Department of Arabic and Translation Studies

Head of Department

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Salāms, and welcome to the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies (ATS). As the head of the department, it is my honor to introduce you to the diverse and inclusive learning environment that we cherish and foster here at ATS. Our educational mission is centered on imparting in our students a profound appreciation for the rich cultural heritage of the Arab-Islamic civilization, and to provide them with a comprehensive education in four distinct disciplines: Arabic Studies, Translation Studies, Islamic Studies, and Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL).

We believe in serving all students, regardless of their majors, and offer three minor programs to fulfill their diverse needs and interests. These minors consist of 12-credit hours each and are designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge in their respective areas of interest.|-BREAK-|

The two minor programs are:

⁍ Arabic Language and Literature, which is aimed at giving students a comprehensive understanding of the Arabic language and its rich heritage, literature, culture and society.

⁍ Translation, which is aimed at equipping students with the theoretical and practical knowledge necessary to become professional translators and increase their employability and understanding of the other in a more globalized world.

⁍ Additionally, ATS offers multiple courses in Islamic Studies, which introduce students to the history, religion, culture and society of the Islamic world, with a particular focus on Seerah, Hadith, and Qur’anic Studies.

Furthermore, our AFL courses provide students with the opportunity to learn and improve their language skills in a practical setting. Our faculty members are a talented and dedicated group of experts who are accomplished in both teaching and research. With their extensive experience and wealth of knowledge, they are committed to providing students with an exceptional learning experience. Our graduates are highly sought-after by employers in a wide range of fields, including government, education, international business and media.

We invite you to join our vibrant community of students and scholars and look forward to helping you achieve your academic and professional goals. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us.

Ahmed Ali
Head of Department

Conferences

Hyperlocal to Global: Cultural Hybridity and Translation in the Age of Artificial Intelligence | February 19–20, 2025

Register to attend this two-day conference where researchers, scholars, industry experts and students will explore and exchange ideas on the rapid development of AI technologies. The conference will delve into how AI influences the blending of the local with the global and how cultural hybridity (glocal) is represented and transmitted across various media through AI-generated translation. It will focus on the tensions, opportunities and implications of these processes in the context of the digital era, examining the role of AI in shaping/reshaping narratives, media, languages and cultural goods.

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Click here for more information

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Islam in the Modern World: Dialogues on Faith, Culture and Society | April 21–22, 2025

Join us for a two-day conference aimed to address the various dimensions of Islamic tradition and its relevance in the modern context. We aim to facilitate discussions that not only honor the rich historical and intellectual heritage of Islam but also investigate its applications and interpretations in contemporary settings. By examining the dynamic interplay between traditional Islamic knowledge and contemporary scholarly approaches, we hope to address the evolving challenges and opportunities in the field. This will include exploring how Islamic thought can contribute to modern debates on ethics, law, education, politics, economics and more.

Click here for more information

Programs

Minor in Arabic Language and Literature

Minor in English/Arabic Translation

Faculty

Ms. Wesam Al-Assadi

Instructor

MA, American University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Dr. Mariam Al-Attar

Senior Lecturer

PhD, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies Department, University of Leeds, United Kingdom

Dr. Meis Al-Kaisi

Assistant Professor

PhD, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, United Kingdom

Professor Ahmed Ali

Professor

PhD, Durham University, United Kingdom

Research

The research profile of the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies is diverse. Department faculty members’ research agendas delve into matters central to the field, covering a wide range of interests and specializations.

Arabic Linguistics

Arabic corpus linguistics
Arabic dialectology
Arabic historical linguistics
Arabic semantics and pragmatics
Teaching Arabic as a foreign language

Arabic Literature

Arabic music
Classical and modern Arabic poetry in translation
Classical Arabic literature and thought
Modern Arabic literature
Modern Arabic poetry
Modernism in Arabic literature
Postcolonial literature

Islamic Studies

Contemporary readings of the Qur’an
Ethics in Muslim traditions
Hadith and Sunna both in their historical context and contemporary expression
Islam and mass media
Islamic jurisprudence
Islamic philosophy and kalām
Modern Islamic movements
Muslim intellectual history
Qur'anic studies and exegesis
Sufism and classical Arabic Sufi texts

Translation Studies

Arabic rhetoric
Audiovisual translation
Contrastive linguistics and translation
Corpus-based translation studies
Intercultural communication
Localization
Machine translation
Terminology

Summer Intensive Arabic Program

Study Arabic in Sharjah!

American University of Sharjah (AUS) in the UAE is offering two Arabic language courses in Summer 2024: Elementary I (for complete beginners) or Elementary II.

Each course is a 5-week, 6-credit-hour intensive program. You will build speaking, listening, reading and writing skills in interactive classes, including both Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) and an Arabic dialect.

The program boasts expert native-speaker professors, various cultural excursions, and a beautiful and safe university campus, all in the UNESCO Cultural Capital of the Arab World. At AUS, you will be just 15 minutes away from the heart of Sharjah and the metropolis of Dubai.

Eligibility

Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better are encouraged to apply. All accepted students, except for complete beginners, will take an online placement test.

Course Titles

Intensive Elementary Arabic I (for complete beginners)
Intensive Elementary Arabic II (for advanced beginners; online placement test required)

Dates and Deadlines

Deadline to Apply | April 22, 2024
Deadline for Tuition Fees Payment | May 5
Online Placement Test | TBA
Arrival/Dorms Open | May 31
Orientation and Cultural Excursions | June 1-3, 2024
Course Dates | Wednesday, June 5 to July 17, 2024
Departure | After July 18, 2024

Program Fees

Tuition

US$ 6,096.39

Estimated Accommodation Fee

US$ 887.00

based on a shared dorm room (double-sharing) on campus

Exclusions: The program fee does not include a room booking deposit, refundable dorm damage deposit, meals, books, visa, travel costs, insurance and personal expenses.

Textbooks

Both levels use materials designed by the instructor in combination with the following textbook:
al-Kitaab fii Ta’allum al-Arabiyya (Part 1, 3rd ed.)

For further information, please contact:

[email protected] (Department of Arabic and Translation Studies)
[email protected] (International Exchange Office)

Seats are limited, so apply today.

Click here to apply online

Facilities

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AUS Library

Our students have access to the latest print and electronic materials in the field through the university's library.
As one of the region's premier libraries, the AUS Library is an outstanding facility that provides collections, services and programs to support the curricular and research needs of the entire university community. The majority of our library's rapidly growing physical collection is in English; however, there are also materials available in Arabic.
Our students have access to an online catalog system that can be used to search for library materials from any location on or off campus. They can also access e-books, online databases, full-text journals and other digital resources.

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Interpreting Laboratory

Our fully functioning simultaneous interpreting lab is equipped with Tandberg conferencing equipment, the standard in the field. It features 11 single booths for simultaneous interpreting training and 10 points around a table for consecutive interpreting training. That setup can also be used to simulate conference events with principles seated at table and interpreters working in the booths.

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Arabic Resource Center

The Arabic Resource Center is a specialized language learning room, equipped with a smart board, overhead projector, computer stations, and a library of Arabic learning resources and Arabic novels in translation. Its large meeting table and easy chairs encourage an intimate classroom environment where students can interact easily.