2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Nov 21, 2024

2024-2025 Academic Catalog

Arabic Studies Concentration

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Language, Literature and Culture Overview

The Language, Literature and Culture Department aims to promote students’ competency in learning other languages, and to broaden and enrich their education through in-depth study of other cultures. Mastering a language includes listening, speaking, reading and writing proficiency. Students can easily apply these skills to other disciplines at Clark and to their future professions.

Students can study Arabic, ASL, Chinese, French, German, Hebrew, Japanese, Latin and Spanish at Clark, and can major in Ancient Civilization, Comparative Literature, French or Spanish. It is also possible, at the department’s discretion, to major in more than one language taught at Clark (the Combined Languages major). Students can also apply skills in Asian languages to an Asian Studies major and skills in Hebrew to a concentration in Jewish Studies.

The Language, Literature and Culture Department is part of the Alice Coonley Higgins School of Humanities.

For more information, please visit the Language, Literature and Culture Department’s website.

Language Placement

Please use the chart on the department’s main web page to determine what course level to take, depending on how many previous years of the language you’ve had. The University reviews transcripts to ensure that students are not over-qualified for a particular course. Students with native or near-native fluency in a language should consult with the coordinator in that language to determine the appropriate level.

For more on language placement, please consult the Department’s Language Placement Guidelines page.

Study Abroad

Participation in a Study Abroad program gives you a chance to view the interests and issues you care about from the perspective of another culture. Students in LL&C are encouraged to study abroad in exciting cities in Chile, China, the Dominican Republic, France, Germany, Japan, Senegal, and Spain. The staff in Clark’s Office of Study Abroad can help you find an experience that fits your requirements.

Arabic Studies Concentration Requirements

To qualify, a student must complete six (6) credit units; three (3) core courses an three (3) electives.

Of the three (3) core courses, two (2) are language courses at the beginning level and the third is an introductory course to Arabic culture (taught in English).

In addition, students will need to take three (3) courses from a variety of departments as electives. Those courses can be at the introductory, intermediate and/or advanced level. Depending on the pre-requisites, students may want to explore taking at least one of the three electives at the advanced level. It is also required to take the electives from different departments to guarantee an interdisciplinary experience. If courses are not scheduled regularly, students must consult with their faculty adviser. Students can also select an internship as one of the electives to fulfill the requirements. The selection must be made in consultation with the program adviser and/or the coordinator. Students who wish to conduct independent study, may approach the faculty for permission to enroll in ARAB 299 DS, which would serve as one of the electives.

Required Core Courses

ARAB 101 - Elementary Arabic I

ARAB 102 - Elementary Arabic II

ARAB 105 - Introduction to Arabic Culture

Elective Courses

ARAB 296 - Special Topics in Arabic Language and Culture

ARAB 298 - Internship

ARAB 299 - Directed Study

ARTH 161 - The Arts of Islam

ARTH 220 - Sub-Saharan African Art: Challenges of Evidence, Interpretation, Preservation & Ownership

HIST 266 - Refugees

PSCI 117 - Revolution and Political Violence

PSCI 120 - International Negotiation and Mediation

PSCI 144 - Religion and International Relations

PSCI 174 - Middle East Politics

PSCI 229 - Arab-Israeli Conflict

PSCI 233 - The Arab Spring and Its Aftermath

SOC 260 - Immigrants and Immigration: Innovation, Creativity and Culture

WGS 200 - Topics in Feminist Theory

Language, Literature and Culture Faculty

Program

María Acosta Cruz, Ph.D.
Eduard Arriaga-Arango, Ph.D.
Belén Atienza, Ph.D.
Odile Ferly, Ph.D.
Allison Fong, Ph.D.
Everett Fox, Ph.D.
Beth Gale, Ph.D.
Dolores Juan-Moreno, Ph.D.
Alexander Murphy, Ph.D.
Juan Pablo Rivera, Ph.D.

Adjunct

Sawsan Berjawi, M.A., M.Ed.
John Dunn
Lili Foti, Ph.D.
Tyran Grillo, Ph.D.
Kuylain Howard, M.A.
Talia Mugg
Elizabeth O’Connell-Inman, M.A.
Marcela Otálora, M.A.
Joanne Qu, Ph.D.
Chris Synodinos, Ph.D.
Yanna Zhang, Ph.D.

Emeriti

Carol D’Lugo, Ph.D.
Marvin D’Lugo, Ph.D.
Hartmut Kaiser, Ph.D.
Dorothy Kaufmann, Ph.D.
Constance Montross, Ph.D.
Walter Schatzberg, Ph.D.
Michael Spingler, Ph.D.

Languages, Literature and Culture Courses

Courses offered within the last 2 Academic Years

Listing by Fields of Specialization

Arabic

Chinese

Classics

Comparative Literature

French

Most advanced French courses listed as offered periodically are available once every three years.

German

Hebrew

Japanese

Spanish

The Spanish program is based on a three-year rotation. Advanced courses listed as offered periodically are generally available at least once every three years.