Arabic University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Overview

The Arabic programme at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) provides students with a profound understanding of the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Middle East and North Africa. This academic path explores the evolution of the language from its classical religious roots to modern media and daily dialects.

Students engage with a curriculum that balances intensive language acquisition with the study of diverse literatures. By examining various Arabic varieties, learners develop the skills necessary to navigate formal cultural settings and informal social interactions. The department fosters a rigorous environment for intellectual growth.

The major is designed to accommodate both beginning students and those with prior experience.

Why Arabic at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)?

The programme is housed within the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, a centre known for its academic excellence in the humanities. Students benefit from access to specialist faculty who are leaders in fields such as Islamic studies, linguistics, and Middle Eastern history.

UCLA provides a vibrant intellectual community with unique resources, including the Faculty Spotlight Series and dedicated humanities career panels. The institution's location and partnerships offer students a global perspective on the historical and contemporary importance of the Arab world.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

• International fee: USD 53302 per year
• National fee: USD 53302 per year
• Local fee: USD 15700 per year

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

Modules may include:

• Standard Arabic
• Global Islam
• History of Middle East
• Islam
• Making and Studying Modern Middle East
• Culture Area of Maghrib (North Africa)
• Anthropology and History of the Mediterranean
• Advanced Arabic
• Qur’an
• Thousand and One Nights
• Spoken Egyptian Arabic
• Advanced Spoken Egyptian Arabic
• Arabic Dialectology
• Levantine Arabic
• Maltese
• Islamic Texts
• Oral Literature and Performance
• Pre-Modern Arabic
• Readings in Modern Standard Arabic
• Modern Arabic Literature
• Arabic Media
• Contemporary Arab Film and Song
• Classical Arabic Literature in English
• Modern Arabic Literature in English
• Al-Andalus: Literature of Islamic Spain
• Sociolinguistics of Arabic
• Linguistic Analysis of Arabic
• Translating Arabic
• Western Islamic Art
• Eastern Islamic Art
• Islamic Art
• Israel-Palestine
• Islam in West
• Islamic Archaeology
• Literary and Critical Theory
• Survey of Middle East, 500 to Present
• Middle Eastern History: Premodern
• Middle Eastern History: Early Modern
• Middle Eastern History: Modern
• Islamic Mysticism: Sufism
• Development and Social Change in the Modern Middle East and North Africa
• Archaeology and Art of Christian and Islamic Egypt
• Islam and Other Religions
• Islamic Thought
• International Relations of Middle East

Careers with Arabic

Graduates of this programme are well-equipped for diverse professional paths in international relations, journalism, and education. The deep cultural and linguistic competency gained at the university allows alumni to pursue roles in government agencies, non-governmental organisations, and global business sectors.

The department supports career readiness through dedicated events such as the Humanities Career Panel Series. These initiatives connect students with industry professionals, helping them translate their academic expertise into successful careers in the public and private sectors worldwide.