Oriental Studies – Arabic Studies

Full-time, first and second-cycle studies in Polish.

The field of Oriental Studies – Arabic Studies has a strong interdisciplinary character, although the leading discipline is the study of culture and religion. The unique didactic programme is implemented exclusively at the Faculty of Oriental Studies at the University of Warsaw, which has almost 90 years of experience in teaching Oriental/African cultures and languages, including Arabic, which was confirmed by the creation of the unique major in Oriental Studies – Arabic Studies. The teaching programme is based on many years of experience and practice in teaching and researching issues related to the world of an Arabic culture. The lecturers are specialists – in most cases the only ones in Poland – in issues related to this geographical and cultural area, and they carry out advanced research supported by numerous publications in Polish and foreign languages. Language courses are taught by native speakers. In addition, in order to improve their qualifications and language skills, students have the opportunity to apply for language or research internships in selected Arab countries.

The expected learning outcomes are twofold: they guarantee the acquisition of a broad knowledge of various aspects of of the Arab culture and the acquisition of skills in the use of the Arabic language. The programme provides a broad knowledge of the literature, history, philosophy, religion and art of the Arab and Muslim cultural world and ensures the acquisition of advanced skills and linguistic competence through intensive study of the Arabic language.

It provides students with the broad perspective necessary to understand today’s problems and conflicts arising from civilisational differences. The programme also enables the training of new personnel in the field of cultural and religious studies and other academic disciplines. The implementation of the degree programme in Oriental Studies – Arabic Studies allows for the achievement of cognitive synergy and the formation of a new trend of thought and social awareness, consisting of understanding, openness and tolerance towards others, as well as the perception of the value of one’s own culture and ethical attitudes coming from the European and Arab world, which is so necessary today.

The knowledge acquired will enable the graduate of Oriental Studies – Arabic Studies to navigate correctly in the sphere of general issues concerning the theory and practice of Arabic and Muslim culture. The graduate will understand the diversity of cultures and civilisations, which will enable him/her to participate in the process of intercultural understanding and cooperation. He/she will acquire a basis for theoretical reflection on Arab culture. He/she will be able to analyse the basic phenomena of Arab and Muslim culture, and the tools for analysing these phenomena will be a good linguistic background and a methodological background in cultural and religious studies, linguistics, philosophy, history, literary studies and art studies.

The Graduate will be prepared to work in cultural dissemination institutions, the media, editorial offices and public administration. Increasing economic contacts with the Arab world mean that the labour market needs professionals with knowledge of the language and cultural and social realities of the countries in this region. Political and diplomatic contacts with the twenty-two Arab countries require the employment of specialists in the field of Arabic and Muslim language and culture, which graduates of the Oriental Studies-Arabic Studies programme are.

In addition, the Graduate will be prepared to undertake a second degree.

The Chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies of the University of Warsaw is the largest centre of its kind in Poland. Its beginnings date back to 1949, when J6zef Bielawski arrived in Warsaw after having graduated from the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, where he had studied under Prof. Tadeusz Kowalski. In 1958, J6zef Bielawski joined the staff of the Chair of Turkish Studies of the University of Warsaw, where Turkish, Iranian, and Arabic were traditionally taught together. Through the efforts of Prof. Józef Bielawski, a new, separate Chair of Arabic Studies was established in 1964. Five years later, it was reorganized into the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, with a now expanded scope of research and teaching. In so doing, Islamic studies were institutionalized, turned officially into a new branch of academic interest in Poland.

After the retirement of Prof. Bielawski in 1979, the Department was headed by Prof. Janusz Danecki. In 2007, after a quarter of a century in office, he was succeeded by the incumbent head of the unit, Prof. Katarzyna Pachniak. In 2009, the Department was upgraded to the Chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies.

In 1993, the Chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies launched its own journal of Arabic and Islamic Studies (Studia Arabistyczne i Islamistyczne). The Chair offers a three-year first-cycle course and a two-year second-cycle course. By 2022, the Chair awarded 450 first-cycle and 25 second-cycle degrees.

The Chair of Arabic and Islamic Studies conducts research in the following fields:

• Classical and modern Arab literature Linguistics and dialectology of the Arabic language
• Arab and Islamic culture of the Classical Period
• Religion and Islamic philosophy
• History, politics, and social issues of the Arab world
• Ethnology of the Arab world
• History of Arabic and Islamic studies

More detailed information about the programme and the course can be found on the website: www.arabistyka.uw.edu.pl.