Studies & Degrees in Arabic Language and Literature (in Universities)
Arabic Language and Literature (in Universities) Study Programs
Arabic language and literature is the university study of Arabic and of the texts written in it, from classical poetry and prose to the contemporary novel and the press. According to the United Nations, Arabic is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, used daily by more than 400 million people, and since 1973 it has been the sixth official language of the organisation.
Students of the subject deal with more than one kind of Arabic. Modern Standard Arabic is the written and formal language shared across the Arab world, classical Arabic is the language of the older literary and religious texts, and each region has its own spoken dialect. A degree normally teaches the standard language from beginner level, adds classical Arabic and at least one dialect, and places the language in its setting: the literature, history, religion and thought of the Arab and Islamic world.
What students learn
The Grado en Estudios Árabes e Islámicos of the Universidad de Granada is a clear example of a full degree. Its study plan runs Modern Standard Arabic through eight consecutive courses, alongside classical Arabic, dialect courses, press Arabic, classical and contemporary Arabic literature, Islamic studies and the history of Islam, including Al-Andalus and the Maghreb. The university says the degree should give a good linguistic, literary and historical training in Arab culture, with enough knowledge of one dialect to communicate in everyday situations.
The workload is high. The United States Naval Academy tells its Arabic majors to expect a minimum of two hours of preparation between classes in the first two years, and adds that students should be good language learners.
Qualifications and levels
- Bachelor's degree in Spain. Official degrees follow the national structure of a grado of 240 ECTS credits, master's degrees of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, and the doctorate. The Granada degree has 240 credits over four years, 48 of them optional, and is taught on campus in Spanish.
- Major in the United States. Arabic is taken as a major or minor within a four-year bachelor's degree. At the United States Naval Academy, a military academy with its own admission rules, the Arabic major takes 42 credit hours: ten courses in the Arabic language and four electives taught in English on the Arab world.
- Area studies. Some colleges teach Arabic inside a wider programme. At Wellesley College, students of the Middle Eastern studies major learn Modern Standard Arabic and choose a field such as modern Arabic literature or Islamic studies.
- Language courses. University language centres offer Arabic without a degree. UCOidiomas, the language centre of the Universidad de Córdoba, announces Arabic courses for 2026-27.
- Master's degree and doctorate. Postgraduate study leads to specialisation in literature, linguistics, translation or Islamic studies, and to research.
Where to study it
SpainExchange lists 26 schools under this subject. Half of them, 13, are in the United States. There are three in India, two each in Spain and Algeria, and one each in Belgium, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and the United Kingdom. The language of instruction changes the experience: in Arabic-speaking countries the whole degree is taught in Arabic and is aimed at native speakers, while in Europe and North America the language is taught from the beginning and the other courses are given in the local language.
Time in an Arabic-speaking country is a normal part of the training. The Naval Academy says every Arabic major benefits from it, and Wellesley College encourages, but does not require, study abroad in the Middle East or North Africa. Ask each school which exchange agreements it has and which dialect it teaches.
Careers
The Universidad de Granada lists these functions for its graduates, among others: teaching in secondary and higher education, teaching Arabic in language schools, managing Arabic collections in specialised libraries, translation, intercultural mediation and social integration, specialised advice for the media and international politics, and work in cooperation and development projects.
For translation and interpreting, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that interpreters and translators, in all languages, held about 73,900 jobs in the United States in 2025 and that employment is projected to grow 2 percent from 2025 to 2035. It notes that they typically need a bachelor's degree, with foreign languages among the common fields.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know Arabic before starting a degree?
Not in Europe or North America, where degrees start from beginner level: the first Arabic course in the Granada plan is Árabe Moderno Estándar I. Degrees in Arabic-speaking countries are taught in Arabic.
Which Arabic will I learn?
Mainly Modern Standard Arabic, with classical Arabic for older texts and usually one spoken dialect. The Granada degree includes dialect courses at two levels.
How long does the degree take?
Four years for a Spanish grado of 240 ECTS credits and for a US bachelor's degree with an Arabic major.
What can I do with a degree in Arabic?
Teaching, translation, intercultural mediation, library and documentation work, cooperation projects, and advisory roles in media and international relations, according to the Universidad de Granada.