Why Study Arabic?

Arabic is spoken widely across the globe. It is the official language of 22 countries, in particular throughout the Arab world. Examples are Morocco, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Qatar, Yemen, Tunisia, and Algeria. It is the native language of more than 300 million people, and one of the six official languages of the United Nations.

Proficiency in any foreign language can advance your career and make you more competitive in the job market, and this is as true for Arabic as it is for other languages. Apart from its current international importance, both political and economic, Arabic has a vast literature and a rich tradition of poetry. It is the language of Islam, one of the most widely-practiced religions in the world.

Learning Arabic is an essential tool in preparing for career paths in political science, international affairs, Middle Eastern studies, international business, peace studies, Islamic studies, and international law. Understanding Arabic will enable students to build a bridge to communities around the world and to better understand current affairs and international diplomacy efforts.

Arabic is one of the languages on the U.S. State Department's "critical languages" list. There is a critical shortage of Arabic-speaking Americans and any students graduating with Arabic language skills will be attractive candidates for a multitude of government, academic and business jobs.