27 courses with the subject ARAB, each shown exactly as we captured it from the college's catalog, with every element we hold. Where the wording looks broken, that is our reading of the catalog, not the college's text.
ARAB 001Intensive Elementary Modern Standard Arabic1.5
Students who start in the ARAB 001-002 sequence must complete 002 to receive credit for 001. The purpose of this course is to develop students’ proficiency and communication in modern standard Arabic in the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading (both oral and for comprehension), and writing. Cultural aspects are built into the course. These courses, as well as subsequent Arabic-language courses, help students to advance rapidly in the language and prepare them for more advanced work in literary Arabic, as well for employment, travel, or study abroad. By the end of this sequence, the majority of students are expected to reach a level of intermediate low, according to the ACTFL proficiency rating. Humanities. 1.5 credits. Fall 2026. Ahmed. Fall 2027 Ahmed, Cozzens.
ARAB 002Intensive Elementary Modern Standard Arabic1.5
Students who start in the ARAB 001-002 sequence must complete 002 to receive credit for 001. The purpose of this course is to develop students’ proficiency and communication in modern standard Arabic in the four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading (both oral and for comprehension), and writing. Cultural aspects are built into the course. These courses, as well as subsequent Arabic-language courses, help students to advance rapidly in the language and prepare them for more advanced work in literary Arabic, as well for employment, travel, or study abroad. By the end of this sequence, the majority of students are expected to reach a level of intermediate low, according to the ACTFL proficiency rating. Humanities. 1.5 credits. Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff.
This course builds on skills in comprehension, listening, reading, writing, and speaking developed at earlier levels. Students will gain increased vocabulary and understanding of more complex grammatical structures. They will begin to approach prose, fiction, and non-fiction written in the language. Students will also increase their proficiency in the Arabic script and sound system, and widen their cultural and historic knowledge of the Arab World and the modern Middle East. Humanities. 1.5 credits. Fall 2026. Ahmed. Fall 2027 Ahmed, Cozzens.
This course is a continuation of ARAB 003 . Because the material covered in this course relies heavily on the previous course, students are expected to review and be familiar with the previous work in ARAB 001 , ARAB 002 and ARAB 003 .
ARAB 003 or equivalent or permission of the department. Humanities. 1.5 credits. Eligible for ISLM Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 009PFirst Year Seminar: Refuge: Resettled in Philadelphia1
(Cross-listed with ENGL 009P ) The number of individuals displaced by persecution, war, or climate, who then seek refuge in another place, continues to grow. This course will explore the theme of refuge broadly-to cover various political, institutional, and cultural understandings of the term-but will specifically focus on the experiences of Philadelphia’s Arabic-speaking community that has navigated the resettlement process. Students will analyze literature, artworks, films, and nonfiction texts that address the theme of refuge. We will explore broad topics such as: language, culture, and religion; race and ethnicity; war and militarism. Students will have the opportunity to collaborate directly with Philadelphia’s Arabic-speaking community through a series of artist-led workshops that will explore the idea of a “sticky family” that is formed beyond national and linguistic boundaries. These workshops will result in a professionally-illustrated comic book. This course is conducted in English. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ESCH. PEAC. GLBL-paired.
This course will: (1) conduct a quick review of the basic structures, grammar, and vocabulary learned in earlier courses, (2) introduce new vocabulary in a variety of contexts with strong cultural content, (3) drill students in the more advanced grammatical structures of MSA, and (4) train students to comprehend a variety of MSA authentic reading passages of various genres from Intermediate to Intermediate High on the ACTFL scale.
Successful completion of ARAB 004 and permission of the instructor. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM Fall 2026. Al-Masri. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 011AArabic Conversation0.5
A conversation course concentrating on the development of intermediate skills in speaking and listening through the use of texts and multimedia materials in Modern Standard Arabic. The aim of this course is for the student to acquire well-rounded communication skills and socio-cultural competence. The selected materials seek to stimulate students’ curiosity with the goal of awakening a strong desire to express themselves in the language. Students are required to read chosen texts (including Internet materials) and prepare assignments for discussion in class. Moreover, students will write out skits or reports for oral presentation in Arabic before they present them in class. This class is conducted entirely in Arabic.
ARAB 011 (may be taken concurrently) or the equivalent 0.5 credit. Eligible for ISLM Fall 2026. Staff. Fall 2027 Staff. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 012Advanced Arabic II1
This course is a continuation of ARAB 011 and all previous course in the sequence. This course will begin with a quick review of advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary. Students will continue to encounter a wide range of authentic texts and audiovisual materials to enhance their competency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, with a special emphasis on vocabulary building.
