The AFP

Our Mission
In collaboration with The Language Flagship, the mission of The University of Texas Arabic Flagship Program (AFP) is to graduate students, through advanced language education, with Superior level proficiency in Arabic to create the next generation of global professionals.

Innovative Approach
The Arabic Flagship Program (AFP) at The University of Texas at Austin offers a three- to five-year, intensive training program in Arabic language and cultures at the undergraduate level.

Throughout the challenging program, students are provided the support and training necessary to reach Superior proficiency in Arabic–ILR 3/3+–while simultaneously pursuing the undergraduate major of their choice.

AFP innovations:

A wide range of Arabic courses at all levels and in-depth content courses throughout the academic year
A focus on both Standard and Colloquial Arabic (Egyptian and Syrian)
An intensive domestic summer program offering elementary, intermediate, and advanced courses
Intensive summer and year-long programs at Arabic Flagship Program sites in Alexandria, Egypt and Damascus, Syria
The largest tenured and tenure-track Arabic faculty in the country
Experienced and supportive mentors and teaching assistants
Student-centered classes, a high teacher-to-student ratio, and more contact hours than most other programs
A dynamic events calendar with talks, films, dinners, trips and hands-on activities
A flexible program that accepts students at all levels of proficiency with multiple entry points
Internships providing students opportunities to help in our K-12 program, assist with media production, conduct Arabic language-focused research, and more!

AFP Milestones
2007 – The year that UT’s Arabic Flagship Program was launched

70 – The number of students currently enrolled in the AFP

10 – The number of students studying abroad with us in Damascus & Alexandria this year

16 – The number of Arabic Flagship Program Alumni

44 – The number of students accepted into the 2010 Arabic Summer Institute

11 – The number of Arabic language content courses offered at UT

280,000,000 – The number of Arabic Native Speakers in the world

23 – The number of countries in the world where Arabic is widely spoken

Partners

The Arabic Flagship Program collaborates with various organizations within UT and nationally, as well as with other accredited colleges and universities both nationally and abroad in Damascus. Here is a listing of some of our key partners:

The Language Flagship

The Language Flagship leads the nation in designing, supporting, and implementing a new paradigm for advanced language education. Through an innovative partnership among the federal government, education, and business, The Language Flagship seeks to graduate students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of fluency in one of many languages critical to U.S. competitiveness and security.

Middle Eastern Studies at The University of Texas at Austin
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies, established in 1960, is one of the largest and most respected National Resource Centers designated by the United States Department of Education under the Title VI Strategic Area Studies program.

The Department of Middle Eastern Studies houses faculty specializing in Middle Eastern cultures and languages and offers specialized academic programs in Arabic, Hebrew, Islamic, Persian, and Turkish studies.

Alexandria University, Egypt

The AFP collaborates with the Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL) Center at Alexandria University in Egypt for our study abroad program. The study abroad program in Alexandria is administered by the American Councils for International Education in partnership with The Alexandria University’s TAFL Center. The Center provides the faculty and facilities needed to achieve our goal of graduating students with superior proficiency.

Damascus University, Syria

The AFP collaborates with the Arabic Language Center at Damascus University in Syria for our summer and year-long study abroad programs. The program is administered in conjunction with the American Councils for International Education.

American Councils for International Education

The American Councils for International Education is an international not-for-profit organization that believes in the fundamental role of education in fostering positive change for individuals, institutions and societies. The American Councils advances education and research worldwide through international programs that provide the global perspective essential for academic and professional excellence.

Arabic Flagship Programs

University of Maryland

University of Michigan

Michigan State University

University of Oklahoma

Brochures