Overview
The M.A programme in Arabic Studies is one of the specialized courses offered to graduate students in the Department of Linguistics and Languages. The programme consists of coursework, examination and project offered to both full time and part time students. The overall goal of the programme is to equip students with the relevant skills and necessary competencies to undertake advanced research in the area of Arabic Studies in general as well as serve as advisors, consultants, translators and planners in language and related areas. The programme is tailored to meet the demand of postgraduate studies by providing an opportunity to graduates from local and foreign universities to pursue postgraduate studies in Arabic. The programme is guided by the general national philosophy of education which is the ‘provision of education and training for transformation to a knowledge economy, social cohesion and sustainable development’. It is also hinged on the University of Nairobi philosophy on education and training. At the end of the course, the graduates are equipped with the necessary competencies in advanced research and study skills in general to enable them to provide meaningful contribution to nation building and transformation of the Kenyan society.
Contact of support person(s):
Dr. Mohamed Abdulmajid Akidah
Program Coordinator,
+254 724 828 947
Admission Requirements
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Minimum Admission Requirements
a. The common regulations for admission requirements for B.A in the University of Nairobi shall apply.
b. In addition to meeting the University Entrance Requirements, candidates for admission to the programme are required to have a C at K.C.S.E level grade in Arabic or its equivalent from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
Regulations for Credit Transfers
- The common regulations for credit transfer and exemptions of the University of Nairobi shall apply.
- A student shall be allowed to seek credit transfer or exemptions for up to one-third of the total taught course units if they are equivalent to those offered by the University of Nairobi and were taken at equivalent level of study from an institution recognized by the University of Nairobi Senate.
- A student seeking credit transfer or exemptions shall send a formal application to the Dean, Faculty of Arts through the Chairperson of the Department, justifying the request, and attaching relevant supporting documents.
- Grades for transferred course units shall be entered in the candidate’s transcript while the exempted course units shall be entered as ‘exempt’.
- Credit transfers in case of exchange students shall be applicable only to specific Memoranda of Understanding or Agreements signed in advance between the University of Nairobi and the collaborating universities/institutions for joint programmes.
Careers
- Teaching
- Diplomacy
- Translation and Interpretation
- Language Practioners
Fees and Funding
Fee Structure for the Bachelor of Arts (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences)
|
SN |
Item |
Semester 1 |
Semester 2 |
Totals |
|
YEAR ONE |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tuition |
58,826.70 |
58,826.70 |
117,653.40 |
|
|
ICT Services - (Per Year) |
7,000.00 |
7,000.00 |
|
|
|
Caution - (Once) |
5,000.00 |
5,000.00 |
|
|
|
Examination Fee |
12,000.00 |
12,000.00 |
|
|
|
Medical Fee (Per Year) |
6,500.00 |
6,500.00 |
|
|
|
Activity (Per Year) |
2,000.00 |
2,000.00 |
|
|
|
Registration (Per Semester@2250) |
2,250.00 |
2,250.00 |
4,500.00 |
|
|
ID Card (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Student Organisation (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Library (Per Year) |
4,000.00 |
4,000.00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
99,576.70 |
61,076.70 |
160,653.40 |
|
|
|
YEAR TWO |
|
|
|
|
|
Tuition |
58,826.70 |
58,826.70 |
117,653.40 |
|
|
ICT Services - (Per Year) |
7,000.00 |
7,000.00 |
|
|
|
Caution - (Once) |
|
||
|
|
Examination Fee |
12,000.00 |
12,000.00 |
|
|
|
Medical Fee (Per Year) |
6,500.00 |
6,500.00 |
|
|
|
Activity (Per Year) |
2,000.00 |
2,000.00 |
|
|
|
Registration (Per Semester@2250) |
2,250.00 |
2,250.00 |
4,500.00 |
