Courses

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Arabic Courses

ARA101 Essay Reading and Writing I

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course concentrates on essay reading and writing. Through selected readings that represent different types of essays, students will receive training on literary analysis and essay writing skills. This course also includes a review of essential grammatical rules of the Arabic language.

ARA303 Arabic Grammar and Syntax

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course looks into advanced elements of Arabic grammar, syntax and issues of I’rab. It trains students to analyze sentence structures.

ARA304 Arabic Linguistics

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course addresses principles and trends of linguistics in light of modern linguistic theories and descriptive methodologies as they apply to Arabic.

ARA305 Arabic Philology and Lexicography

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course deals with major issues of Arabic philology and offers an overview of Arabic lexicography. Students will be asked to consider theoretical issues in analyzing lexical and lexicographic material. This course tackles also issues related to phonology and elocution.

ARA310 Classical Arabic Rhetoric and Literary Criticism

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course addresses basic features of Arabic rhetoric and literary criticism, and the dialectical relationship between them. Representative texts will be studied to illustrate theories presented throughout the course.

ARA312 Contemporary Literary Theory and Criticism

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces several modern and postmodern theories of literature and literary criticism such as structuralism, deconstruction and feminism. Representative literary texts will be an integral part of the course.

ARA313 Creative Writing

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course exposes students to various literary styles and artistic forms of writing. Students are given the opportunity to implement the skills they learn in creative writing of their own.

ARA320 Pre-Islamic and Umayyad Poetry

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is a survey of ancient Arabic poetry from the pre-Islamic period to the end of the Umayyad era. The course focuses on major issues and problems reflected in the poetry of this period.

ARA323 Abbasid Poetry

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is a survey of the poetic trends, themes and stylistics of the Abbasid period. The course focuses on the major figures of poetry in that period, and relates Abbasid poetry to the cultural changes in that period.

ARA323H Abbasid Poetry

[3–0, 3 cr.]

A survey of the poetic trends, themes and stylistics of the Abbasid period. The course focuses on the major figures of poetry in that period, and relates Abbasid poetry to the cultural changes in that period.

ARA324 Andalusian Literature

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course studies Arabic poetry and prose in Andalusia focusing on the development of new genres and literary art-forms in that period.

ARA325 Classical Prose

[3–0, 3 cr.]

The course is a survey of the development of Arabic literary prose from the 2nd/8th to the 5th/11th centuries. The course introduces major authors and works that characterize the Arabic prose of the period.

ARA325H Classical Prose

[3–0, 3 cr.]

ARA326 Arab Civilization and Culture

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course is a survey of Arab civilization and culture. It emphasizes aspects of cultural development in thought, sciences, social life and arts including painting, music, singing, calligraphy, crafts, etc.

Note: This course has not been taught since Fall 2022 and will not be taught in the academic year 2024–2025.

ARA327 Sufi Literature

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course surveys the rise of ascetic and mystical tendencies in Islam including the historical development and central ideas of Sufism. It pays special attention to the poetic expression of the mystical experience. Representative texts will be read for analysis and aesthetic appreciation.

Note: This course has not been taught since Fall 2022 and will not be taught in the academic year 2024–2025.

ARA328 Arabic Folk Literature

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course surveys the development of classical and premodern Arabic folk literature. Selections from texts such as The Arabian Nights, Sirat Antara and Sirat Bani Hilal are studied and analyzed in order to follow the development of this genre throughout history.

ARA329 Travel Literature

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course surveys a selection of non-fictional texts categorized under ‘Travel Literature’. The course considers a number of travel narratives, paying attention to elements of history and context as well as narrative techniques, structure and themes in this particular genre.

Note: This course has not been taught since Fall 2022 and will not be taught in the academic year 2024–2025.

ARA330 Lebanese Literary Heritage

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course aims at introducing students to the Lebanese literary heritage. It allows students to appreciate the significance of the literary heritage of Lebanon which was presented in different genres. This is accomplished through a thorough critical study and analysis of Lebanese poetry, novels, literary criticism and history, and lyrics performed in the local dialect.

ARA341 Modern Arabic Novel and Short Story

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course introduces the novel and the short story as literary forms. It explores various elements that make up the novel such as plot, characterization, style, genre and theme, as well as its historical, cultural, and thematic contexts.

ARA342 Arabic Drama

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course addresses the emergence and development of drama as a genre in Arabic literature. Through careful readings of representative plays, students survey various themes and issues prominent in Arabic drama along with their social and political contexts.

ARA343 Modern Arabic Poetry

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course focuses on modern Arabic poetry from the late 19th century up to the present time. Selected samples of poetry are studied and analyzed.

ARA344 Trends in Modern Literature

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course deals with modern literary trends from classicism to surrealism. Students are trained in intensive analysis of selected texts in Arabic literature that are representative of the course content.

ARA344H Trends in Modern Literature

[3–0, 3 cr.]

ARA488 Topics in Arabic Language and Literature

[3–0, 3 cr.]

This course deals with a topic that is beyond the normal scope of the listed courses in the B.A. program. It includes new approaches to language, literature or civilization as well as a special theme.

ARA499 Senior Study

[3–0, 3 cr.]

A course designed for seniors to employ the techniques of modern literary criticism by conducting intensive research into a selected literary figure, trend or work.