The Semitics department offers intensive graduate-level summer language courses through Summer Sessions. Languages and literatures of the Christian Near East (Arabic, Armenian, Coptic, Classical Ethiopic, Georgian, Syriac) are a focus of the department's summer program.

Summer 2024 Program 

The Summer 2024 Program includes introductory-level and readings-level courses in Classical Arabic, Coptic, Classical Armenian, Classical Ethiopic, and Syriac.

All of our summer courses are taught synchronously online, meaning that all students and the instructor are on videoconference together for the duration of each class session. Since live interaction is an important key to the effectiveness of our courses, attendance at class meetings is necessary: fully or partially asynchronous course membership is not possible at this time.

These courses are open to CUA and non-CUA students alike, and there are usually plenty of available spots for enrollment.

The cost of each course is $3,315 ($1,105/credit hour).

You can find general information about the Catholic University of America's Summer Studies program here.

Students enrolled in these courses enjoy access to the Institute of Christian Oriental Research (ICOR) collections in the University's Semitics/ICOR Library.

For questions about the department and its programs contact Dr. Andrew Gross, Department Chair.

  • Summer Session 15: May 13-June 15 2024 (5 weeks)

     SEM 684 Readings in Coptic (3 credits) MoWe 10:00am-12:30pm

    Janet A. Timbie

    Reading of selected Coptic texts in various dialects and types of literature. Prerequisites: SEM 681, SEM 683, or equivalent.

  • Summer Session 16 May 13-June 22 2024 (6 weeks)

    SEM 533 Basic Syriac (3 credits) MoTuThFr 10:45am-12:20pm

    Instructor: Alex Lopez

    The fundamentals of literary Syriac phonology, morphology, and syntax, offered in an intensive format in the summer session.

    SEM 541 Basic Classical Arabic (3 credits) MoTuWeTh 12:45pm-2:20pm 

    Instructor: Lev Weitz

    Elementary grammar and syntax of the classical Arabic of the Quran and of early Islamic literature. Emphasis on mastery of the verb forms and noun types.

     SEM 551 Introduction to Classical Ethiopic (3 credits) MoTuThFr 12:00pm-1:30pm

    Instructor: Mehari Worku

    Fundamentals of phonology, morphology, syntax, and the writing system of Classical Ethiopic, followed by selected readings.

    SEM 683 Basic Coptic (3 credits) TuTh 1000am-1:20pm

    Instructor: Janet A. Timbie

    The fundamentals of Sahidic Coptic phonology, morphology, and syntax, offered in an intensive format during summer school. Prerequisite: Basic Greek.

    SEM 803 Basic Classical Armenian (3 credits) MoWeFr 4:15pm-6:20pm

    Instructor: Monica J. Blanchard

    The fundamentals of Classical Armenian phonology, morphology, and syntax, offered in an intensive format in the summer session.

  • Summer Session 26 June 24-August 3 2024 (6 weeks)

    SEM 542 Basic Classical Arabic II (3 credits) MoTuWeTh 12:45pm-2:20pm

    Instructor: Lev Weitz

    Elementary grammar and syntax of the classical Arabic of the Quran and of early Islamic literature. Emphasis on mastery of the verb forms and noun types.

    SEM 552 Introduction to Classical Ethiopic II (3 credits)  MoTuThFr 12:00pm-1:30pm

    Instructor: Mehari Worku

    Fundamentals of phonology, morphology, syntax, and the writing system of Classical Ethiopic, followed by selected readings.

    SEM 631 Syriac Literature (3 credits) MoWeFr 4:15pm-6:20pm

    Instructor: Monica J. Blanchard

    Reading of selected Syriac texts in various types of literature. Prerequisite: SEM 533 or equivalent.

    SEM 804 Readings in Classical Armenian (3 credits) TuTh 4:15pm-7:25pm

    Instructor: Monica J. Blanchard

    Reading of selected Classical Armenian texts in various types of literature. Prerequisite: SEM 803 or equivalent.