Students of Arabic will finally be able to put their language classes toward an officially recognized academic program starting next fall, after faculty unanimously voted on Monday to approve a minor in Arabic and a minor in Middle East and North African Studies.

Rising juniors and seniors will be able to declare either minor in the fall, assuming they expect to meet the requirements by the end of their senior year and do not already have a minor. Both minors require five courses.

The College has offered Arabic courses continuously since 2008, but students have not previously been able to count them toward any major or minor.

The two new minors will bring the number of minors available at Bowdoin to 43.