BA in Arab World Studies

Entry Requirements

• Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE)
• Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms B-/8
• Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms B-/8
• Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms B-/8

Bachelor's Degree

• Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%
• Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%
• Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms Second Class Honours, Lower C Satisfactory, 55%

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

• SE (2 Terms) 4.5
• PSE (1 Term) 5
• EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
• AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
• SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

• PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
• PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
• EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
• AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
• SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

• PSE (2 Terms) 70
• PSE (1 Term) 80
• EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
• AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• SE (1 Term) NA

Uganda

• Advanced Certificate of Education with a minimum of 2 Principal Passing grades of D or higher and at least 1 subsidiary pass in a college preparatory subject. In addition, Uganda Certificate of Education with a C (7) average or higher or General Certificate of Education Level (O Level)
• Examination Certificate with 5 academic subjects passed is required
• Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms B5 and C's (2)
• Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms B5 C's (2)
• Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms B5 C's (2)
• Bachelor's degree, including Bachelor of Medicine or Bachelor of Surgery; Postgraduate and professional diploma or certificate
• Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper
• Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper
• Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms 70, Class 2 Honors Upper

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

• PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
• PSE (1 Term) 5
• EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
• AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
• SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

• PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
• PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
• EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
• AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
• SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

• PSE (2 Terms) 70
• PSE (1 Term) 80
• EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
• AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• SE (1 Term) NA

TANZANIA

• Certificate of Secondary Education (CSE)
• Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms D/4
• Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms D/4
• Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms D/4

English Requirements Certificate
IELTS

• PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
• PSE (1 Term) 5
• EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
• AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
• SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

• PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
• PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
• EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
• AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
• SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

• PSE (2 Terms) 70
• PSE (1 Term) 80
• EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
• AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• SE (1 Term) NA

United Kingdom

• Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms GCE
• Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms GCE
• Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms GCE
• Bachelor's degree; Diploma in Technology or Technological Engineering or Arts and Design
• Undergraduate PS AAP 2 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)
• Undergraduate PS AAPA 2 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)
• Undergraduate PS EAP 3 Terms 60, Second Class (lower division)

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

• PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
• PSE (1 Term) 5
• EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
• AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
• SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

• PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
• PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
• EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
• AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
• SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

• PSE (2 Terms) 70
• PSE (1 Term) 80
• EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
• AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• SE (1 Term) NA

GCSE/IGCSE/GCE O-LEVEL

• 5 College Preparatory subjects passed; Students must also meet the GCE A/AS Level requirement after completing IGCSEs
• Undergraduate AAP 2 Terms C or 4
• Undergraduate EAP 3 Terms C or 4
• 5 College Preparatory subjects must be passed; Students must also meet the GCE A/AS Level requirement after completing IGCSEs
• Undergraduate AAPA 2 Terms C or 4

English Requirements Certificate

IELTS

• PSE (2 Terms) 4.5
• PSE (1 Term) 5
• EAP (3 Terms) 5.5 no sub-score below 5.0
• AAP (2 Terms) 6 With no sub-score below 5.5
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 6.5 With at least one sub-score of 5.5 and no sub- score below 5.5
• SE (1 Term) 6.5 no sub-score below 6

TOEFL

• PSE (2 Terms) 50 – 59
• PSE (1 Term) 60 – 67
• EAP (3 Terms) 68 no sub-score below 14
• AAP (2 Terms) 74 with all sub-scores above 15 and at least one sub-score below 20
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 80 with at least one sub-score below 20 but above 17 (minimum subscore required).
• SE (1 Term) 85 No sub-score below 20

Duolingo

• PSE (2 Terms) 70
• PSE (1 Term) 80
• EAP (3 Terms) 90 No sub-score below 80 (subscores effective Fall 21)
• AAP (2 Terms) 100 No sub-score below 90 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• AAP Advanced (2 Terms) 110 No sub-score below 100 (sub-scores effective Fall 21)
• SE (1 Term) NA

Admission to the Program

• Formal admission to the major requires a grade point average of 2.50 (on a 4.00 scale) in two courses related to the major.

University Requirements

• 120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2)
• Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9)

AU Core Requirements

• Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6)
• Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7)
• Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11)
• For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum.

