Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Arts & Culture
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Arts & Culture

College of Arts and Sciences Launches Minor in Arabic

Wednesday, August 13, 2014, By News Staff
Share
College of Arts and Sciences

In response to the growing interest in understanding Arab contemporary society, the College of Arts and Sciences has launched a minor degree program in Arabic.

The 20-credit-hour program prepares students to read, write and communicate orally in Arabic at a functional level in an international setting. It also trains them to recognize and respond to cultural patterns of Arabic-speaking peoples.

Rania Habib

Rania Habib

For more information, contact Rania Habib, assistant professor of linguistics and Arabic in the Department of Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics (LLL), at 315-443-5490 or rhabib@syr.edu.

“A minor in Arabic will increase students’ attractiveness in the job market, especially with the present demand for Americans who can demonstrate high proficiency in Arabic,” says Habib, who coordinates the Arabic Program and teaches in the Middle Eastern Studies Program. “Arabic has been designated as one of the critical languages by the U.S. government, which has been investing substantially in increasing the number of people who are proficient in it.”

Gail Bulman, associate professor and chair of LLL, is excited about the program, citing the growing need for qualified Arabic language teachers, as well as specialists who understand Arab culture and society.

“There’s been a huge increase in the number of students enrolled in Arabic language, linguistics and culture courses at Syracuse,” she says, adding that the retention rate among these students has been high. “Our goal is to translate these numbers into jobs in academia and industry.”

Steeped in upper-division Arabic language, literature and culture courses, the new program targets a wide swath of students, including those majoring in religion, history, geography, political science, international relations, management, marketing, public relations or broadcast and digital journalism.

Arabic is spoken by more than 300 million people in 22 countries in the Middle East and North Africa. One of the world’s fastest-growing languages, it is the official language of 26 countries, the African Union, the Arab League and the United Nations.

“Arabic is the main medium of communication in business, government and media throughout the Arabic-speaking world. Its prevalence cannot be overstated,” Rania adds.

  • Author

News Staff

  • Recent
  • How New Words Enter Our Language: A Linguistics Expert Explains
    Friday, July 25, 2025, By Jen Plummer
  • Impact Players: Sport Analytics Students Help Influence UFL Rules and Strategy
    Friday, July 25, 2025, By Matt Michael
  • Bringing History to Life: How Larry Swiader ’89, G’93 Blends Storytelling With Emerging Technology
    Friday, July 25, 2025, By News Staff
  • Mihm Recognized for Fostering ‘Excellence in Public Service for the Next Generation’
    Wednesday, July 23, 2025, By Jessica Youngman
  • Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Celebrating Recent High School Grads
    Monday, July 21, 2025, By News Staff

More In Arts & Culture

How New Words Enter Our Language: A Linguistics Expert Explains

From “yeet” to “social distancing,” new words and phrases constantly emerge and evolve in American English. But how do these neologisms—newly coined terms—gain acceptance and become part of mainstream dialect? We interviewed Christopher Green, associate professor of linguistics in the…

Art Museum Acquires Indian Scrolls Gifted by SUNY Professor

The University Art Museum has received a monumental gift of more than 80 traditional Indian patachitra scrolls, significantly expanding its collection of South Asian art and material culture. The scrolls were donated by Geraldine Forbes, Distinguished Teaching Professor Emerita at…

Architecture Students’ Project Selected for Royal Academy Exhibition

In a prestigious international honor, a project by three students from the School of Architecture has been selected for inclusion in the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition 2025, currently on view in London. The work, titled “Evolving an Urban Ecology,” was…

Vintage Over Digital: Alumnus Dan Cohen’s Voyager CD Bag Merges Music and Fashion

Bucking the trend of streaming music platforms and contrary to what one might expect of a member of his generation, musician Dan Cohen ’25 prefers listening to his favorite artists on compact disc (CD) and record players. His research and…

VPA Announces New Drama Department Chair

The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) has appointed Eleanor Holdridge as the new chair of the Department of Drama effective July 1. Holdridge comes to Syracuse University from the Catholic University of America, where she served as professor…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.