|
|
ID Card (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Student Organisation (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Library (Per Year) |
4,000.00 |
4,000.00 |
|
|
|
Total |
94,576.70 |
61,076.70 |
155,653.40 |
|
|
YEAR THREE |
|
|
|
|
|
Tuition |
58,826.70 |
58,826.70 |
117,653.40 |
|
|
ICT Services - (Per Year) |
7,000.00 |
7,000.00 |
|
|
|
Caution - (Once) |
|
|
|
|
|
Examination Fee |
12,000.00 |
12,000.00 |
|
|
|
Medical Fee (Per Year) |
6,500.00 |
6,500.00 |
|
|
|
Activity-(Per Year) |
2,000.00 |
2,000.00 |
|
|
|
Registration (Per Semester@2250) |
2,250.00 |
2,250.00 |
4,500.00 |
|
|
ID Card (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Student Organisation (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Library (Per Year) |
4,000.00 |
4,000.00 |
|
|
TOTAL |
94,576.70 |
61,076.70 |
155,653.40 |
|
|
|
YEAR FOUR |
|
|
|
|
|
Tuition |
58,826.70 |
58,826.70 |
117,653.40 |
|
|
ICT Services - (Per Year) |
7,000.00 |
7,000.00 |
|
|
|
Caution - (Once) |
|
||
|
|
Examination Fee |
12,000.00 |
12,000.00 |
|
|
|
Medical Fee (Per Year) |
6,500.00 |
6,500.00 |
|
|
|
Activity (Per Year) |
2,000.00 |
2,000.00 |
|
|
|
Registration (Per Semester@2250) |
2,250.00 |
2,250.00 |
4,500.00 |
|
|
ID Card (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Student Organisation (Per Year) |
1,000.00 |
1,000.00 |
|
|
|
Library (Per Year) |
4,000.00 |
4,000.00 |
|
|
Total |
94,576.70 |
61,076.70 |
155,653.40 |
Structure
FIRST YEAR
Semester 1
CAS 3101: Introduction to Arabic Language.
CAS 3103: Communication Skills in Arabic.
Semester 2
CAS 3102: Elementary Language Skills in Arabic.
CAS 3104: Basic Arabic Grammar.
SECOND YEAR
Semester 1
CAS 3201: Arabic Structure.
CAS 3203: Modern Arabic Texts.
Semester 1:
CLA 202: Comprehension in Arabic.
CLA 204: Introduction to Arabic Translation.
THIRD YEAR
Semester 1
Core Units
CLA 301: The Morphology of Various Word Classes in Arabic.
CLA 303: Historical Development of Arabic.
CLA 305: Translation of Non-Literary Arabic Texts.
Electives
CLA 307: Classical Arabic Poetry.
CLA 309: Introduction of Arabic Literary Criticism.
CLA 311: Analysis of Poetry as a Study in Style.
Semester 2
Core Units
CLA 302: Syntax of the Simple Arabic Sentence.
CLA 304: Advanced Language Skills in Arabic.
CLA 306: Translation of Literary Texts.
Electives
CLA 308: Classical Arabic Prose.
CLA 310: Introduction to Arabic Rhetoric.
CLA 312: Analysis of Prose as a Study in Style.
FOURTH YEAR
Semester 1
Core Units
CLA 401: Development of Modern Arabic Literature.
CLA 403: Modern Arabic Poetry.
CLA 405: Advanced Translation and Comprehension.
Electives
CLA 407: Modern Approach to the Structure of Arabic.
CLA 409: Advanced Studies of Arabic Rhetoric.
CLA 411: Introduction to Spoken Arabic Language.
Semester 2
Core Units
CLA 402: Advanced Arabic Grammar.
CLA 404: Modern Arabic Prose.
CLA 406: Advanced Composition.
Electives
CLA 408: Modern Approach to the Arabic Literary Criticism.
CLA 410: Analysis of Modern Texts belonging to different Registers and Usage.
CLA 412: Arabic Drama.
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
FIRST YEAR
CLA 101: INTRODUCTION TO ARABIC LANGUAGE
Introduction to the Arabic alphabet and scripts; Pronunciation of Arabic sounds, consonants and vowels; word pronunciation, Recognition of orthographic signs; develop ability in oral reading; increase and build vocabulary relevant to contextual environments; Explain the way of writing (from right to left-the different shapes of letters, how to connect letters in words, the unconnected letters, Explaining the difference between short and long vowels, followed by various vocal exercises, Reading of very short and simple passages; Linguistic patterns through sentences, on experience related to daily life; completion of statements.
CLA 103: COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Identification and greetings; How to form questions; How to answer questions; How to compose simple sentences; family life, university life, friendship, experiences, hobbies, time, numbers, development of oral communication skills; The meaning and function of intonation; Rhythm and stress; Recognition and pronunciation of basic Arabic sounds.