Successful completion of ARAB 011 and permission of the instructor. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 012AAdvanced Arabic Conversation0.5
A conversation course concentrating on the development of intermediate skills in speaking and listening through the use of texts and multimedia materials in Modern Standard Arabic. The aim of this course is for the student to acquire well-rounded communication skills and socio-cultural competence. The selected materials seek to stimulate students’ curiosity with the goal of awakening a strong desire to express themselves in the language. Students are required to read chosen texts (including Internet materials) and prepare assignments for discussion in class. This class is conducted entirely in Arabic.
ARAB 012 (may be taken concurrently) or the equivalent 0.5 credit. Eligible for ISLM Spring 2027. Staff. Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 013Levantine Arabic1
The aim of this course is to introduce, develop, and cultivate Levantine Arabic (LA) speaking, listening, and reading skills. Emphasis is placed on the similarities and differences in spoken Arabic used in everyday situations by Jordanian, Syrian, Lebanese, and Palestinian speakers. Students will learn the phonological and syntactic rules of LA and acquire knowledge of the social and cultural elements embedded within LA, as well as the contexts in which it is used. Students will be exposed to textual and audiovisual materials predominantly in LA.
Two years of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) or equivalent. Those who have completed one year of MSA and wish to enroll in this course are encouraged to consult with the Arabic Program. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 014Egyptian Arabic1
The aim of this course is to introduce, develop, and cultivate Egyptian Colloquial Arabic (ECA) speaking, listening, and reading skills. Students will learn the phonological and syntactic rules of ECA and acquire knowledge of the social and cultural elements embedded within it, as well as the various contexts in which it is used. Throughout the course, students will be exposed to a variety of textual and audiovisual materials primarily in ECA, providing real-world context and enhancing their linguistic proficiency. By the end of the course, students will be able to engage in conversational ECA, understand local media, and navigate everyday interactions in Egypt.
Two years of Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) or equivalent. Students who have completed one year of MSA and wish to enroll in this course are encouraged to consult with the Arabic Program Humanities. 1 credit. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 015Media Arabic1
The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the language predominantly used in Arabic media reporting. Students will be exposed to written, visual, and audio materials drawn from Arabic newspapers and broadcasts. Particular emphasis is placed on discussions related to current cultural, political, economic and social issues. Students will enhance their knowledge of the vocabulary and expressions commonly used in various Arabic media outlets, websites, and talk shows. The course will also enable students to expand their proficiency and communication skills through group discussions, presentations, and reading comprehension of media texts.
Designed for students who successfully completed ARAB 003 or above. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: http://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 016Literature, Culture, and Media in the Arab World1
This course offers a multi-disciplinary exploration of the contemporary Arab world through literature, digital media, and cultural production. Designed for advanced students of Arabic, it moves beyond standard textbook materials to engage with authentic discourse. Students will analyze short stories, poetry, journalistic essays, and multimedia content-including podcasts and interviews with prominent intellectuals and literary figures-to examine the complex social, political, and historical forces shaping the region today. Students will explore themes such as the politics of identity, the impact of gender on social and cultural life, and how historical events continue to shape the Arab world today. Humanities. 1 credit.
ARAB 017Arabic Unfiltered: Identity, Language, and Digital Culture
This course explores the intersection of language and culture across the contemporary Arabic digital media landscape. Students listen closely to a diverse group of Arab voices, seeking to understand how they express themselves-through YouTube, TikTok, podcasts, and social media broadly-as they share perspectives, participate in public conversations, and negotiate the contours of Arab identity today. Students engage with Arabic as a living and dynamic language, not limited by the restrictions of formal linguistic conventions, discovering how today’s speakers use language to entertain, to amuse, and to signal belonging. Through an exploration of authentic online content across a variety of digital genres, students develop their ability to interpret Arabic across different registers and contexts, gaining insight into how Arabic speakers draw on different language varieties: Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), regional dialects, other languages, and hybrid forms.
Successful completion of ARAB 003 and permission of the instructor. Humanities. 1 Fall 2026. Cozzens. Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 021Topics in Modern Arab Literature1
This course surveys the major writers, trends, themes, and experiences in Arabic literature from the 19th century to the present. Beginning with the nahda (the Arab renaissance), we will explore the impact of intellectual debates and developments on the emergence of modern Arabic literature. Through the study of a variety of different texts and authors, from a range of geographies and periods, we will investigate diverse literary and cultural narratives. Common themes, such as the negotiation of modernity and tradition, social and political transformation, and the changing role of women, will provide a structure for comparison. This course is taught in Arabic. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM, GLBL-Paired Fall 2026. Staff.
