Happy holidays from UCI Armenian Studies

Department: Armenian Studies

Post Date: December 18, 2017

News Details


Dear friend of UCI Armenian Studies,

As I reflect on the past year, one word comes to mind: grateful. The UCI Armenian Studies Program has accomplished so much, and that is in large part due to your generosity. Your presence at our events and advocacy of the work we do continue to encourage us to be innovative in our programming and to push for further growth in our program.

With that in mind, as many of you know, one of our goals for the past few years has been to bring the study of Armenian language to our students here at UCI. Offering Armenian language classes would elevate our program to an entirely new level, making available credible, rigorously structured classes taught by skilled lecturers. Not only would Armenian language instruction be a benefit to our students in and of itself, it would also allow us to accomplish another important goal: offering these language courses on an ongoing basis would qualify us to establish an official minor in Armenian Studies.

We are excited to announce that UCI tentatively plans to offer Armenian language courses beginning in fall 2018. Courses are planned in Armenian 1A, 1B and 1C, corresponding with the fall, winter and spring quarters. Additionally, coursework for a second year of Armenian language classes is under development: Armenian 2A, 2B and 2C, eventually allowing us to offer two full years of university language requirements.

However, these offerings come at a cost – approximately $33,000 per year to offer Armenian 1A, 1B and 1C. We are thrilled to let you know we have just received a commitment of $10,000 to get the program started. We need your support to close the gap and raise another $23,000 to make this dream become a reality.

Will you please remember us in your year-end giving? Your contribution, big or small, will allow us to make this long-planned dream of offering Armenian language classes at UCI come to life.



With thanks, and warmest wishes for the coming holiday season,

Dr. Houri Berberian
Director, Armenian Studies Program
Meghrouni Family Presidential Chair in Armenian Studies