Major Requirements

• 36 credit hours with grades of C or better, including a minimum of 18 credit hours at or above 300-level
• Demonstrate Arabic language proficiency through completion of two years of college-level study (ARAB-203 Arabic Intermediate II (5)) or equivalent as certified by the Department of World
• Languages and Cultures

Course Requirements

• Foundation (9 credit hours)
• 100-Level Selective

Complete 6 credit hours from the following, with no more than 3 credit hours in any one department or program:

• ANTH-110 Culture and Power FA3 (3)
• AWST-115 Introduction to the Arab World FA3 (3)
• RELG-105 The Religious Heritage of the West FA2 (3)
• SISU-105 Introduction to International Studies FA3 (3)
• 200-Level Selective

Complete 3 credit hours from the following:

• AWST-225 Arab Societies FA3 (3)
• AWST-240 Original Gods: Ethics and Religion in the Ancient Near East (3)
• HIST-247 Muslim Empires 1300-1920 (3)
• HIST-248 Introduction to Modern Middle East (3)
• SISU-215 Contemporary Middle East (3)
• Concentration (15 credit hours)

Complete 15 credit hours with one course from each of the following categories, if not taken to fulfill Foundation, or other courses approved by program director:

Theory and Methodology

Note: Other courses may be approved by the program director for students with an additional major.

• CRGC-360 Knowledge and Power: Critical Interdisciplinary Theory and Method (3)
• SOCY-453 Intersectionality: Theory and Practice (3)
• WGSS-400 Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Theory (3)

Culture and Humanities

• ARAB-425 Introduction to Arabic-Islamic Civilization (3)
• ARAB-426 Arabic Topics (3) (approved topic)
• AWST-350 Topics in Arab World Studies (3) (approved topic)
• AWST-360 Middle East Sectarianism (3)
• AWST-415 Islam in America (3)
• PERF-441 Advanced Studies in Music History and Ethnomusicology (3) (approved topic)

History and Politics

• AWST-225 Arab Societies FA3 (3)
• AWST-240 Original Gods: Ethics and Religion in the Ancient Near East (3)
• HIST-247 Muslim Empires 1300-1920 (3)
• HIST-248 Introduction to Modern Middle East (3)
• HIST-349 Modern Iran (3)
• HIST-385 Topics in African History (3) (approved topic)
• SISU-215 Contemporary Middle East (3)
• SISU-218 The World of Islam (3)
• SISU-319 Arab-Israeli Relations (3)

Gender and Identity

• CRGC-350 Topics in Critical, Race, Gender, and Culture Studies (3) (approved topic)
• GOVT-487 Gender and Politics in the Middle East (3)
• SOCY-352 Gender Relations and Social Change (3)
• WGSS-225 Gender, Politics, and Power FA4 (3)
• WGSS-350 Interpreting Gender in Culture (3) (approved topic)
• WGSS-400 Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Theory (3)

Economy and Media

• AWST-310 Media On and Of the Arab World (3)
• IBUS-461 Alternative Finance: Islamic Finance in the Global Economy (3)
• IBUS-462 Alternative Finance: Islamic Capital Markets and Sukuk (3)
• Electives (9 credit hours)

Complete 9 credit hours from the following if not taken to fulfill Foundation or Concentration, or other courses approved by program director:

• AWST-296 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6)
• AWST-310 Media On and Of the Arab World (3)
• AWST-350 Topics in Arab World Studies (3)
• AWST-360 Middle East Sectarianism (3)
• AWST-396 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6) (approved topic)
• AWST-415 Islam in America (3)
• AWST-491 Internship in Arab World Studies (1-6)
• AWST-496 Selected Topics: Non-Recurring (1-6) (approved topic)
• RELG-470 Islam (3)
• Capstone (3 credit hours)
• CRGC-460 Capstone Research Seminar (3)

Arabic Language Requirement

• Students must demonstrate Arabic language proficiency at the intermediate level (ARAB-203).
• Students with previous experience with the language may test out of one or more of the following courses (evaluation conducted in collaboration with the Arabic language program).
• ARAB-102 Arabic Elementary I (5)
• ARAB-103 Arabic Elementary II (5)
• ARAB-202 Arabic Intermediate I (5)
• ARAB-203 Arabic Intermediate II (5)