Area & Arabic Language Studies in Egypt (Semester/Academic Year)

Egyptians refer to Cairo as "Um al-Dunya," or "Mother of the World."  Culturally and politically, it is at the heart of the Arab world; as was demonstrated during the 'Arab Spring' uprisings. AMIDEAST's programs in Egypt offer students unique opportunities to live and study in the politically dynamic and historically important and culturally vibrant center of Cairo.Classes are held at AMIDEAST's facilities in Dokki on the west bank of the Nile and students are housed in shared apartments in Dokki.

Electives

Students select 2 or 3 electives; options may include:

· Community-Based Learning

· Comparative Politics in the Middle East

· Contemporary Issues in Egypt and the Arab World

· The Development of Islamic Architecture in the City of Cairo

· Economic Development in the Middle East and North Africa

· International Relations in the Middle East and North Africa

· Islam & Politics

· Islam and the West

· The New Middle East
· The Arab Spring
 

· Introduction to Ancient Egypt

· Ancient Egyptian Art and Hieroglyphs

· Pharaonic, Coptic & Modern Egypt: Culture & Religion from Ancient to Modern Times

 Orientation

Upon arrival in Cairo, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in an in-depth, week-long orientation designed to introduce them to Egyptian culture and daily life and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. Students stay in a hotel in central Cairo for the first few days of the on-site orientation and then move to their accommodation for the semester. The orientation combines structured informational sessions with organized activities and free time to familiarize participants with Cairo. Topics such as safety and health, cultural adjustment, program regulations, participant responsibilities and other essential information are all discussed during orientation. During the on-site orientation students also meet their professors, take language placement tests, and become familiar with the program's IT environment.

Housing

Students enrolled in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Cairo, Egypt live in shared apartments. The apartments are carefully selected by AMIDEAST to be safe, comfortable, and convenient to program facilities and public transportation.

Excursions

AMIDEAST students participate in program-organized excursions both in and outside of Cairo to visit major attractions and historical sites in Egypt. The excursions are coordinated by AMIDEAST/Egypt in conjunction with the program's academic staff and are led by a member of the faculty. Organized activities are combined with free time, allowing students to explore independently within a safe and structured framework.  Excursions may include visits to:

In addition, other optional excursions (at additional cost) will be organized based upon student interest and demand.

Activities

In addition to the academic program, the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Cairo offers a variety of additional learning opportunities to enhance participants' study abroad experience.

• Civil Society:  Students encounter a variety of Egyptian civil society organizations ranging from local NGOS in a variety of fields to women's organizations to sports clubs.  AMIDEAST organizes special activities to facilitate student connections to these organizations.
• Service-learning: AMIDEAST coordinates organized service-learning projects either for individual students or for larger groups. With many connections to a wide range of organizations in Egypt, AMIDEAST can adapt projects to individual student interests to ensure a unique and satisfying service-learning experience.
• Cross-cultural learning: AMIDEAST organizes a variety of cross-cultural learning opportunities. Ranging from meet-and-greets to formal presentations, these events give participants the chance to interact with Egyptian students, to learn more about Egypt, and to introduce others to American culture.