East Lansing— A rising demand for teachers of Arabic in the state considered the capital of Arab America has led Michigan State University to launch new undergraduate and graduate programs.

The East Lansing school says the moves will help fill the shortage of those who can teach the language. About 300,000 people in southeastern Michigan Detroit trace their roots to the Arab world. The school says it’s launching two new Arab language programs this fall.

It will start offering an Arabic endorsement and related master’s degree program for certified teachers who want to add Arabic to their credentials. It’s especially aimed at native Arabic speakers, and most of the course work is online.

The university also will offer a traditional teacher preparation program for undergraduates who want to teach Arabic.