Minor in Arabic at Bryn Mawr College

Why Study Arabic at Bryn Mawr College?

Arabic is one of a few languages that spread as a medium of intellectual thought, as well as a lingua franca. From the revelation of the Quran to the scholarship of the middle ages, to modern culture in the Arab world, Arabic is a language of culture and innovation.

As an Arabic student in the Tri-Co, you will study at Bryn Mawr, Haverford, and Swarthmore as you improve your fluency and comprehension. We are excited to lead you in your exploration of this rich, beautiful, ancient language and the diverse people who speak it.

Courses of Study

The Tri-Co offers a minor in Arabic language.

Minor in Arabic

Arabic Studies Student photographs a sunset in a wadi while studying abroad

Additional Information

Beckie Bull '20

"The program was extremely intensive and I learned an incredible amount of Arabic."

Course Highlight

ARAB B100 Introduction to Jordanian Dialect and Culture (0.5 Unit)
Having studied Modern Standard Arabic in some depth before, this course will help you communicate in the Jordanian dialect while introducing you to an in-depth examination of the history and culture. This will take place through a variety of interactive exercises and real-life scenarios, possibly going shopping in one of the local stores, and/or similar field trips. In addition, the course will introduce and touch upon cultural norms of Jordan, some of it specific to the country and some shared by inhabitants of the Arab world. This course will helping you advance your understanding of the history and culture of Jordan, but also of the Arabic language and its usage on a daily basis.

Check Out the Course Catalog For More Arabic Courses

Faculty Spotlight

Manar Darwish

Senior Lecturer and Director of Arabic and
Director of Arabic Language Study in Sijal

Manar Darwish graduated with a B.A. from the American University in Cairo. She did her graduate work at the University of Washington in Seattle.

She has been teaching Arabic to college students for more than 25 years. Her teaching experience includes Islamic and gender studies, and the media and culture of Middle Eastern countries.

She studies the Qur’an and classical and modern Arabic literature.

Meet Our Other Arabic Faculty

A Bright Future

How grads are lighting their paths

What Recent Bryn Mawr Alumnae/i Are Doing Now

Opportunities in Arabic

Arabic Table

Come practice your Arabic skills weekly at the Dining Center at Haverford. This is a fun, low-pressure way to make friends and practice your language skills.

Internships

We encourage you to take on internships where you can use your Arabic skills to help folks in the community. Several recent Bryn Mawr students found that their Arabic abilities were a great asset in banking and immigration services internships.

A Bryn Mawr College Arabic student studies abroad in Jordan

Study Abroad

Many of our students choose to study abroad during the school year. We are also connected to the Sijal Institute in Jordan which offers intensive summer courses in Arabic.

Have questions about studying Arabic at Bryn Mawr? Check here first:

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Do I have to take a placement test for this program?

Yes, a placement test is required if you have studied Arabic before.

You can complete the test online. It takes about 120 minutes, and you don't need to study first. It consists of some basic grammar exercises, various brief translations (Arabic to English, and English to Arabic), a reading comprehension section, and a short essay.

Once you arrive on campus, please meet with the Arabic faculty at the Academic Fair during Customs New Student Orientation for a brief, informal conversation so they can better understand your fluency level.

Can Arabic be used towards a minor in Middle Eastern, Central Asian and North African Studies?

Yes, Arabic and Hebrew are both acceptable for the language track in Middle Eastern, Central Asian and North African Studies.

Do I need to study abroad to minor in Arabic?

Study abroad isn't mandator for Arabic minors. We do encourage it, however. Study abroad in an Arabic speaking country is a great way to quickly increase your language skills.

Are there any classes available in regional dialects of Arabic?

Yes, upper level Arabic classes cover regional dialects including Jordanian and Egyptian dialects.

Leading the Fight Against Islamophobia

After the 7-year-old daughter of Fazana Saleem-Ismail ’94 faced Islamophobic questions in response to a school project about Ramadan, Fazana started offering her wisdom and experience as a Muslim woman on Facebook. Then a reporter called.