ARAB 022Discourses of Oppression in Contemporary Arabic Fiction1
Designed to meet the needs of students who have completed ARAB 021: Introduction to Modern Arabic Literature, this course provides an in-depth look at major fictional representations of the institutionalized and non-institutionalized sites and structures of oppression explored by Arab writers. Subtle and overt forms of political oppression are investigated, as well as experiences of hegemony related to gender, sexuality, class, religion, and ethnicity. This course also examines the ways in which oppression is rethought, restructured, and challenged in Arabic fiction, leading to new understandings and possibilities in reality. This course is conducted entirely in Arabic. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM, GLBL-Paired Spring 2027. Staff.
This course offers an in-depth study of the cultural politics and poetics of Arab Cinema. Students will analyze and critique films produced in the 20th and 21st centuries from a variety of different periods, styles, and genres. Through these films, the course will explore topics such as colonialism; ethnic, religious, and national identities; civil conflicts; oppression and censorship; gender and sexuality; poverty; and the rural and the urban. Students will read critical essays and book chapters on the screened films and related themes. This course is conducted entirely in Arabic. Advanced knowledge of Arabic is required to successfully complete this course.
Three years of Arabic or the equivalent. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM, GLBL - Paired Spring 2028 Staff. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
ARAB 024Topics in Contemporay Arabic Fiction and Criticism1
This course examines key topics in twentieth-century Arabic literature and literary criticism. Exploring a variety of genres, ranging from plays to novels, short stories, and works by prominent literary critics from the Arab world, we will investigate how literary narratives respond to their historical context as the twentieth century unfolds. In particular, we will focus on questions relating to the comparative method and the place of Arabic literature in the age of globalization. Readings may include works by Iraqi author Hassan Blasim, Egyptian writers Naguib Mahfouz and Sonallah Ibrahim, Palestinian author Ghassan Kanafani, as well as several films. The course is taught in Arabic. Humanities. 1 credit.
(Cross-listed as LITR 025A ) This course will explore literary and cinematic representations of war in the Arab world, focusing on the Arab-Israeli Conflict, the Lebanese Civil War, and the Iraq wars. We will look at poetry, fiction, memoir, prison narratives, film, and experimental texts. Through the examination of a variety of experiences, genres, and perspectives, we will ask questions like: How do narratives of war contribute to the formation of national, local, and Arab identities? How has the experience of war impacted understandings of religion, masculinity, gender, and domestic violence? We will identify common themes and images and investigate how these patterns change and develop in different spatial and temporal contexts. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM, PEAC
(Cross-listed as LITR 029A ) Drawing on historical, fictional, and autobiographical narratives, this course investigates Arab representations of the Occident. These texts explore cultural encounters, both at home and abroad, border crossings, hybridity, experiences of colonialism and neocolonialism, the psychology of Orientalism and Occidentalism, processes of assimilation and resistance, and the question of contact zones. Differences in geography, period, context, and positionality will provide a variety of perspectives on the theme. Works by Abd Al-Rahman Al-Jabarti, Rifa’a Al-Tahtawi, Yahya Haqqi, Sulaiman Fayyad, Tayyib Salih, Leila Ahmed, and Fadia Faqir will be discussed. This course is taught in English. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM
This course will explore how Arab writers have fictionalized and narrated their experiences in America since the first major wave of Arab immigration to the United States in the late 19th century until the present day. Readings will be primarily drawn from literary texts, such as excerpts from novels, short stories, and poetry, but also include autobiographical and editorial pieces. Debates concerning minority status, women’s rights, individual and community identification, tradition versus assimilation, Orientalist and Occidentalist stereotyping, and political engagement will animate our discussions. Works by Afifa Karam, Abd al-Masih Haddad, Yusuf Idris, Radwa Ashour, Sunallah Ibrahim, Miral al-Tahawi, Alaa al-Aswani, and others, will be studied. This course is conducted entirely in Arabic. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM, PEAC
ARAB 035Mapping Modern Arab Thought: From the Nahda to Contemporary Debates1
This course offers a comprehensive exploration of the intellectual currents that have profoundly influenced the modern Arab world, spanning from the 19th-century Nahda (Arab Renaissance) to the present day. Through a dynamic combination of lectures, discussions, and readings, participants will immerse themselves in the diverse landscape of Arab thought, investigating key philosophical, political, social, and cultural movements that have shaped the modern Arab world. Topics of particular focus include the Nahda, reformism, revivalism, nationalism, Marxism, Islamism, Salafism, Arab critical theory, and feminism. Through critical analysis of primary texts and scholarly interpretations, students will cultivate a nuanced understanding of the intricate complexities inherent in Arab thought and its ongoing relevance within the contemporary global context. The course is taught entirely in English. No prior knowledge of the topic is assumed - students from all disciplines interested in history, politics, and religion are welcome to enroll. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for GLBL.
