Arabic (ARAB)

ARAB 1100 - Gateway to Arabic Language and Culture (2 Credits)  
This course is designed to help students start speaking Arabic from the very first day. This is done in the context of learning about the diverse Arab cultures and reading and writing the beautiful alphabet! Topics include Arab hospitality, holidays, family structure, popular slang and sayings, songs, and more.
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024  
ARAB 1200 - Intensive Arabic I (8 Credits)  
This course designed for students who are interested in completing Cornell's Elementary Arabic sequence (ARAB 1201 and ARAB 1202). Students finishing this course will be in a position to take ARAB 1203 - Intermediate Arabic I.
Forbidden Overlaps: ARAB 1200, ARAB 1201, ASRC 1201. In addition, students will not receive credit for both ARAB 1200, ARAB 1202, ASRC 1202.  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2023, Spring 2021, Spring 2019, Spring 2018  
ARAB 1201 - Elementary Arabic I (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 1201  
This two-course sequence assumes no previous knowledge of Arabic and provides a thorough grounding in the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It starts with the alphabet and the number system and builds the four skills gradually and systematically through carefully selected and organized materials focusing on specific, concrete and familiar topics such as self identification, family, travel, food, renting an apartment, study, the weather, etc.). These topics are listed in the textbook's table of contents. The student who successfully completes the two-course sequence will have mastered about 1000 basic words and will be able to: 1) understand and actively participate in conversations on a limited range of practical topics such as self-identification, family, school, work, the weather, travel, etc., 2) read and understand, with the help of a short list of words, passages of up to 180 words written in Arabic script, and 3) discuss orally in class and write a 50-word paragraph in Arabic. The two-course sequence aims to take the student from the Novice to the Intermediate Mid level according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.
Forbidden Overlaps: ARAB 1200, ARAB 1201  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFLANG, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
ARAB 1202 - Elementary Arabic II (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 1202  
This two-course sequence assumes no previous knowledge of Arabic and provides a thorough grounding in the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing. It starts with the alphabet and the number system and builds the four skills gradually and systematically through carefully selected and organized materials focusing on specific, concrete and familiar topics such as self identification, family, travel, food, renting an apartment, study, the weather, etc.). These topics are listed in the textbook's table of contents. The student who successfully completes the two-course sequence will have mastered about 1000 basic words and will be able to: 1) understand and actively participate in conversations on a limited range of practical topics such as self-identification, family, school, work, the weather, travel, etc., 2) read and understand, with the help of a short list of words, passages of up to 180 words written in Arabic script, and 3) discuss orally in class and write a 50-word paragraph in Arabic. The two-course sequence aims to take the student from the Novice to the Intermediate Mid level according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.
Prerequisites: ARAB 1201 or permission of instructor.  
Forbidden Overlaps: ARAB 1200, ARAB 1202  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFLANG, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
ARAB 1203 - Intermediate Arabic I (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 1203  
In this two-course sequence learners continue to develop the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing and grammar foundation through the extensive use of graded materials on a wide variety of topics. While more attention is given to developing native-like pronunciation and to grammatical accuracy than in ARAB 1201 and ARAB 1202, the main focus of the course will be on encouraging fluency and facility in understanding the language and communicating ideas in it. The student who successfully completes this two-course sequence will have mastered over 1500 new words and will be able to: 1) understand and actively participate in conversations related to a wide variety of topics beyond those covered in ARAB 1201 and ARAB 1202, such as the history and geography of the Arab world, food and health, sports, economic matters, the environment, politics, the Palestine problem, etc. 2) read and understand, with the help of a short list of words, passages of up to 300 words, and 3) discuss orally in class and write a 150-word paragraph in Arabic with fewer grammatical errors than in ARAB 1202. The two-course sequence aims to take the student from the Intermediate Mid to the Advanced Mid level according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.
