Arabic Language, Arabic and Islamic Studies

Arabic language and Arabic studies programs have experienced a surge across the U.S. since 9/11. In a 2004 survey, 73% of 640 Arabic language students at 37 institutions said they were "determined to achieve a level of proficiency in Arabic that would allow me to function in it comfortably in my professional activities." Statistics gathered by the Modern Language Association, a national professional organization for language and literature teachers, showed "Arabic continued its impressive expansion: from 1998 to 2002, it lifted its enrollments by 92.3%, and between 2002 and 2006 by a remarkable 126.5%. Arabic almost doubled its enrollments in 2002 and more than doubled its figures again in 2006, bringing its latest enrollments to 23,974. Not only have enrollments in Arabic expanded two-fold, but the number of institutions of higher learning offering Arabic has also nearly doubled; we received reports from 466 programs in 2006 against 264 in 2002."

The surge in students will hopefully meet a crucial shortage. According to the U.S. Justice Department, there is a crucial shortage of qualified linguists. Professionals with a proficiency in the Arabic language, culture, and economy are in great demand at government agencies, news organizations, and private firms.

Arabic Studies - Bachelor of Arts
The Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Arabic Studies consists of intensive proficiency-oriented coursework in Arabic language acquisition, as well as instruction in essential knowledge and understanding of history, culture, geography, and politics of the Arab world. The program prepares students for a variety of career paths in government, military, business, and education.

Courses in the Arabic Studies Bachelor of Arts degree program include:

• Beginning Arabic Language
• Intermediate Arabic Language
• Advanced Arabic Language
• History of the Middle East
• Religion of Islam
• Politics and Government of the Middle East
• Arabic Literature

A graduate of the Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Arabic Studies will demonstrate:

• An advanced proficiency in listening and speaking Modern Standard Arabic.
• A command of both Modern Standard Arabic and colloquial regional Arabic.
• The ability to read representative modern texts in Arabic.
• An adequate knowledge of the language to translate and interpret Arabic.
• A working knowledge of Arabic grammar, morphology and vocabulary.
• An understanding of major aspects of Arabic culture and civilization from
  pre-Islamic times to the present.
• A comprehensive familiarity with the history of the Arab world.
• A basic familiarity with Islam and its influence on the Arab world.

National University is accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).