Arabic Major
Learn Modern Standard Arabic, spoken dialect, and culture by participating in this student-centered program. You will hone your critical thinking and writing skills to be a competitive candidate for the job market and graduate school.
17:1
STUDENT-FACULTY RATIO
9
ARABIC LANGUAGE AND CULTURE GROUPS
OMAN
STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM
11
AVERAGE UPPER-LEVEL CLASS SIZE
Total Credit Hours: 120
Major Courses (36 hours)
Elective Courses (39 hours)
General Education (45 hours)
Is it possible to double major?
Yes, our current students often double major in Arabic and another field of study successfully. Academic advisors are available to help you plan your course of study.
What You'll Study
Our program includes beginner, intermediate, and advanced-level language classes. You will also complete courses in culture, literature, and cinema of the Arab world as you learn one of the official United Nations languages. You’ll take 120 credit hours for a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages, including Virginia Tech's Pathways.
Our program includes exciting language and culture classes, such as:
- Arabic for Oral Proficiency
- Media Arabic
- Arab Culture and Civilization
- Topics in Arab Cinema
- Modern Arabic Literature in Translation
- Research in Arab Culture
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What is a Major in Arabic?
Arabic is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. It is the official language in 22 Arab countries and the language of faith for over one billion people. A degree in Arabic includes language courses to hone your reading, writing, and speaking skills. The program also offers courses in literature, cinema, and culture to enhance your cultural competency. Developing strong linguistic skills, critical thinking, and cultural knowledge will make graduates more competitive in the job market.
Why Learn Arabic Here?
You will work with award-winning faculty members, connect with conversation partners and peer tutors, and engage with various Middle East related student organizations. Activities such as scholarly lectures, musical performances, Arabic Film Night, Arabic Coffee Hour, and other cultural events are available regularly. Virginia Tech’s proximity to Washington D.C. makes access to internships in the Federal Government, Intelligence Community, and Non-Governmental Organizations common among our students.
Beyond the Classroom
Undergraduate Research
As you complete undergraduate research, you'll have opportunities to work with award-winning faculty members with research and teaching interests in literature and cultural studies, linguistics, education, political science, and anthropology. Recent student research projects focused on graffiti in the Arab world, women and war, cinema, and international policy.
Get Experience
Come spend your summer in the historical city of Nizwa! Study Arabic at Nizwa University, visit many regions in Oman, and explore the beautiful coastal city of Muscat.
This 5 week program allows you to deepen your understanding of Arabic culture, practice your written and oral communication, and participate in a once in a lifetime learning experience!
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Arabic Tutoring & Conversation Partners
Access our free peer-tutoring service, as well as a conversation partner program, that allows you to converse with native speakers from all over the Arab world.
Learn More
The best way to practice your Arabic is to talk with native speakers. Since Arabic is a critical language of strategic importance, there are increasing opportunities for funding that will allow you to study Arabic in an immersive environment in the Middle East.
Our students have won prestigious scholarships, including the Fulbright, Gilman, Critical Language Scholarship, and the Boren Scholarship.
Project Global Officer, better known as Project GO, promotes critical language education, study abroad, and intercultural dialogue opportunities for Reserve Officer Training Corps students.
What Our Students Are Saying
“Studying Arabic and Arab culture played an integral role in my undergraduate experience at Virginia Tech. This program provided me with unique opportunities, such as studying abroad in Oman, to truly immerse myself in the language and culture of the Arab world. The mentorship I received from my Arabic professors helped me discover my passion for Arab studies and led me to continue my study of Arabic and Arab culture in graduate school."
Montana Koslowski, ‘20
"Like most students, I entered my first Arabic class intending to use the language as a tool to support my career in national security, global diplomacy, and conflict resolution; however, I emerged from my final class with a broadened appreciation of Arab culture. My sociolinguistic competency enabled me to research graffiti after the Arab Spring, co-organize a poetry recitation event, befriend resettled refugees, partake in iftar in the Omani desert, present research at the State Department, and share artwork at a local pop-up gallery."
Nala Chehade, '18
"Arabic is more than a resume builder or just a critical language; it is one of the few languages in the world positioned in a way that will challenge your way of thinking in the pursuit of grasping it proficiently."
Andrés Morana, '16
"Studying Arabic at Virginia Tech began as an adventure and ended as an experience crucial to my personal, academic, and career development."
Karis Tschopp, '19
“As an Arab Asian American, studying Arabic at Virginia Tech gave me the tools to navigate my identity in the world better.”
Laamia Khatib, '18
“Joining the Arabic program is one of the best decisions I made upon entering Virginia Tech. Every semester, I find myself falling in love with the language and Arab culture through the classes and experiential-learning projects the program immerses us in. The academics are intensive and highly-rewarding, and the instructors are truly supportive. The program has undoubtedly made me a more skilled, culturally-competent, and competitive candidate for my future career path."
Tahreem Alam, '20
“When you enroll in courses with the Virginia Tech’s Arabic program, you also join a community. This program encouraged me to study abroad in Jordan, volunteer as a language partner for international students, and participate in an Arabic poetry recital at the Moss Arts Center. If you have the opportunity to study this beautiful language, jump in, because it will be worth it!”
Sabrina Bachert, '18
“Studying Arabic has not only helped me in my career goals and sparked conversations in interviews, but the closeness of the program has provided me with lifelong college friends. Additionally, the best part of the program is truly the professors. All of the Arabic professors I had are the greatest life mentors, in addition to being phenomenal teachers and advisors. In the future, I hope to use my Arabic skills to go to law school and become an immigration or human rights lawyer."
Emma Jones, '22
Careers and Further Study
Montana Koslowski, '20
Montana is working as a Source Strategy Analyst for the Department of Defense while attending the George Washington University's Elliot School of International Affairs to pursue her M.A. in Middle East Studies. She plans to get a Ph.D. in History, with a focus on modern Middle East history, and work for the US Department of State.
Ally Miller, '18
Ally found working closely with her Arabic professors provided a deeper understanding of the language and culture of the region. This experience encouraged her to incorporate multicultural issues in her graduate coursework in forensic psychology.
Andrés Morana, '16
Andrés credits his professors who encouraged him to participate in the many experiences that have supported him in his career in public service. He completed several study abroad programs, learning and researching in Morocco, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Oman, and France. These immersive experiences were integral to Andrés' mastery of Arabic and local dialects. After serving in the military, Andrés now works for NJI Media as a project manager and has been awarded a Fulbright Research Grant to study in Jordan.
Nala Chehade, '18
Nala completed undergraduate research on contemporary Arabic novels from Sudan and Egypt, as well as Beirut graffiti. She also traveled to Oman and the UAE to study Arabic. These experiences prepared Nala to use the skills of curiosity, flexibility, and self-awareness during work as an immigration paralegal.
Laamia Khatib, '18
Laamia is currently working as an early childhood educator. She uses knowledge acquired from minoring in Arabic in her classroom by providing weekly supplementary early Arabic exposure for young children.
Sabrina Bachert, '18
Sabrina is currently a First Lieutenant in the United States Army serving as an Executive Officer. For Sabrina, being a student of Arabic language was the most rewarding part of her educational experience. Studying Arabic at Virginia Tech and participating in the program’s extra-curricular activities helped shape the way she learns and communicates today and has opened doors for her professionally.
What do I do with an Arabic major?
Fluency in the Arabic language and a strong understanding of the culture will allow students to pursue careers or higher education in fields like these:
- Consultancy
- Foreign Service
- Translation
- Teaching and Research
- Diplomacy
- Public Relations
- Journalism
- Advertising
- Cultural Programming and Outreach
- International Business
- International Development
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