CLA 102: ELEMENTARY LANGUAGE SKILLS
Providing suitable cues in speech work; correct pronunciation or words; participation in simple dialogues; recognition and understanding of the Arabic alphabet (riq'ah and naskh); Acknowledgements: shopping, sports; school life; public speeches, professions, tailors, carpenters, mechanics.
CLA 104: BASIC ARABIC GRAMMAR
Gender (signs of the fem) general: pronouns, Demonstratives, Relative; Definite and indefinite; Numbers (singular, dual, plural); Simple nominal sentences; simple verbal sentences; Agreement between the subject and its predicate, Tense.
SECOND YEAR
CLA 201: ARABIC STRUCTURE
Nominative Nouns; Accusative nouns, genitive nouns, using 'Kaana' and 'Inna'; The five special nouns; the indicative verb of the present tense; subjunctive verb of the present tense; the jussive verb of the present tense; Form of Exclamation; Adverbs of time and place; The derived forms of the trilateral verb; 'Hamzat Inna' and 'Hamzat Anna'; The numbers; Interrogative articles.
CLA 203: MODERN ARABIC TEXTS
Press reports; short stories, public announcements, notices and advertisements; occasional messages; public speeches and sermons; Radio and television broadcasts; conference papers; biographical writings; official forms.
CLA 202: COMPREHENSION IN ARABIC
Comprehension material covering the following areas: social, politics, economies, arts, history, culture, religion, industry and commerce.
CLA 204: INTRODUCTION TO ARABIC TRANSLATION
Structural problems in translation, cultural problems in translation, inadequacy in lexical equivalents; basic translation materials representing simple texts on economies, literature, culture, history and politics.
THIRD YEAR
CLA 301: THE MORPHOLOGY OF VARIOUS WORD CLASSES IN ARABIC
Inadequate verbs: Past tense verbs and markers of their indeclinable condition; present tense indeclinable verbs and markers of their indeclinable conditions; Imperative verbs and markers of their indeclinable condition; weak verbs (their conjugation and moods); regular verbs ( their conjugation and moods); Sisters of 'Kaana' (e.g. 'lays', 'asbaha', 'anna' etc); Sisters of 'Inna' (e.g. 'laakinna', 'la'alla'); Relative sentences; components of the relative sentence and their grammar.
CLA 303: HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF ARABIC
Poetry as the main literary genre during 'Jahiliyyah' period; 'Jahiliyya' poetry; The form of Arabic used in the poetry of the period; the advent of Islam and its influences on the development of Arabic literature; the role of Islam in the standardization and spread of Arabic; Arabic language and literature during the Islamic, Umayyad, Abbasid and contemporary periods; Development and diversification of Arabic literature and contacts with the outside world; Effects of Mongol invasion on Arabic language and literature.
CLA 305: TRANSLATION OF NON-LITERARY TEXTS
Selected texts on economic, political, and scientific focuses; discussion of translation problems, proper methods of translating non-literary texts.
CLA 309: ADVANCED STUDIES OF ARABIC RHETORIC
A detailed study of metaphor, simile, personification, paraox, exaggeration, allusion, brevity, rhyming, pun, alliteration … etc with application for each type using different types of Arabic literature (prose, poetry).
CLA 302: SYNTAX OF THE SIMPLE ARABIC SENTENCE
Study of the components of the nominal sentence, the verbal sentence, the conditional sentence and the interrogative sentence. Analysis of the inflection of the word inside the construction of a sentence.
CLA 304: ADVANCED LANGUAGE SKILLS IN ARABIC
Guidance on essay writing (including letters) in Arabic; selected comprehension texts, summarizing and editing of texts.
CLA 306: TRANSLATION OF LITERARY TEXTS
Extracts of literary texts of different ages (Jahiliyyah, Islamic etc) of different genres (poetry, prose, proverbs… etc) are to be discussed, highlighting translation problems found in that domain.
