The minor in Arabic allows students to develop substantial proficiency in Modern Standard Arabic and to explore Arabic literature and culture in more depth. It is designed to complement majors across the curriculum and to support students interested in the Middle East and the broader Arab world.

Learning Goals

Students who complete the minor in Arabic will:

  • build intermediate to advanced proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking
  • gain experience reading texts in the original Arabic
  • develop a sense of the diversity of Arabic literary and cultural production
  • learn to connect language skills with broader historical, religious, and cultural questions

Summary of Requirements

(For the complete and official statement of requirements, please consult the Academic Catalog under Middle Eastern Languages.)

To receive the Arabic minor, students must complete 36 credits beyond ARBC 204, including:

  • 24–30 credits in Arabic language courses, typically chosen from:
    • ARBC 205: Intermediate Arabic
    • ARBC 206: Arabic in Cultural Context
    • ARBC 211: Colloquial Levantine Arabic
    • ARBC 310: Advanced Media Arabic
    • ARBC 315: Readings in Arabic Anthologies
    • ARBC 371: Readings in Premodern Arabic Science
    • ARBC 387: The One Thousand and One Nights
  • 6–12 credits in Arabic literature and/or culture in translation, usually taken from courses such as:
    • ARBC 135: Imagining Arab Worlds
    • ARBC 148: The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
    • ARBC 185: The Creation of Classical Arabic Literature
    • ARBC 222: Music in the Middle East
    • ARBC 387: The One Thousand and One Nights (in Arabic & English)

Additional Notes

  • Up to 12 credits from off-campus Arabic language study may be applied toward the minor.
  • Students should work with the Arabic program director to plan a coherent set of courses that matches their interests and preparation.

Planning Your Path

If you begin Arabic at Carleton in ARBC 101:

  • Year 1: Complete ARBC 101–103. Students can start a new language in any year of their studies, but we recommend beginning in your first year.
  • Year 2: Take ARBC 204–206 (intermediate and cultural context), and consider study abroad.
  • Years 3–4: Choose additional language and literature/culture courses to reach 36 credits beyond ARBC 204. This is also the time in which interested students study in OCSs in the Middle East.

If you arrive with prior Arabic:

  • Take the placement test and consult with the program director.
  • Map out which combination of intermediate, advanced language, and literature/culture courses will fulfill the 36-credit requirement.
  • If you plan to study abroad, discuss how off-campus credits can count toward the minor and how many you can apply.

How the Minor Connects to Other Programs

Many students complete the Arabic minor alongside majors in:

  • History
  • Political Science/International Relations
  • Religion
  • Philosophy
  • Classics
  • Music
  • Linguistics
  • Anthropology

Some also combine the Arabic minor with the Middle East Studies minor, which draws on courses from several departments and provides a broader regional framework.

Declaring the Minor

You may declare the Arabic minor any time between the second week of your 6th term and your final term at Carleton. Declarations in the sophomore or junior year are encouraged.

To declare the Arabic minor:

  1. Review the detailed requirements.
  2. Fill out the Arabic Minor Requirements Form (linked on this page).

Meet with the Arabic program director to discuss your plan of study and have the minor approved

Arabic Minor Requirements Form