Arabic, B.A.
Acquire superior levels of Arabic and become a global professional.
“The Arabic Flagship program has pushed me to my limits academically and motivated me to excel. The learning experience is second to none.”
Abram Mills ('24)
B.A. in Arabic, International Studies
Bachelor of Arts in Arabic
The Department of Modern Languages in the College of Liberal Arts offers the B.A. and minor in Arabic. Arabic majors learn the language, linguistics, literature, and culture of the Middle East and North Africa. We train students to be global professionals with superior levels of Arabic language skills.
Students may pursue the Arabic major as well as participate in the Arabic Language Flagship Program, one of only 3 federally funded Arabic language programs in the nation.
Arabic Language Flagship Program
Students in the Arabic Flagship Program follow an intensive 5-year path. The federally funded Arabic Flagship Program supports students abroad and provides tutors for additional support on campus. Students must complete a separate application to the Arabic Language Flagship Program.
The Value of Arabic Proficiency
Today's global climate encourages knowledge of our multicultural world. Arabic is spoken by 422 million people, and is the fifth most spoken language in the world. Students gain superior levels of Arabic language skills, cultural awareness, and intellectual strategies necessary to successfully navigate the interconnected and multicultural world.
To meet the demands for Arabic language specialists working in the public, private, and governmental sectors, the department works hand-in-hand with the Croft Institute for International Studies and the Center for Intelligence and Security Studies to produce the most marketable graduates possible.
Related careers to Arabic include international business, journalism, law, translation, government/foreign service, cultural affairs, military service, non-profits, health care, and more.
On this Page…
Program Information
Degree
B.A. in Arabic
Required Credit Hours
120
Program Type
Major
Minor
Program Location
School
Duration
4 Years
Degree Requirements
Find out about credit hour and course requirements from the 2025-26 academic catalog.
Students in the College of Liberal Arts earning the B.A. degree have a common set of 48-50 hours of general education. The specific courses taken to complete the categories of general education may differ between majors.
Categories of General Education:
- First Year Writing I, II
- English Literature Survey
- Modern or Ancient Language
- History
- Additional Humanities
- Fine or Performing Arts Appreciation
- Mathematics
- Social Sciences
- Natural Sciences
To see the details for these general education requirements, visit the UM online catalog or the degree sheet attached at the top of this webpage.
Students in the B.A. in Arabic program complete 30 credit hours of Arabic courses beyond the 200-level courses. They complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of the advanced courses on the UM campus; a maximum of 15 credit hours may be taken through an approved study abroad program. No grade lower than C will be counted in Arabic classes for the Arabic major. Students completing the BA degree in the College of Liberal Arts are required to complete a minor field of study (or second major).
Students interested in the Arabic Flagship Program must apply by January 10 and be admitted into the program. They follow a five-year intensive track beginning in the summer before freshman year.
Arabic Language Flagship Roadmap
- Pre-freshman summer of intensive Arabic at UM
- Intensive Arabic courses each fall and spring semester at UM
- At least one summer-long study abroad program
- Capstone fifth year in Morocco
Students pursuing a minor in Arabic must complete 15 credit hours of Arabic courses at the 200 level or above. (Arab 211 does not count towards the minor.) A maximum of 9 credit hours may be taken through an approved study abroad program. Grades lower than C in Arabic courses will not be counted toward the Arabic minor.
Department Opportunities
Double Major: Arabic and International Studies
Enhance your Arabic degree with a B.A. in International Studies, an interdisciplinary major that focuses on the connections between politics, economics, and culture at the international level.
Students in the Croft Institute:
- Have access to small, discussion-based Croft courses with the Institute's professors who foster discussion, reflection and analysis.
- Specialize in a foreign language and study abroad for at least one semester in a country where that language is spoken.
- Can apply to Croft Scholars program, a prestigious scholarship which can be combined with other forms of financial assistance.
Meet an Arabic Major
“I decided to double major in Arabic and International Studies with a focus in Global Economics and Business. I want to work with refugees in the future and studying Arabic will help me communicate more effectively with refugees that speak Arabic. Also, international studies will help me learn more about how the relationships between countries and the dynamics within them affect people around the world.”
Abagail Metcalf
(BA in Arabic, International Studies; minor in Disaster Studies)
Video: Get to Know the Department of Modern Languages
Hear firsthand from students and faculty about the Arabic program.
What can I do with an Arabic degree?
- Analyst, Blackhorse Solutions Data
- Analyst, Tesla Government Inc.
- Officers in U.S. Air Force, Army, Marine Corps
- Program Officer, IREX Contracting Group
- Producer, Al-Arab Bloomberg TV
- Civil Affairs Specialist, US Army Reserve
- Anti-trust Attorney, Skadden Arps
- Analyst, U.S. Department of Defense
- Project Coordinator, Middle East Institute
- Graduate and Professional Schools in Law, Medicine, Economics, Public Policy
Welcome to the College of Liberal Arts
As Coordinator of Student Recruitment for the College of Liberal Arts, I work with students, and their parents, who are interested in attending UM for their undergraduate degrees. I coordinate personalized visits to our departments, answer questions about the majors and programs in the CLA and handle all recruitment communications from the CLA. Please feel free to send me any questions you may have. It is my job to make sure you have everything you need to make an informed decision on where to spend your college career, and I hope it will be with the College of Liberal Arts at the University of Mississippi!
Annabelle Harris
Admissions Counselor
Future CLA Students
Future College of Liberal Arts Students
We invite future undergraduates to learn about the College of Liberal Arts, the value of the liberal arts education, our programs, career opportunities, and resources to help you succeed. You can also request a personalized degree sheet.
Next Steps
Explore Affordability
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