BA Arabic and... (a discipline) SOAS University of London

Mode of Attendance: Full-time

At SOAS the study of Arabic can be combined with an unparalleled range of disciplines and languages. Combined-honours degrees in Arabic are intended to give students a solid grounding in Modern Standard and Classical Arabic, as well as conversational ability in Colloquial Arabic, in combination with a second subject. Intensive study of a wide range of Arabic language and literature is a compulsory feature of combined-honours degrees in Arabic. Students are required to spend the third year of study at a university in the Middle East.

Arabic and a discipline: Arabic can be combined with Development Studies, Economics, English, History, History of Art/Archaeology, International Relations, Islamic Studies (for details see BA Arabic and Islamic Studies), Law, Linguistics, Music, Politics, Social Anthropology and Study of Religions.

May be combined with:

• Development Studies, LT96 BA/DVSAF
• Economics, LT16 BA/ECA
• History, TV61 BA/HA
• History of Art, TV63 BA/AHAA
• International Relations, LT2P BA/IRA
• Law, MT16 BA/LWA
• Linguistics, QT16 BA/ALG
• Music, TW63 BA/MSA
• Politics, LT26 BA/POLA
• Social Anthropology, LT66 BA/SAA

Structure

Students take modules to the value of 120 credits per year. There is some element of choice to develop special interests.

Year 1

Core Module

Must be passed with an overall mark of 50 to proceed to the following year of study.

• Arabic 1 (UG)
• Arabic 2 (UG)

Second Subject

You should choose 60 credits in your second subject.

Year 2

Core Module

Must be passed with an overall mark of 50 to proceed to the following year of study.

• Arabic 3A (UG)
• Arabic 3B (UG)

Compulsory Module

• Introduction to Arabic Dialects

Second Subject

You should choose 60 credits in your second subject.

Year 3

Students have the choice to spend the Arabic Language Year Abroad at one of the following institutions:

1. The Alexandria School of Languages (ACL) in Alexandria, Egypt
2. The Alif Institute in Fez, Morocco
3. The Qasid Institute in Amman, Jordan

Year 4

Compulsory Modules

Students choose language modules according to their level from the List Below to the value of 30 credits. Plus another 30 credits from List C

• Arabic 5 A (UG
• Arabic 5 B (UG)
• Arabic 6 A (UG)
• Arabic 6 B (UG)

List A: Arabic Language Modules

• Arabic 1 (UG)
• Arabic 2 (UG)
• Arabic 3 A (UG)
• Arabic 3 B (UG)
• Arabic 4 A (UG)
• Arabic 4 B (UG)
• Arabic 5 A (UG)
• Arabic 5 B (UG)
• Arabic 6 A (UG)
• Arabic 6 B (UG)

List B: Year 2 Arabic Related Modules

• Introduction to Arabic Dialects
• Introduction to Arabic Culture
• Introduction to Arabic Literature A: Modern Trends

List C: Year 4 Arabic Related Modules

• Arabic Women's Writing
• Culture Society and Politics in Classical Arabic Literature
• Politics and Aesthetics in Modern Arabic Literature
• Quran and Hadith Studies
• Reading Classical Arabic historians
• Independent Study Project in Arabic Studies (using Language sources)

Learn a language as part of this programme

Degree programmes at SOAS - including this one - can include language courses in more than forty African and Asian languages. It is SOAS students’ command of an African or Asian language that sets SOAS apart from other universities.

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.

Employment

As a graduate who specialised in Arabic, you will have gained competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a study of language in combination with literature, development studies, economics, geography, history, history of art and archaeology, law, linguistics, music, politics, social anthropology or religion.

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers, both in business and in the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources. Choosing to study a joint degree programme will increase the breadth of your knowledge, and will develop additional skills with which to further your studies of the region, or to make a comparative study with other areas. The study of Arabic may be combined with a huge range of other disciplines. For more information on the extra skills you will gain from your second subject, please see the relevant departmental page.

The Middle East occupies a place of major importance in global politics and economics, so graduates of Arabic enjoy a considerable range of career opportunities. SOAS alumni with degrees in Arabic have found jobs in business, finance, diplomacy as well as humanitarian aid, higher education and the media. There is also an increasing need for graduates of Arabic in Arab companies with subsidiaries in the East and the West.