Spring2024
Department of Arabic and Translation Studies
Head of Department
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.
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.
Programs
Minor in Arabic Language and Literature
Minor in English/Arabic Translation
Faculty
Dr. Nuha Alshaar
Professor
PhD, University of Cambridge,, United Kingdom
Dr. Said Faiq
Professor
PhD, University of Salford, United Kingdom
Dr. Usman Ghani
Associate Professor
PhD, University of Exeter, United Kingdom
Dr. Said Hassan
Assistant Professor
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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.
Facilities
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.
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.
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.
ATS Newsletters
Fall2023
ARAbesque Newsletter English
Spring2023
ARAbesque Newsletter English
Spring2023
almajalla Newsletter Arabic
Fall2022
ARAbesque Newsletter English
Fall2022
almajalla Newsletter Arabic
Are you ready to take the next step?
Contact
For more information about our department or programs, please contact us:
Department of Arabic and Translation Studies
College of Arts and Sciences
American University of Sharjah
P.O. Box 26666
Sharjah, UAE
Department Head
Dr. Ahmed Ali
Tel +971 6 515 2812
[email protected]
Administrative Assistant
Lamiaa Elanany
Tel +971 6 515 2600
[email protected]
For admission information, please visit https://infodesk.aus.edu, sign up and post your query.