Prerequisites: one year of Arabic or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, GLC-AS), (CA-AG, FL-AG, LA-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFLANG, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
ARAB 2201 - Arabic for Heritage Speakers (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 2105  
This course is designed for students who can speak and understand a spoken Arabic dialect (Egyptian, Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, etc.) but have little or no knowledge of written Arabic, known as Classical Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic, or Fusha. The focus of the course will be on developing the reading and writing skills through the use of graded, but challenging and interesting materials. As they develop their reading and writing skills, students will be learning about Arab history, society, and culture. Classroom activities will be conducted totally in Arabic. Students will not be expected or pressured to speak in Classical Arabic, but will use their own dialects for speaking purposes. However, one of the main goals of the course will be to help the development of the skills to communicate and understand Educated Spoken Arabic, a form of Arabic that is based on the spoken dialects but uses the educated vocabulary and structures of Fusha.
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS), (CA-AG, FL-AG, LA-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFLANG, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2022, Fall 2020, Fall 2018  
ARAB 2202 - Intermediate Arabic II (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 2200  
In this two-course sequence learners continue to develop the four language skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing and grammar foundation through the extensive use of graded materials on a wide variety of topics. While more attention is given to developing native-like pronunciation and to grammatical accuracy than in ARAB 1201 and ARAB 1202, the main focus of the course will be on encouraging fluency and facility in understanding the language and communicating ideas in it. The student who successfully completes this two-course sequence will have mastered over 1500 new words and will be able to: 1) understand and actively participate in conversations related to a wide variety of topics beyond those covered in ARAB 1201 and ARAB 1202, such as the history and geography of the Arab world, food and health, sports, economic matters, the environment, politics, the Palestine problem, etc. 2) read and understand, with the help of a short list of words, passages of up to 300 words, and 3) discuss orally in class and write a 150-word paragraph in Arabic with fewer grammatical errors than in ARAB 1202. The two-course sequence aims to take the student from the Intermediate Mid to the Advanced Mid level according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.
Prerequisites: ARAB 1203 or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS), (CA-AG, FL-AG, LA-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFLANG, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
ARAB 2204 - Introduction to Quranic Arabic (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 2204, RELST 2204, NES 2204  
This course is designed for students who are interested in reading the language of the Qur'an with accuracy and understanding. The first week (4 classes) will be devoted to an introduction of the history of the Qur'an: the revelation, collection, variant readings, and establishment of an authoritative edition. The last week will be devoted to a general overview of revisionist literature on the Qur'an. In the remaining 12 weeks, we will cover all of Part 30 (Juz' 'Amma, suuras 78-114) and three suuras of varying length (36, 19, and 12).
Prerequisites: knowledge of Arabic alphabet.  
Distribution Requirements: (FL-AG, HA-AG), (HST-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFAREA, AFLANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
ARAB 3201 - Advanced Arabic I (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 3100  
In this two-semester sequence, learners will be introduced to authentic, unedited Arabic language materials ranging from short stories, and poems, to newspaper articles dealing with social, political, and cultural issues. Emphasis will be on developing fluency in oral expression through discussions of issues presented in the reading and listening selections. There will be more focus on the development of native-like pronunciation and accurate use of grammatical structures than in the previous four courses. A primary objective of the course is the development of the writing skill through free composition exercises in topics of interest to individual students. This course starts where ARAB 2202 leaves off and continues the development of the four language skills and grammar foundation using 18 themes, some new and some introduced in previous courses but are presented here at a more challenging level. The student who successfully completes this two-course sequence have mastered over 3000 new words and will be able, within context of the 18 new and recycled themes to: 1) understand and actively participate in conversations, 2) read and understand, with the help of a short list of words, authentic, unedited passages of up to 400 words, and 3) discuss orally in class and write a 300-word paragraph in Arabic with fewer grammatical errors than in ARAB 2202. The two-course sequence aims to take the student from the Advanced Mid to the Superior level according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.
