The Arabic program at Claremont McKenna College is a comprehensive program to educate students in the Arabic language and Arabic culture. The students are immersed in all aspects of the Arabic language: studying through various texts, oral exercises, and the arts. Modern Standard Arabic is taught at CMC. With this form of Arabic, the students will be able to communicate with a majority of the Middle East’s Arab native speakers. Modern Standard Arabic is also the language used by the Arab media, such as Al-Jazeera and al-Arabiyya news channels, the language of modern Arabic poetry and novels, and the official language of all Arab countries.
Claremont McKenna College’s motto of Crescit cvm commercio civitas (Civilization prospers with commerce) drives the program to not only teach the Arabic language of the Middle East but also the many facets of its culture. More so than with commerce, with language we are able to connect and communicate with the rest of the world. Students begin class each day with a viewing of Al-Jazeera or other news channel, and recite verses of the Qur’an from memorization. The program aims to educate the students of Arabic about the Arab world and the Middle East by bringing in musicians, calligraphers, poets, and politicians of this background.
The students of the Arabic program are dedicated to learning about the culture and language of the Middle East. The goal of the Arabic program at Claremont McKenna College is to teach the Arabic language, Arabic culture, and to provide Westerners with a more accurate understanding of the Arab world in order to ensure peace in the future between the two cultures.
The Arabic program offers a major in Middle Eastern studies. Please take a moment to peruse the various Arabic information and course details listed on this website.