Undergraduate

The study of Arabic opens the door to the rich history and culture of the Middle East and North Africa. Classical Arabic is the language of religion. Modern standard Arabic is the language of formal culture and the communication media. The Arabic dialects are the language of daily life. The major in Arabic introduces students to each of these varieties of Arabic and to their respective literature.

Before petitioning for a course, please visit our Pre-Approved Courses page for a list of accepted courses. For a course that is NOT on the above list, please visit our Course Petitions page.

  • Arabic (major)

    Preparation for the Major (Required):
    • Arabic 1A (Elementary Standard Arabic)
    • Arabic 1B (Elementary Standard Arabic)
    • Arabic 1C (Elementary Standard Arabic)

      AND ONE COURSE FROM:       
    • History 9D (Introduction to Asian Civilizations: History of Middle East)
    • Middle Eastern Studies M50CW (Making and Studying Modern Middle East)
    • Islamic Studies M20 (Introduction to Islam)
    • Near Eastern Languages M20 (Visible Language: Study of Writing)
    • Near Eastern Languages 65 (Global Time Travel)

    Transfer Students:
    Transfer applicants to the Arabic major with 90 or more units must complete the following introductory courses prior to admission to UCLA: one year of Arabic. Refer to the UCLA Transfer Admission Guide for up-to-date information regarding transfer selection for admission.

    Major Requirements (11 Courses):

    Arabic Or Islamic Core (5 Courses)

      • Arabic 102A (Intermediate Standard Arabic)
      • Arabic 102B (Intermediate Standard Arabic)
      • Arabic 102C (Intermediate Standard Arabic)
        OR
      • Arabic 108 (Summer Intensive Intermediate Arabic)

        AND         
      • Two courses from Arabic or Islamic Studies

    Required Electives (6 Courses)

    Choose from the following courses:

        • Anthropology M166Q (Culture Area of Maghrib (North Africa))
        • Arabic 103A (Advanced Arabic)
        • Arabic 103B (Advanced Arabic)
        • Arabic 103C (Advanced Arabic)
        • Arabic 105 (Introduction to Qur’anic and Islamic Arabic)
        • Arabic M106 (Qur’an)
        • Arabic M107 (Islam in West)
        • Arabic M110 (Thousand and One Nights/Alf Layla Wa-Layla)
        • Arabic 111A/B/C (Elementary Spoken Egyptian Arabic)
        • Arabic 112A/B/C (Advanced Spoken Egyptian Arabic)
        • Arabic 115 (Studies in Arabic Dialectology)
        • Arabic 116A/B/C (Elementary Iraqi Arabic)
        • Arabic 120 (Islamic Texts)
        • Arabic M123 (Oral Literature and Performance of Arab World)
        • Arabic 130 (Classical Arabic Texts)
        • Arabic 132 (Philosophical and Kalam Texts)
        • Arabic 140 (Readings in Modern Standard Arabic)
        • Arabic C141 (Modern Arabic Literature)
        • Arabic 142 (Arabic Media)
        • Arabic M148 (Contemporary Arab Film and Song)
        • Arabic 150 (Classical Arabic Literature in English)
        • Arabic M151 (Modern Arabic Literature in English)
        • Arabic M155 (Al-Andalus: Literature of Islamic Spain)
        • Arabic M171 (Culture Area of Maghrib (North Africa)
        • Arabic 177 (Variable Topics in Arabic)
        • Arabic 180 (Linguistics Analysis of Arabic)
        • Arabic 181 (Translating Arabic)
        • Art History 119A (Western Islamic Art)
        • Art History 119B (Eastern Islamic Art)
        • Art History C120 (Introduction to Islamic Archaeology)
        • Comparative Literature 100 (Introduction to Literary and Critical Theory)
        • History 105A (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 500 to 1300)
        • History 105B (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 1300 to 1700)
        • History 105C (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 1700 to Present)
        • History M106 (Premodern Islam)
        • History 108B (History of Islamic Iberia)
        • History 111A (Topics in Middle Eastern History: Premodern)
        • History 111B (Topics in Middle Eastern History: Early Modern)
        • History 111C (Topics in Middle Eastern History: Modern)
        • Islamic Studies M107 (Islam in West), M111 (Introduction to Islamic Archaeology)
        • Islamic Studies M112 (Archaeology and Art of Christian and Islamic Egypt)
        • Islamic Studies CM115 (Islam and Other Religions)
        • Islamic Studies 130 (Shi’a in Islamic History)
        • Islamic Studies C151 (Contemporary Islamic Thought)
        • Political Science 132A (International Relations of Middle East)
        • Political Science M132B (International Relations of Middle East)
        • Political Science 157 (Government and Politics in the Middle East)
        • Political Science 165 (Islam and Politics)

  • Arabic and Islamic Studies (minor)

    The Arabic and Islamic Studies minor is designed for students who wish to augment their major program with a group of related courses that provide a systematic introduction to the study of Arabic language and literature and Islam.

    To enter the minor, students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better, have completed Arabic 1A, 1B, 1C, or the equivalent as determined by the department.

    Required Lower Division Courses (15 units)

    Complete the following three courses or equivalent:

    • Arabic 1A (Elementary Standard Arabic)
    • Arabic 1B (Elementary Standard Arabic)
    • Arabic 1C (Elementary Standard Arabic)
    Required Upper Division Courses (20 units)

    Arabic or Islamic Core (3 courses)

      • Arabic 102A (Intermediate Standard Arabic)
      • Arabic 102B (Intermediate Standard Arabic)
      • Arabic 102C (Intermediate Standard Arabic)
        OR
      • Arabic 108 (Summer Intensive Intermediate Arabic)

    Electives (2 courses)

    Choose from the following courses:

      • Any course in Arabic or Islamic Studies
      • Anthropology M166Q (Culture Area of Maghrib (North Africa))
      • Art History 119A (Western Islamic Art)
      • Art History 119B (Eastern Islamic Art)
      • Art History C120 (Introduction to Islamic Archaeology)
      • Comparative Literature 100 (Introduction to Literary and Critical Theory)
      • History 105A (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 500 to 1300)
      • History 105B (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 1300 to 1700)
      • History 105C (Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present: 1700 to Present)
      • History M106 (Premodern Islam)
      • History 108B (History of Islamic Iberia)
      • History 111A (Topics in Middle Eastern History: Premodern)
      • History 111B (Topics in Middle Eastern History: Early Modern)
      • History 111C (Topics in Middle Eastern History: Modern)
      • Islamics 130 (Shi’a in Islamic History)
      • Political Science 132A (International Relations of Middle East)
      • Political Science M132B (International Relations of Middle East)
      • Political Science 157 (Government and Politics in the Middle East)
      • Political Science 165 (Islam and Politics)

    Other courses, including extra-departmental courses, may be applied with consent of advisor. 199 courses may NOT be applied.

    A minimum of 20 units applied toward the minor requirements must be in addition to units applied towards major requirements of another minor. Each minor course must be taken for a letter grade, and students must have an overall grade-point average of 2.0 or better. Successful completion of the minor is indicated on the transcript and diploma.