University of Damascus

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Damascus University
جامعة دمشق

Seal of the University of Damascus

Motto:	Say, "Oh. God, add me more knowledge" (a verse)
Established:	1923
Type:	Public
President:	Dr. Wael Mua'lla
Staff:	2,173
Students:	85,837
Location:	Damascus, Syria
Website:	http://www.damasuniv.shern.net/

The University of Damascus (Arabic: جامعة دمشق‎, Jāmi‘atu Dimashq) is the largest university in Syria, located in the capital Damascus. It was founded in 1923 through the merger of the School of Medicine (established 1903) and the Institute of Law (established 1913), also making it the oldest university in the country. Until 1958, it was named the Syrian University, but the name changed after the founding of the University of Aleppo. Today there are also universities in the Syrian cities of Homs, Lattakia and Deir ez-Zor.

The University of Damascus consists of several faculties and the Higher Institute of Administrative Development. Also affiliated with the university are seven intermediate institutes and a School of Nursing. There is an institution specialized in teaching the Arabic language to foreigners, which is among the largest such institutions in the Arab world.^[1]

Syrian universities take great pride in the fact that most courses are taught in Arabic^{[citation needed]}, which is something unique in the Arab World. For most courses in the first years, there are text books written in Arabic and authored by the university professors. Damascus University is considered by many the best university in Syria^{[citation needed]} in spite of the fact there are more than 5 new private universities that opened since 2003 for the first time in decades.

1 Organization
2 Arabic Language Institute
3 Alumni
4 References

[edit] Organization

These are 16 faculties which the university is divided into:

Faculty of Literature and Humanitarian Sciences
Faculty of Civil Engineering
Faculty of Law
Faculty of Sciences
Faculty of Education
Faculty of Shari'a (Islamic: Studies and Jurisprudence)
Faculty of Economics
Faculty of Dentistry
Faculty of Pharmacy
Faculty of Agriculture
Faculty of Fine Arts
Faculty of Architecture
Faculty of Informatics
Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering
Faculty (College) of Political Sciences
Faculty of Medicine

It also few institutions:

Higher Institute For Laser Research And Application
Higher Institute for Administration Development
Higher Institute of Earthquake Studies and Research

[edit] Arabic Language Institute

The Arabic Language Institute at the University of Damascus is regularly recognized as one of the best centers to study Arabic in the world. The Center for Arabic Study abroad, the premier institution for Arabic study, is now opening a second branch at the University. The Arabic Language Institute at the University of Damascus is known for instruction purely in Arabic, which under certain circumstances could be very profitable for a student.