Arabic Studies Overview

Arabic Studies at the University of Texas is a comprehensive program in Arabic language, literature, and culture. The BA program offers intensive language study that helps students reach Advanced proficiency in the language in three years, followed by courses in Arabic on literature, culture, the media, and one-credit Arabic Across Disciplines courses that link language study to the study of other subjects, such as history, government, and religion.

The curriculum combines both spoken and formal Arabic (also called colloquial and classical Arabic, respectively) from the very beginning, and courses are offered in both Egyptian and Levantine dialects, the latter of which includes the similar Jordanian, Lebanese, Palestinian, and Syrian dialects. 

All students who have not previously taken Arabic classes at UT, but who have some knowledge of Arabic, however acquired, must take a placement test before registering for any Arabic class. The test includes listening, reading, writing, and an oral interview with the test proctor. Contact the Undergraduate Adviser, Kimberly Dahl, or the Arabic Language Program Coordinator, Dr. Martha Schulte-Nafeh, to reserve a place at the placement test. The test is given during the week before classes begin, and the exact time and date are announced on the Middle Eastern Studies website under Language Testing.