Arabic

Naoko Nemoto, Chair

Denise Falk, Academic Department Coordinator


112 Ciruti Center
413-538-2885
https://www.mtholyoke.edu/academics/find-your-program/arabic

Overview and Contact Information

The Arabic program at Mount Holyoke is a part of the Five College Arabic Language Initiative. The coursework focuses on developing skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking Arabic as well as in Arab culture. The program offers a full year of Arabic instruction; further study is offered through the Five College Consortium. Students can also study abroad in Arabic-speaking countries through fall, spring, or yearlong programs. The McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives maintains a current list of programs offered. Students who study Arabic may choose to complete the minor in Arabic or the major in Middle Eastern Studies for which language study is a principal component.

See Also

Faculty

This area of study is administered by the Asian Studies Committee:

Elif Babul, Professor of Anthropology

Calvin Chen, Carol Hoffmann Collins '63 Professor of International Studies and Professor of Politics

Satyananda Gabriel, Professor of Economics

Sohail Hashmi, Professor of International Relations on the Alum Foundation and Professor of Politics

Kavita Khory, Ruth Lawson Professor of Politics

Susanne Mrozik, Professor of Religion

Naoko Nemoto, Professor of Asian Studies

Joshua Roth, Professor of Anthropology

Ajay Sinha, Julie '73 and Helene '49 Herzig Professor of Art History

Ying Wang, Felicia Gressitt Bock Professor of Asian Studies

Amina Steinfels, Associate Professor of Religion

Lan Wu, Associate Professor of History

Abhilash Medhi, Assistant Professor of History

Jinhwa Chang, Senior Lecturer in Japanese, On Leave 2025-2026

Kyae-Sung Park, Five College Senior Lecturer in Korean

Lisha Xu, Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies

Shin-Yi Kao, Lecturer in Asian Studies

Lingjia Xu, Visiting Assistant Professor in Asian Studies

Nari Matsushima, Visiting Instructor in Asian Studies

Alice Kao, Instructor of Chinese

Requirements for the Minor

A minimum of 16 credits:

As prerequisites, if needed: ASIAN-130, ASIAN-131
Two Arabic language courses at the 200 level or higher8
An additional two 300-level courses in Arabic language8
Total Credits16

Additional Specifications

  • Students should note that completion of this major will likely require them to travel to other institutions within the Five Colleges.
  • Independent Studies (ASIAN-295 or ASIAN-395) do not count toward the minor
  • Language courses that are not taken at MHC must be approved by the chair of Asian Studies at Mount Holyoke College to count toward the minor
  • Courses taught in English do not count toward the minor

The 100-level courses in Arabic (ASIAN-130 and ASIAN-131) are prerequisites to the intermediate and advanced courses offered through the Five College Consortium.