Prerequisites: ARAB 2202 or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS), (CA-AG, FL-AG, LA-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFLANG, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
ARAB 3202 - Advanced Arabic II (4 Credits)  
Crosslisted with ASRC 3101  
In this two-semester sequence, learners will be introduced to authentic, unedited Arabic language materials ranging from short stories, and poems, to newspaper articles dealing with social, political, and cultural issues. Emphasis will be on developing fluency in oral expression through discussions of issues presented in the reading and listening selections. There will be more focus on the development of native-like pronunciation and accurate use of grammatical structures than in the previous four courses. A primary objective of the course is the development of the writing skill through free composition exercises in topics of interest to individual students. This course starts where ARAB 2202 leaves off and continues the development of the four language skills and grammar foundation using 18 themes, some new and some introduced in previous courses but are presented here at a more challenging level. The student who successfully completes this two-course sequence have mastered over 3000 new words and will be able, within context of the 18 new and recycled themes to: 1) understand and actively participate in conversations, 2) read and understand, with the help of a short list of words, authentic, unedited passages of up to 400 words, and 3) discuss orally in class and write a 300-word paragraph in Arabic with fewer grammatical errors than in ARAB 2202. The two-course sequence aims to take the student from the Advanced Mid to the Superior level according to the ACTFL proficiency guidelines.
Prerequisites: ARAB 3201 or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS), (CA-AG, FL-AG, LA-AG), (OCL-IL)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFLANG, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022  
ARAB 3687 - Kalila wa Dimna for Students of Arabic (3 Credits)  
This course is designed for students who have successfully finished at least one year of Arabic study or its equivalent. It is based on the well-known Arabic literary classic Kalila wa Dimna, an eighth-century translation (from Sanskrit to Persian and from Persian to Arabic) of a collection of fables about people and animals that has long been enjoyed by Arab children and adults alike. The main textbook for the course is Kalila wa Dimna for Students of Arabic, which retells the stories in Modern Standard Arabic and includes a wide variety of exercises and activities to help the development of the four language skills of reading, listening, speaking and writing. We'll be reading and listening to the stories and retelling and writing about them. The course fulfills the Group A requirement of the Arabic Minor.
Prerequisites: one year of Arabic or equivalent or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, FLOPI-AS), (CA-AG, LA-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2024, Spring 2021  
ARAB 3700 - Arabic Language Through Film (3 Credits)  
The objective of this course is to help students develop all four communicative skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing) through the use of Arabic films coupled with other structured materials such as study guides, short readings and other authentic resources. Each lesson focuses on student-centered and interactive activities that include pair or group work, role-play, debates, and class presentations.
Prerequisites: ARAB 1203 or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS), (CA-AG, LA-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL)
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2023, Spring 2020, Spring 2018  
ARAB 4200 - Modern Arabic Literature (3 Credits)  
The course is an introductory survey to different genres in Modern Arabic Literature (Poetry and prose). It aims at improving the four language skills at an advanced level, as well as appreciating Arabic literature. All readings will be in Arabic. The readings are selected from among the most salient literary texts by major writers form the 20th century.
Prerequisites: ARAB 3202 or permission of instructor.  
Distribution Requirements: (ALC-AS, FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS), (CA-AG, LA-AG)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2021, Fall 2020, Spring 2019, Fall 2016  
ARAB 4203 - Current Events in Arabic Media (3 Credits)  
In this three-credit, one semester, topic based course, students will be introduced to authentic, unedited Arabic language materials from Arabic newspapers, magazines, TV broadcasts and interviews, and other on-line media. The topics covered will include, among other things, politics, economics, business, sports, and women's issues. Students can suggest other topics that interest them to the teacher. Emphasis will be on developing fluency in oral and written expression through discussions, debates, presentations, and written work. The order of activities for each topic will be: reading or listening to a selection before coming to class, class discussion and/or debate, an oral presentation by the students, and, finally, a written homework assignment about the same topic. All activities are conducted entirely in Arabic. There will be more focus on the development of native-like pronunciation and accurate use of grammatical structures than at the lower levels.
Distribution Requirements: (CA-AG, SBA-AG), (FLOPI-AS, GLC-AS, SSC-AS)  
Exploratory Studies: (CU-ITL); (AFAREA, EUAREA, EULANG)
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2023, Spring 2022, Fall 2019, Fall 2017  
ARAB 5509 - Graduate Studies in Arabic (3-4 Credits)  
Topics vary by semester in relation to student needs.
Last Four Terms Offered: Fall 2024, Fall 2023, Fall 2022, Fall 2021  
ARAB 5510 - Graduate Studies in Arabic (3-4 Credits)  
Topics vary by semester in relation to student needs.
Last Four Terms Offered: Spring 2025, Spring 2024, Spring 2023, Spring 2022