CLA 308: CLASSICAL ARABIC PROSE
Various prose texts of jahiliyya, Islamic, Umayyad and Abbasid periods (e.g. wise sayings, commandments, pieces of advice, speeches, excerpts of the Quran, traditions of the Prophet, correspondences and 'maqamat' genre)
CLA 310: INTRODUCTION TO ARABIC RHETORIC
Definition of the Arabic Rhetoric, the relation between Rhetoric and literature, the difference between Rhetoric and criticism, the initial publication in Arabic Rhetoric.
CLA 312: ANALYSIS OF STYLE IN PROSE (AS A STUDY IN STYLE)
Study the technical construction of the public speech, the story, the formal and personal letter, the telegram and the essay, discussion of some of the famous works of each type in the Arabic culture.
FOURTH YEAR
CLA 401: DEVELOPMENT OF MODERN ARABIC LITERATURE
To survey the major currents in the development of modern Arabic literature from the French conquest of Egypt 1798: The French expedition. The contribution of rulers (Mohamed Ali, Ismail Khidauri …), the contribution of individuals (Jamal al-din-al Afghani, Urabi relevation, Mustafa Kamil, Mohamed Abduh, Zaki Mubarak … etc.) The development of the press (Abdalla Nadin (al-Ustadh): Hazh al-Ummah (al-jaridah): printing presses etc The foreign influence; the role of the Arabs who studied abroad, translation of foreign literature into Arabic; Academics … etc.
CLA 403: MODERN ARABIC POETRY
Study various poems of literary works of this century for (Shawqy, Hafiz Shukry and his two close friendsl AL-Aqqad and Al-Mazini, Khalil Mutran, Mikhail Naima, AL-Barudi, discussion of the main elements of these pieces of work giving a basic feature of poetry of this century.
CLA 405: ADVANCED TRANSLATION AND COMPREHENSION
A varied selection of comprehension passages of different interests and subjects, introducing within, oral translation on professional translating bases.
CLA 407: MODERN APPROACH TO THE STRUCTURE OF ARABIC A study of Arabic structure using modern descriptive methods in analyzing Arabic phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics.
CLA 411: INTRODUCTION TO SPOKEN ARABIC LANGUAGE
The differences between spoken and written Arabic, showing the reasons for these differences selecting four spoken dialects from the Arab world and making a comparison showing the variation of lexical items in each dialect, its external effects and its development (i.e. the addition of needed words, borrowing from other spoken dialects).
CLA 402: ADVANCED ARABIC GRAMMAR
Foundation of Kufa and Basra schools, the early Arabic grammarians, Sibawahi, Abul Hassan Akfash, Ibn Malik, syntactic patterns of Arabic sentences; verbal sentences in a nominative and accusative. Usative position; the inflection for the sister of 'Kaana' and 'Inna'. Disagreement of grammarians on the matter of many predicates for one subject. Beginning of sentences with indefinite nouns; description of nouns related (ma'tuf) to to predicates of 'Inna'.
CLA 404: MODERN ARABIC PROSE
Study various types of the literary works in prose of this century for (Zaynab of M.H Haykal, Al-Nadharat of Al Manfaluti, Al Ayyam of Taha Hussein, Wahu-Iqalam of Al Rafee).
CLA 406: ADVANCED COMPOSITION
The course will seek to give the student, advanced skills in artistic writing. Using the specific skills in writing short stories, long stories, articles, reports, personal and formal letters and plays. Selected patterns for each of these topics will be studied. Equipping the student practically in the preparation and authorship of original works.
CLA 408: DEVELOPMENT OF ARABIC CRITICISM AND LITERARY APPRECIATION
The effect of Greeks on the development of criticism in Arabic literature. The effects of the foreign critical studies (i.e. English and French) on the Modern Arabic Criticism. The principal elements of literary criticism (i.e. literary appreciation to a literary context, as to be a narrative or a poetic piece of work).
CLA 410: ANALYSIS OF MODERN TEXTS BELONGING TO DIFFERENT REGISTERS OF USAGE
Analysis of modern texts using the textual approach will be undertaken. Registers to be dealt with include the 'language' of advertising, newspapers texts, texts, scientific writing etc.
CLA 412: ARABIC DRAMA
Historical background where foreign influence are introduced followed by the development of the Arabic drama and theatre with time. The type of plays produced by the Arabic culture (e.g. mirical, political, romantic ….etc) and examples for every type. Drama and its effect on the Arabic society and vice-versa.