Faculty of Arts Arabic Studies

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Faculty of Arts

Table of Contents

1. Language study streams
2. Diploma of Modern Languages (Arabic)
3. Requirements for a language major
4. Structuring a major
    4.1. Beginners stream
    4.2. Post-VCE stream
5. Honours entry
6. Pure honours
7. Combined honours
8. Further study
9. Career opportunities
10. For more information
Subject Lists
    Language subjects
    Optional subjects
        First-year subject
        Second/third-year subjects
        Third/fourth-year subjects
        Fourth-year subjects

Arabic is spoken by more than 200 million people around the world. The increasing trade and diplomatic exchanges between Australia and the Arabic-speaking world makes it important for students wishing to pursue a career in these areas to acquire the language and understand culture. The acquisition of Arabic language is also highly desirable for a general understanding of the Islamic world.

Arabic studies is one of six programs that constitute the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS). The institute was established in 1998 as a major teaching and research initiative of the University of Melbourne. MIALS serves to strengthen the University's role as a major international centre for the development of studies in Asian languages and societies. Students who specialise in Arabic studies develop transferable skills that will enhance their career options. Alternatively, they are able to expand on their interest and knowledge through an articulated structure of higher degree study options at the University of Melbourne.

Arabic language classes cater for a range of competencies, from beginners level, for students with little or no knowledge of Arabic to more advanced levels, for students with some prior knowledge of the language. Students of Arabic studies will receive a comprehensive grounding in important areas of Arabic language, society and culture.

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 (Academic Programs).

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 the home faculty course adviser. The student may be required to sit a placement test. See Diploma in Modern Languages.

3. Requirements for a language major

A major in Arabic studies usually consists of 125 points comprising:

• two first-year subjects in Arabic (37.5 points); and

• two 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

• 110-410 Arabic 4A; and

• 110-411 Arabic 4B.

4. Structuring a major

A major in Arabic studies usually takes one of the following forms:

4.1. Beginners stream

4.2. Post-VCE stream

5. Honours entry

Honours coordinator: Dr Carolyn Stevens

The prerequisites for entry to fourth-year 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; and

• for combined honours, admission to honours in another area of study within the Faculty of Arts.

Entry to honours must be approved by the Arabic studies coordinator and the Faculty of Arts honours course adviser. Intending honours students must submit a well-defined proposal for an honours research project in November of the preceding year, and make arrangements for appropriate supervision with advice from the fourth-year honours coordinator.

6. Pure honours

Honours coordinator: Dr Carolyn Stevens

Students undertaking pure honours in Arabic studies must complete:

• 110-530 Arabic Studies Thesis or 110-531 Arabic Studies Thesis (MYE) (37.5 points); and

Normally at least two subjects must be completed from the following unless completed earlier:

• 110-410 Arabic 4A

• 110-411 Arabic 4B

• 110-412 Arabic 5A

• 110-413 Arabic 5B

Normally no more than three subjects from the following:

• 110-414 Research Essay (Arabic)

• 110-415 Directed Study Project

• 175-507 Quantitative Methods in Language Studies

7. Combined honours

Honours coordinator: Dr Carolyn Stevens

Students undertaking combined honours must have admission to honours in another area of study within the Faculty of Arts. Students undertaking combined honours in Arabic studies and another area of study must complete:

• 110-530 Arabic Studies Thesis or 110-531 Arabic Studies Thesis (MYE) (37.5 points); and

• two honours subjects in Arabic studies (25 points); and

• three honours subjects in the combined area of study (37.5 points).

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:

• 110-410 Arabic 4A

• 110-411 Arabic 4B

or

• 110-412 Arabic 5A

• 110-413 Arabic 5B

8. Further study

An honours degree in Arabic studies can lead to MA or PhD degrees.

9. 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 in professions serving the large Arab community in Australia.

10. For more information

Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS)
Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 5990
Fax: +61 3 9349 4870
Email: mials-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.arabic.unimelb.edu.au

Language subjects

110-170 Arabic 1A
110-171 Arabic 1A-Conversation
110-172 Arabic 1B
110-173 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
110-410 Arabic 4A
110-411 Arabic 4B
110-412 Arabic 5A
110-413 Arabic 5B

Optional subjects

First-year subject

Second/third-year subjects

Third/fourth-year subjects

Fourth-year subjects

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