Fall 2024

  • ARBC 100: Arabs Encountering the West

    The encounter between Arabs and Westerners has been marked by its fair share of sorrow and suspicion. In this seminar we will read literary works by Arab authors written over approximately 1000 years–from the Crusades, the height of European imperialism, and on into the age of Iraq, Obama and ISIS. Through our readings and discussions, we will ask along with Arab authors: Is conflict between Arabs and Westerners the inevitable and unbridgeable result of differing world-views, religions and cultures? Are differences just a result of poor communication? Or is this “cultural conflict” something that can be understood historically?

     Prerequisites:

    Student is a member of the First Year First Term class level cohort. Students are only allowed to register for one A&I course at a time. If a student wishes to change the A&I course they are enrolled in they must DROP the enrolled course and then ADD the new course. Please see our Workday guides Drop or 'Late' Drop a Course and Register or Waitlist for a Course Directly from the Course Listing for more information.

     6 credits; AI/WR1, Argument & Inquiry/WR1, IS, International Studies; offered Fall 2024 · Zaki Haidar

  • ARBC 101: Elementary Arabic

    This is the first course in the Elementary Arabic sequence. This sequence introduces non-Arabic speakers to the sounds, script, and basic grammar of Arabic-the language of 200 million speakers in the Arab world and the liturgical language of over a billion Muslims. Students will develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Modern Standard Arabic. Classes will incorporate readings and audio-visual material from contemporary Arabic media, as well as popular music. Prerequisites:

    Not open to students whose previous Arabic language experience exceeds the requirements of ARBC 101

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Zaki Haidar

  • ARBC 204: Intermediate Arabic

    In this course sequence students will continue to develop their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, while building a solid foundation of Arabic grammar (morphology and syntax). Students will develop their ability to express ideas in Modern Standard Arabic by writing essays and preparing oral presentations. Classes will incorporate readings and audio-visual material from contemporary Arabic media, as well as popular music. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): ARBC 103 – Elementary Arabic with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Fall 2024 · Yaron Klein

Winter 2025

  • ARBC 102: Elementary Arabic

    This course sequence introduces non-Arabic speakers to the sounds, script, and basic grammar of Arabic–the language of 200 million speakers in the Arab world and the liturgical language of over a billion Muslims. Students will develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Modern Standard Arabic. Classes will incorporate readings and audio-visual material from contemporary Arabic media, as well as popular music. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): ARBC 101 – Elementary Arabic with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Winter 2025 · Zaki Haidar

  • ARBC 205: Intermediate Arabic

    In this course sequence students will continue to develop their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, while building a solid foundation of Arabic grammar (morphology and syntax). Students will develop their ability to express ideas in Modern Standard Arabic by writing essays and preparing oral presentations. Classes will incorporate readings and audio-visual material from contemporary Arabic media, as well as popular music. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed the following course(s): ARBC 204 – Intermediate Arabic with a grade of C- or better or equivalent .

     6 credits; LP Language Requirement, No Exploration; offered Winter 2025 · Yaron Klein

  • ARBC 310: Advanced Media Arabic

    Readings of excerpts from the Arabic press and listening to news editions, commentaries and other radio and TV programs from across the Arab world. Emphasis is on vocabulary expansion, text comprehension strategies, and further development of reading and listening comprehension. Class includes oral discussions and regular written assignments in Arabic. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): ARBC 206 – Arabic in Cultural Context or equivalent with a grade of C- or better.

     6 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Winter 2025 · Zaki Haidar

Spring 2025

  • ARBC 103: Elementary Arabic

    This course sequence introduces non-Arabic speakers to the sounds, script, and basic grammar of Arabic–the language of 200 million speakers in the Arab world and the liturgical language of over a billion Muslims. Students will develop basic listening, speaking, reading and writing skills in Modern Standard Arabic. Classes will incorporate readings and audio-visual material from contemporary Arabic media, as well as popular music. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): ARBC 102 – Elementary Arabic with a grade C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Spring 2025 · Zaki Haidar

  • ARBC 206: Arabic in Cultural Context

    In this course students will continue to develop their Arabic language skills, including expanding their command of Arabic grammar, improving their listening comprehension, reading and writing skills. In addition to more language-focused training, the course will introduce students to moreáadvanced readings, including literary texts (prose and poetry, classical and modern) and op-ed articles from current media. Class discussions will be in Arabic. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): ARBC 205 – Intermediate Arabic with a grade of C- or better or equivalent.

     6 credits; No Exploration; offered Spring 2025 · Zaki Haidar

  • ARBC 222: Music in the Middle East

    The Middle East is home to a great number of musical styles, genres, and traditions. Regional, ideological, and cultural diversity, national identity, and cross-cultural encounters–all express themselves in music. We will explore some of the many musical traditions in the Arab world, from early twentieth century to the present. Class discussions based on readings in English and guided listening. No prior music knowledge required, but interested students with or without musical background can participate in an optional, hands-on Arab music performance workshop, on Western or a few (provided) Middle Eastern instruments throughout the term. 6 credits; CX, Cultural/Linguistics, IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Yaron Klein

  • ARBC 223: Arab Music Workshop

    Through music making, this workshop introduces students to Arab music and some of its distinctive features, such as microtonality, modality (maqam), improvisation (taqsim) and rhythmic patterns (iqa’at). Students may elect to participate playing on an instrument they already play, or elect to study the oud (the Arab lute). Ouds and percussion instruments will be provided. 1 credit; S/CR/NC; ARP, Arts Practice; offered Spring 2025 · Yaron Klein

  • ARBC 371: Readings in Premodern Arabic Science

    It is difficult to overstate Arab scientists’ contribution to science. A translation movement from Greek, Persian and Sanskrit into Arabic initiated in the eighth century, led to centuries of innovative scientific investigation, during which Arab scientists reshaped science in a variety of disciplines: from mathematics to astronomy, physics, optics and medicine. Many of their works entered Latin and the European curriculum during the Renaissance. In this reading course we will explore some of the achievements and thought processes in premodern Arabic scientific literature by reading selections from several seminal works. We will examine these in the cultural contexts in which they emerged and to which they contributed, and reflect on modern Western perceptions of this intellectual project. Readings and class discussions will be in both Arabic and English. Prerequisites:

    Student has completed any of the following course(s): ARBC 206 – Arabic in Cultural Context or equivalent with a grade of C- or better.

     3 credits; IS, International Studies, LA, Literary/Artistic Analysis; offered Spring 2025 · Yaron Klein