University of Oregon students can take three years of Swahili and three years of Arabic, taught in the traditional format of five hours per week for five credits. Swahili and Arabic courses can satisfy the university’s two-year BA foreign language requirement.
Arabic
Department: Arabic Studies
Number of users worldwide: 420 million
Offerings: Levels 100-300*
Today, Arabic is the native language of over 300 million speakers in North Africa and West Asia. Arabic is also the primary language for Islamic scholarship from the seventh century to the present and has historically functioned as a lingua franca for the entire Muslim scholarly world. Arabic has long served as the spoken and written language for a number of other confessional communities (Christians, Jews, Zoroastrians, Mandeans, and others).
*Only 300 level courses will count towards the African studies minor electives.
Learn More about Arabic Studies
Swahili
Department: Linguistics
Number of users worldwide: 100 million
Offerings: Levels 100-300
Spoken in 12 countries, Swahili is the gateway to the rich culture and dynamic economy of East Africa. Learning Swahili will give you a unique perspective of the diverse people, places, and culture of Africa. Move past the boundaries of what you think you know about Africa. Explore the fascinating history, economic dynamism, and rich culture of East Africa while learning to communicate with over 100 million Swahili speakers around the world
For more information on studying Swahili, contact the instructor, Mokaya Bosire. It is also possible to take intensive Swahili in the summer via a GEO study abroad program in Zanzibar.
Yamada Language Center
The UO also offers opportunities for self-study, with the assistance of native speakers, in languages such as Akan, Wolof, and Bamana/Dyula through the Yamada Language Center (YLC).
The YLC is part of the School of Global Studies and Languages (SGSL, which brings together roughly 100 core faculty members across four language and literature departments, five area studies programs, the Yamada Language Center, and the Department of Global Studies. The YLC supports teaching and learning in the language and interdisciplinary humanities departments served at SGSL.