. Prerequisite:CWL 241 and CWL 242 or one year of college literature. This course satisfies the General Education Criteria for: UIUC: Literature and the Arts

3 Hours.

Same as REL 223. See REL 223

3 Hours.

Studies in Arabic literature and culture of various genres, periods, and regions. Graduate students are encouraged to read the texts in the original language.

3 undergraduate hours. 4 graduate hours. May be repeated in the same semester to a maximum of 6 undergraduate hours or 8 graduate hours if topics vary; May be repeated in separate semesters to a maximum of 12 undergraduate hours or 16 graduate hours if topics vary.

Prerequisite: One year of college literature or consent of instructor.

Same as GLBL 403, GWS 403, HIST 434, and REL 403. See REL 403

3 or 4 Hours.