Arab World Studies (BA)

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Offered by the Department of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies , College of Arts and Sciences, the Arab World Studies (BA) is an interdisciplinary major that offers students the opportunity to learn about Arab societies from multiple perspectives. The strength of the program is its holistic approach to studying the Arab Middle East, which is analyzed through its politics, economy, gender relations, literature, geography, religion, and its place in a globalizing world.

Admission to the Program

Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) in two courses related to the major.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements

36 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 18 credit hours at or above 300-level
Demonstrate Arabic language proficiency through completion of two years of college-level study (ARAB-203 Arabic Intermediate II (5) ) or equivalent as certified by the Department of World Languages and Cultures

Course Requirements

Foundation (9 credit hours)

100-Level Selective

Complete 6 credit hours from the following, with no more than 3 credit hours in any one department or program:

200-Level Selective

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

Concentration (15 credit hours)

Complete 15 credit hours with one course from each of the following categories, if not taken to fulfill Foundation, or other courses approved by program director:

Theory and Methodology

Note: Other courses may be approved by the program director for students with an additional major.

Culture and Humanities

History and Politics

Gender and Identity

Economy and Media

Electives (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Foundation or Concentration, or other courses approved by program director:

Capstone (3 credit hours)

CRGC-460 Capstone Research Seminar (3)

Arabic Language Requirement

Students must demonstrate Arabic language proficiency at the intermediate level (ARAB-203 ). Students with previous experience with the language may test out of one or more of the following courses (evaluation conducted in collaboration with the Arabic language program).

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.