Scholarships: Arabic

Hanna & Wardah Sbait Scholarship for Improvised-Sung Poetry (Zajal) & Folk Songs, and Folk Proverbs

This scholarship supports undergraduate students majoring in Arabic and/or graduate students pursuing a master's in World Languages and Literatures.

Sponsor: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 
Available To: Undergraduate, Post-Baccalaureate, Graduate
Number of Awards: 2 annually 
Amount: $1,500 for undergraduate students (paid towards tuition & fees); $1,800 for graduate students (paid towards tuition & fees)
Renewable: Yes 
Deadline: April 1

Criteria

Undergraduate

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Majoring in Arabic Language and Literature
  • Attends one or more 400-level Arabic language or literature classes
  • Previously completed AR 303: Third Year Standard (fus-ha) Arabic and AR 306: Common Spoken (‘ammiyyah) Arabic
  • Commitment to completing a special project as directed by the academic advisors of the program

Graduate

  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • MA in World Languages and Literatures program
  • Attends two 500-level advisor approved Arabic classes, or another 500-level advisor approved class
  • Commitment to completing a special project as directed by the academic advisors of the program
  • 3.5 overall GPA or higher

If there are fewer than two candidates selected using the above criteria, then any World Languages and Literatures section head, academic advisor or faculty can nominate a "distinguished" student working toward a major offered by World Languages and Literatures to receive an "Honorary" Hanna and Wardah Sbait Scholarship. One student will be selected per academic year.

Application

Your application must contain the following materials:

  • 350-word statement (in Arabic for undergraduate students, English for graduate students) addressing your educational goals, university activities and related interests.
  • Two letters of recommendation from your WLL instructor and another faculty member with whom you studied
  • One-page proposal that entails a summary of the intended research paper or translation project relevant to folk poetry or folk songs or folk proverbs and/or related social-cultural traditions

Special Project

In order to obtain this scholarship, the recipients are required to do one of the following projects. Specific guidelines must be obtained from Dr. Hanoosh at yhanoosh@pdx.edu. Completed application materials must be sent to her as well.

  • Research essay including a short literary analysis (4-6 pages)
  • Translation project (4-6 pages)
  • Comparative research essay or interdisciplinary essay (4-6 pages)
  • English to Arabic translation (4-6 pages)
  • Translation to English of folklore materials that originated in the literature of one or two of the world languages being majored in, of the M.A. in World Languages and Literatures (4-6 pages)

Noury and Lamia al-Khaledy Scholarship for Arabic

This renewable scholarship is open to all Arabic majors and minors who have formally studied Arabic for at least two years.

Sponsor: College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Available To: Undergraduate, Post-Baccalaureate
Number of Awards: 4-5 annually
Amount: $1,200 - $1,500 per scholarship (paid towards tuition & fees)
Renewable: Yes 
Deadline: April 1

Criteria

You must meet the following requirements:

  • Full-time PSU student
  • Majoring or minoring in Arabic
  • Formally studied Arabic for at least two years
  • Outstanding performance in previous Arabic studies
  • 3.4 overall GPA or higher
  • Commitment to successfully complete Arabic minor or major
  • Academic excellence and financial need are a major consideration

Application

Your application must contain the following materials:

  • Completed online application
  • 200-word typed statement of purpose addressing your past and present experience with the Arabic language; your plans for Arabic studies for the next year and beyond; and how this scholarship would contribute to your future Arabic studies
  • Handwritten sample of one of your Arabic compositions
  • Updated transcript from PSU
  • Two sealed letters of recommendation from your Arabic instructor at PSU and another faculty member with whom you studied

Gary and Patricia Leiser Scholarship in Middle Eastern Languages

This scholarship was established by PSU alumni to support students with a serious interest in Middle East Studies and languages. Gary and Patricia remain actively involved as alumni of PSU. 

Available To: Undergraduate, Graduate
Number of Awards: 1-2 annually 
Amount: Up to $2000 (paid towards tuition & fees)
Renewable: No 
Deadline: TBD

Criteria

You must meet the following requirements:

  • Full-time PSU student (or accepted for full-time enrollment)
  • U.S. citizen or permanent resident
  • Open to all majors
  • Must be enrolled in Arabic or Persian 
  • Demonstrated serious interest in the Middle East by taking courses related to the region from any discipline
  • 3.25 overall GPA will be given priority

Application

Your application must contain the following materials:

  • MESC Scholarship Application Form 
  • 350-word typed statement of purpose addressing your past and present experience with Middle East Studies; your plans for Middle East Studies for the next year and beyond; and how this scholarship would contribute to your future studies
  • Unofficial transcript from PSU
  • One letter of recommendation from a faculty member, academic advisor, or someone who can speak to your experience with Middle East Studies. Please have the recommendation letter emailed separately to mesctr@pdx.edu with the subject "[YEAR] Scholarship Application: [Your Name]." 

Elizabeth Ducey Scholarship

This scholarship was established by a community member in 1960 and first awarded in 1964. Preference is given towards students intending to use the award for studying abroad, but it is not required.

Available To: Undergraduate, Graduate
Number of Awards: 1 annually 
Amount: $600 (paid towards tuition & fees)
Renewable: No 
Deadline: TBD

Criteria

You must meet the following requirements:

  • Full-time PSU student (or accepted for full-time enrollment)
  • Must be enrolled and making satisfactory progress in Arabic, Persian, or Hebrew.
  • Course history related to Middle East, North Africa, and/or South Asia (includes any department)
  • Academic excellence and financial need are a major consideration

Application

  • MESC Scholarship Application Form 
  • 350-word typed statement of purpose addressing your past and present experience with Middle East Studies; your plans for Middle East Studies for the next year and beyond; and how this scholarship would contribute to your future studies
  • Unofficial transcript from PSU
  • One letter of recommendation from a faculty member, academic advisor, or someone who can speak to your experience with Middle East Studies. Please have the recommendation letter emailed separately to mesctr@pdx.edu with the subject "[YEAR] Scholarship Application: [Your Name]."