Arabic Language and Literature

This may count as one field in the General Examinations or as two separate fields. If students intend to write their thesis in either Arabic language or Arabic literature, they are required to take two separate examinations in these two fields. If they intend to write their thesis in fields (b) to (e) below, Arabic language and literature will count as one field for the General Examinations. Students with a focus on language are required to take Arabic 146r (History of the Arabic Languages) and Arabic 248r (Medieval Arabic Writings on Grammar [or Literary Theory]: Seminar). They are strongly encouraged to take introductory courses in Linguistics (such as Linguistics 110, 112a/b, 115, 120) and/or Semitic Philology (such as Sem. Philol. 140, 200r). Students focusing on literature are required to take Arabic 245r (Classical Arabic Literature: Seminar), ideally twice. If they feel they are still in need of a general overview, they are encouraged to take, or audit, Arabic 150r (History of Classical Arabic Literature [in translation]). It is also strongly recommended that they take a course or two in Comparative Literature (such as Comp. Lit. 112, 207, 211, 275). Students with a language focus should take, or audit, the literature courses (Arabic 150r and 245r) for their examination in Arabic literature; likewise, students with a literature focus should take, or audit, the courses on language (Arabic 146r and 248r) for their examination in Arabic language. Students who want to take the examination in Arabic language AND literature should take two and audit two of the Arabic courses mentioned (one course on language and one on literature, each). A fair knowledge of the foundational texts of Islam is required for all students in Arabic language and literature; those who do not come in with this kind of knowledge should take either Arabic 230a and 230b (The Hadith) or Arabic 231a and 231b (The Qur'an).

from
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~nelc/arab_islam.html