About the Department

Sheikh Hassan Abbas Sharbatly Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations (ARIC) provides a multi-disciplinary framework for the study of the history and living culture of the  Middle  East and the Arab-Islamic world since the rise of Islam. It seeks to explore ideas, movements, processes, institutions and identities within Arab-Islamic civilizations.

The Department offers several minors and a bachelor's degree in Arabic studies. It offers a master's degree in Arabic studies with specializations in Arabic Language and Literature, Islamic Art and Architecture, Islamic Studies and Middle Eastern History. It also offers a graduate diploma in Arabic studies. 

The specializations in the department emphasize different aspects of Middle Eastern and Arab-Islamic cultures, yet they are closely interrelated, thereby offering students a wider appreciation of the contributions of these cultures. AUC’s location in one of the oldest and largest Arab-Muslim countries provides our students with an excellent opportunity to experience the surrounding cultural environment firsthand and to have access to the rich historical resources present in Egypt, in addition to engaging with the living heritage of Egypt and the Arab world. 

ARIC programs and courses train students to produce high-quality research on the textual and material heritage of the Arab-Islamic world. The department prepares students to excel in careers that require cultural competence, communication skills, project management and critical thinking.