Arabic is one of the main languages of the Middle East. Its influence is felt in related languages and dialects such as Urdu and Kurdish, it is the language of the Quran, and is the fifth most common language with more than 375 million native speakers.

Westerners with Arabic fluency are in high demand as the global influence of the Middle East continues to grow. The Department of Foreign Languages and Literature offers six semesters of instruction in Arabic language leading to a minor. Arabic courses may be of particular interest to students in the certificate in Middle Eastern and North African studies, the international studies major, the linguistics major, and the global studies degree program. The U.S. State Department includes Arabic in its scholarship and training program for critically-needed languages.