ARAB 041Self and Nation in Mahmoud Darwish’s Poetry and Prose1
As one of the greatest, most distinct voices in Arabic literature, Mahmoud Darwish has played a significant role in shaping Palestinian national identity politics and cultural imaginations, while also offering thoughtful reflections on the human condition more broadly. This course explores how Darwish’s poetry and prose articulate themes like homeland, exile, displacement, dispossession, loss, love, nostalgia, death, and grief. Our examinations of his prominent texts serve as a gateway to understanding the story of Palestine and to analyzing the tensions between individual and national identity, history and mythology, memory and forgetfulness, and peace and conflict. Additionally, the course pays special attention to Darwish’s literary innovations and the stylistic features of his work, which grant him a central spot on the vast Arabic literary map. This course is conducted entirely in Arabic. Advanced knowledge of Arabic is required to successfully complete this course. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM. Fall 2027 Staff.
(Cross-listed as LITR 045A ) This survey course will trace some of the main themes, problems and issues that have been debated among Arab thinkers and intellectuals since the latter part of the 19th century. The course will start with the 19th century but emphasize discussions following the military defeat of 1967 and the ensuing cultural and political crisis. Discussions related to “turath” (heritage), the different strategies of its reading and interpretation, and the possibilities of using these readings to confront contemporary challenges will be the center of attention of the course. Readings will comprise three types of texts: those providing historical and social background, translations by the different thinkers under discussion, and articles and essays that interpret and critique these thinkers. Humanities. 1 credit. Eligible for ISLM
ARAB 048Poetry as Homeland: Mahmoud Darwish’s Late Prose and Poetry (1986-2008)1
This course is a continuation of ARAB 041 and focuses on the later prose and poetry of Mahmoud Darwish. It examines the major transformations in his writing from the mid-1980s until his death, a period in which his work shifts from an outwardly focused national discourse to a more reflective and personal mode. Students will explore themes such as memory, exile, personal loss, childhood, mortality, and philosophical reflection, and consider how these concerns shape Darwish’s late literary voice. Readings include Memory for Forgetfulness , Fewer Roses , In the Presence of Absence , and selected poems from the 1990s and early 2000s. Through close reading and discussion, the course examines Darwish’s experimentation with condensed forms, poetic prose, and abstraction, creating a literary space in which words themselves become a homeland. These texts reveal his sustained engagement with selfhood, loss, and existential reflection, while maintaining a deep connection to Palestinian identity. By the end of the course, students will have developed advanced skills in reading and interpreting Mahmoud Darwish’s later poetry and prose in Arabic, with particular attention to abstraction, form, genre, voice, and autobiographical poetics. They will strengthen their ability to carry out close, sustained readings of highly complex literary texts and to situate Darwish’s late work within its cultural, historical, and intellectual contexts. This course is conducted primarily in Arabic, with occasional discussions in English to support the analysis of more challenging texts and concepts. Advanced proficiency in Arabic is required.
ARAB 041 or permission of the instructor. Humaities. 1 credit. Catalog chapter: Modern Languages and Literatures: Arabic Department website: https://www.swarthmore.edu/arabic Access the class schedule to search for sections.
(Cross-listed as LITR 095A ) Societal scandals and controversies surrounding Arabic literary works have arisen across the Middle East and North Africa throughout the 20th and 21st centuries. The free expression fostered in the literary field frequently confronts the realities of state censors and other forces in society, such as political ideologies or religious orthodoxies. In this course we aim to contextualize and study these scandals and controversies by closely analyzing the literary works at their source, as well as the debates and transgressive acts they elicited. From intentional omissions in translation, to debates surrounding the portrayal of homosexual characters, to assassination attempts on authors lives, this course will focus on a number of important inflection points across the Middle East and North Africa in the 20th and 21st centuries. We will study works by authors from Morocco to Saudi Arabia, including Taha Hussein, Naguib Mahfouz, Mohamed Choukri, Nawal El Saadawi, Saud Alsanousi, Alaa Al Aswani, Rashid al-Daif, Rajaa al-Sanea, amongst others. This course will be conducted in English, using texts translated from Arabic.
