Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS)
Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures -- Arabic track

The Arabic language is the key to understanding the culture and history of more than 22 nations and more than 206 million speakers. It is the language of an ancient civilization and today is spoken widely across North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula. Arabic is also the liturgical language of more than a billion Muslims, and it is one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

The interdisciplinary major in Arabic language and culture allows students to develop an appreciation for the complexity of the many facets of the Arab world: its society, culture, history, arts, religions, and literary heritage. This major is therefore ideal for students considering careers in diplomacy, journalism, consulting, business, foreign service, translation, and academia. Future graduates would be in great demand for advanced studies in any of these fields.

Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS), housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) Dean’s Office and directed by the CLAS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, is a limited access major that requires applying to the IDS Committee, creating a thesis research proposal, securing primary and secondary faculty advisors (one of whom must be a member of CLAS), submitting two letters of recommendation, and having a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students accepted into the IDS major must design a curriculum that consists of 20 credits (3000-level or above) in the core, 7 to 12 credits of IDS 4906 Interdisciplinary Thesis Research (or equivalent), and 18 credits (3000-level or above) of electives, after consultation with primary and secondary faculty advisors. Applications must be submitted to 2014 Turlington Hall by the deadlines listed at www.clas.ufl.edu/ids.

Middle Eastern Languages and Cultures (MELC) is one of seven established tracks within the IDS major. Students must apply and be accepted by the IDS Committee before being admitted to the IDS major. Students may apply to the IDS major by the end of their fourth semester. Students can begin taking courses that will count toward the IDS major in preparation for applying or being accepted into the major. However, the required course, IDS 4906, is reserved only for IDS majors. Arabic and Hebrew are two options within MELC.

The Arabic specialization requires the following:
IDS 4906 IDS Research Thesis (7 to 12 credits) and submitting a Thesis

Approved curriculum for Core* courses:
(all courses are 3 credits unless otherwise noted)
ARA 3300 Third Year Arabic 1
ARA 3301 Third Year Arabic 2
ARA 3510 The Arab Woman
ARA 4400 Fourth Year Arabic 1
ARA 4401 Fourth Year Arabic 2
ARA 4420 Arabic Through Texts
ARA 4820 Structure of Arabic Dialect
ARA 4850 Structure of Standard Arabic
ARA 4905 Individual Study (1 to 5 credits)
ARA 4930 Special Topics
ABT 3130 Arabic Literary Heritage 1
ABT 3131 Arabic Literary Heritage 2
AFH 4302 History of North Africa
CPO 4401 Arab-Israeli Conflict
REL 3317 Religions of Iran
REL 4364 Classical Islamic Thought
REL 4367 History of Islam in the Modern World

*other courses may be included with the consent of the advisor

NOTE: Students must earn a grade of C or better in all courses to count toward the major; designations of satisfactory or unsatisfactory are not acceptable. MELC courses can simultaneously satisfy general distribution requirements (H, I, S). Students are responsible for completing all CLAS requirements. Refer to the academic advising section in the undergraduate catalog.

BA in MELC (Arabic track) Undergraduate Advisor:
Professor Esameddin Alhadi, Arabic Lecturer
UF Department of African and Asian Languages and Literatures
B124 Turlington Hall • PO Box 115565 • Gainesville, FL 32611-5565
Office Ph: 352-392-8428 • Dept. Fax: 352-392-1443
ealhadi@aall.ufl.edu