In the modular two-subject Bachelor’s degree program, you can choose Oriental Studies as either your first or your second subject. When taken as a first subject, students must write their Bachelor’s thesis in the subject and complete an 8-week language course abroad. Two translation courses in Erlangen can be taken instead of the language course abroad. When taken as a first subject, students must also learn a second Oriental language, usually for two semesters. Turkish, Hebrew and Persian are offered on a regular basis. As a first subject, students have to complete nine modules (teaching and learning units that are self-contained with examinations taken during the program) or eight modules when taken as a second subject.

The modules are as follows:

• Arabic I-IV
• History of the Islamic World
• Religions of the Orient
• Second Oriental language
• Arabic literature
• Arabic linguistics and dialectology

In the first four semesters, students acquire basic knowledge of the Arabic language and a broad base of fundamental knowledge in Oriental Studies Students must take a preliminary examination (“Grundlagen- und Orientierungsprüfung”) by the end of the second semester. This is deemed as having been passed when students have passed the modules Arabic I and II successfully. The second phase of the degree program (3rd to 6th semesters) is characterized by more in-depth study of methodological and language skills. In the context of the Bachelor’s thesis, students are encouraged to start conducting independent scientific work.

• Curiosity and the desire to learn more about cultural regions that are initially foreign
• Interest in philological, historical and theological questions
• Talent for languages
• Stamina and interest in working intensively with texts

The career fields for graduates of the Oriental Studies degree program listed below are only a selection of potential openings, for example

• In intercultural fields, where economics, politics and culture meet (tourism, public relations or national/international institutions)
• In administration, associations and companies, particularly in areas concerned with Europe and the Middle East
• In development aid, as a business or politics consultant, in security policy, migration and integration
• As a regional analyst in public institutions, private foundations, companies, banks and international organizations
• In language teaching and politics education
• (After further study), in research with a specialization on one aspect of the subject

Possible combinations without overlaps

• Archaeological Sciences
• Art History
• Business and Economics
• English and American Studies
• French Studies
• German studies
• Greek Philology
• History
• Indo-European and Indo-Iranian Studies
• Italian Studies
• Japanese Studies
• Latin Philology
• Medieval Latin and Neo-Latin
• Philosophy
• Political Science
• Scandinavian Studies (BA)
• Sociology
• Theater and Media Studies

With these subject combinations, there are generally no overlaps in the timetable.

Possible overlaps in the timetable

• Book Studies
• Chinese Studies
• Computational Linguistics
• Cultural History of Christianity
• Digital Humanities and Social Sciences
• Education
• Geography: Cultural Geography as a two subject Bachelor's degree program
• Hispanic Studies

If you combine these subjects, individual courses may overlap in your timetable. For this reason, you can only combine the following subjects with your chosen subject after a consultation. Students are responsible for ensuring that the combination can be studied and that the deadlines set out in Section 11 of the ABMStPOPhil are met. When enrolling, proof of a corresponding consultation with the Central Student Advisory Service or the Student Service Center (Faculty of Humanities, Social Studies, and Theology) must be submitted.