Georgetown University in Qatar Introduces New Minor in Arabic

Press release

Published November 1st, 2017 - 12:31 GMT

The new minor will allow students to further grow their cultural understanding and Arabic language skills.

Undergraduate students at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) will now be able to further enhance their studies with a minor in Arabic. While the University currently offers its students the choice of four majors and three additional certificates, this is the first time students at GU-Q can also choose to minor in a language.

All students studying towards GU-Q’s internationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service (BFSF) degree are required to demonstrate proficiency in a second language in addition to English. The new minor will allow students to further grow their cultural understanding and Arabic language skills.

The option to pursue the minor has been made available to all students, including those who are graduating at the end of the current academic year. The minor aims to complement students’ existing majors in Culture and Politics, International Economics, International History, and International Politics.

"We are excited to offer our students the opportunity to pursue an Arabic minor, the first minor for Georgetown's Qatar campus. It's appropriate that our first minor is one that builds on our location in Doha and our research and teaching expertise in Arabic language, politics, and culture,” said Heather Kerst, senior assistant dean for advising and curriculum. “Approximately one-fourth of our 2018 graduates have registered for the minor, so it is already proving very popular."

In order to graduate with a minor in Arabic, students will be required to take seven approved courses, demonstrate their proficiency in the language, and declare their interest in pursuing the minor. Both native Arabic speakers and non-heritage speakers are able to apply.

Background Information

Georgetown University in Qatar

Established in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), founded in 2005 in partnership with Qatar Foundation, seeks to build upon the world-class reputation of the university through education, research, and service. Inspired by the university’s mission of promoting intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding, GU-Q aims to advance knowledge and provide students and the community with a holistic educational experience that produces global citizens committed to the service of humankind.

Located in Doha’s Education City, GU-Q offers the same internationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree as Georgetown’s Capitol Campus in Washington, DC. This unique, interdisciplinary program prepares students to tackle the most important and pressing global issues by helping them develop critical thinking, analytic, and communication skills within an international context. GU-Q alumni work in leading local and international organizations across industries ranging from finance to energy, education, and media. The Qatar campus also serves as a residency and delivery location for the Executive Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management along with the Executive Master’s in Leadership.