Chair of Arabic Studies

Arabic has been taught at Yerevan State University since the first days of its foundation. The Chair of Oriental Languages was formed in the Faculty of Philology in the 1940s. Then, in 1968, when the Faculty of Oriental Studies was founded, Chairs of Iranian Philology and Arabic and Turkish Philology were separated from it.

The Chair of Arabic Studies, as an independent academic division of YSU, was founded in 1992 by the decision of the YSU Academic Council. As a result of the reorganization of the Chairs of Arabic and Turkish philology and the history of the countries of the East, the Chairs of Arabic studies and Turkic studies were created. Professor Davit Hovhannisyan is the founding head of the Chair of Arabic Studies.

For many years, the scientific and educational activity of the Chair of Arabic Studies was led by Ph.D., Associate Professor Samvel Karaberkyan, then by Ph.D., Associate Professor Sona Tonikyan. Since December 2016, the head of the Chair of Arabic Studies is Ph.D., Associate Professor Hayk Kocharyan.

Arabic studies is a complex science that includes many disciplines. Now, the field of scientific and educational activity of the Chair includes all the main directions of Arabic studies: linguistics, medieval Arab culture and history, Islamic studies, Arabic literature of new and modern times, and the study of modern regional problems. In addition to the study of Arabic studies, the Chair also deals with Hebrew studies and the development of Hebrew studies in Armenia.

Recognized and leading specialists in the field, work in the Chair, who regularly undergo professional training both in Armenia and abroad, are involved in international and local grant programs, and carry out close professional cooperation with specialists in Arabic studies and related fields from renowned universities abroad. The Chair's scientist-pedagogues are the authors of educational manuals, monographs, school textbooks, and scientific articles, which are also published in periodicals with a high impact factor.

Great importance is given to academic freedom and the development of analytical thinking. During their studies, the students of the Chair have the opportunity to undergo one-year Arabic training in the language centers of the universities of Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan. In addition to Arabic, students also have the opportunity to study a second Eastern language. The Chair cooperates with the embassies of Arab countries in RA, various Arab organizations, and foundations, as well as with various centers of Arabic studies in the world, whose specialists regularly give lectures at the Chair.

The Chair of Arabic Studies implements the "Arabic Studies" (Undergraduate) and "Applied Arabic Studies" (Master's) educational programs.