Faculty of Arts

 Arabic Studies

Table of Contents

Subject Lists
    Language subjects
    Optional subjects
        First/second-year subjects
        Second/third-year subjects
        Third/fourth-year subjects
        Fourth year Honours subjects
    Subjects not offered in 1999
        Second/third-year subjects not offered in 1999
        Third/fourth-year subjects not offered in 1999

Arabic language and Arabic culture and society subjects are offered by the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS).

Arabic is the language spoken by the 180 million Arabs living in the Middle East and in Africa, as well as Arabic communities in many countries around the world including Australia. Arabic is also the international language of Islam which is the religion followed by approximately one-fifth of the world's total population. The Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies offers several subjects in Arabic language and literature, in Arab society and culture and in Islamic Studies.

 1. Language study streams

The Institute offers two streams of Arabic language study:

• Beginners

  The beginners stream is available to students who have little or no knowledge of Arabic. It is available at both first and second year although students intending to complete a Major will need to commence their language study in their first year.

  Post-VCE

  The post-VCE stream is usually only available to students who have obtained a pass in VCE Arabic, or its equivalent.

The Institute determines the language stream in which a student is to enrol. Placement is based on VCE results, other language study, other language study record, or a placement test.

Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered according to the student's needs as determined by the Institute during the first two weeks of teaching. As far as possible, the Institute will notify students of any changes to their stream during the first two weeks of semester. Where a change is made in the third or fourth week of semester it will be reported to the Associate Dean (Undergraduate Studies).

 2. Diploma of Modern Languages (Arabic)

The Diploma of Modern Languages (DML) enables students to gain a diploma in language study in the course of completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

The DML usually involves a three-year sequence of language study, totalling a minimum of 100 points. It adds one year to the duration of an ordinary degree course.

The DML (Arabic) is offered in the beginners and post-VCE streams. Arabic subjects are taken alongside degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. This must be approved by a Faculty course adviser and the Head of Program, MIALS. See Diploma in Modern Languages (DML).

 3. Requirements for a Language Major

A Major in Arabic Studies usually consists of 125 points comprising:

• Three or four first-year subjects in Arabic (37.5 points), and;

• Three or four second-year subjects in Arabic (37.5 points), and;

• Four third-year subjects in Arabic (50 points).

A Major must include either:

• 110-010 Arabic 3A, and;

• 110-011 Arabic 3B

or

• 110-012 Arabic 4A, and;

• 110-013 Arabic 4B

 4. Structuring a Major

A Major in Arabic Studies usually takes one of the following forms:

 4.1. Beginners stream

First year
	110-002 Arabic 1A	12.5
	110-003 Arabic 1A-Conversation	6.25
	110-004 Arabic 1B	12.5
	110-005 Arabic 1B-Conversation	6.25

Second year
	110-006 Arabic 2A	12.5
	110-007 Arabic 2A-Conversation	6.25
	110-008 Arabic 2B	12.5
	110-009 Arabic 2B-Conversation	6.25

Third year
	110-010 Arabic 3A	12.5
	110-011 Arabic 3B	12.5
	Two optional subjects (25 points).

 4.2. Post-VCE stream

First year
	110-010 Arabic 3A	12.5
	110-011 Arabic 3B	12.5
	One optional subject (12.5 points).

Second year
	110-012 Arabic 4A	12.5
	110-013 Arabic 4B	12.5
	One optional subject (12.5 points).

Third year
	Four optional subjects (50 points).

 4.3. Optional subjects

Semester 1
	110-091 Islam and Political Activism: The Twentieth-Century Experience	12.5
	110-089 Harems and Heroes? Understanding the Muslim World	12.5
	110-016 Research Essay	12.5
	110-017 Directed Study Project (Arabic Studies)	12.5

Semester 2
	110-090 Gender and Islam: The Struggle for Rights in the Muslim World	12.5
	110-093 Islamic Banking and Finance	12.5
	110-016 Research Essay	12.5
	110-017 Directed Study Project (Arabic Studies)	12.5

Not offered in 1999
	110-014 Crime Politics and Law in Islamic Society
	110-092 The Media Portrayal of Islam
	110-094 The Sufi Way: A Journey Through Divine Love

 5. Combined Honours entry

Currently there is no pure Honours program in Arabic Studies. This means that students must combine fourth year Honours in Arabic Studies with another area of study.

The prerequisites for entry to fourth year combined Honours in Arabic Studies are:

• Completion of all the requirements for the BA, and;

• Completion of a Major in Arabic Studies, and;

• An average grade of H2B or higher over the second/third-year subjects within the Major.

• Admission to Honours in another area of study within the Arts Faculty.

Entry to Honours must be approved by the Arabic Studies coordinator and the Faculty of Arts Honours course adviser.

 6. Combined Honours requirements

Honours coordinator: Dr Abdullah Saeed

Students undertaking Combined Honours in Arabic Studies and another area of study must complete:

• 110-015 Arabic Studies Honours Thesis (37.5 points), and;

• Two Honours subjects in Arabic Studies (25 points), and;

• Three Honours subjects in the combined area of study (37.5).

or

• Honours thesis in the combined area of study (37.5 points), and;

• Two Honours subjects in the combined area of study (25 points), and;

• Three Honours subjects in Arabic Studies (37.5 points).

In either case the following two subjects must be included in the Arabic Studies component of the combined Honours year, unless they have been completed earlier:

• 110-012 Arabic 4A

• 110-013 Arabic 4B

 7. Further study

An Honours degree in Arabic Studies can lead to MA or PhD degrees.

 8. Career opportunities

Graduates majoring in Arabic Studies have found employment in teaching, translation, journalism, research and in various areas of the public service, commerce and professions serving the large Arab community in Australia.

 9. For more information

Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS)
Fifth Floor, John Medley Building, East Tower
The University of Melbourne
Parkville Victoria 3052
Tel: +61 3 9344 0160 or +61 3 9344 5555
Fax: +61 3 9349 4870
Email: enquiries@asian.unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.MIALS.unimelb.edu.au

Language subjects

110-001 Spoken Arabic for Beginners
110-002 Arabic 1A
110-003 Arabic 1A-Conversation
110-004 Arabic 1B
110-005 Arabic 1B-Conversation
110-006 Arabic 2A
110-007 Arabic 2A-Conversation
110-008 Arabic 2B
110-009 Arabic 2B-Conversation
110-010 Arabic 3A
110-011 Arabic 3B
110-012 Arabic 4A
110-013 Arabic 4B

Optional subjects

First/second-year subjects

Second/third-year subjects

Third/fourth-year subjects

Fourth year Honours subjects

Subjects not offered in 1999

Second/third-year subjects not offered in 1999

Third/fourth-year subjects not offered in 1999

Status:                   Official 1999
Last Modified:            Tuesday October 20 11:46
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Authorised by:            Academic Registrar
Email Enquiries:          Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au