Area & Arabic Language Studies in Egypt (Semester/Academic Year)
Egyptians refer to Cairo as um al-dunya, or “mother of the world.” From the Great Pyramids of Giza to the colossal Aswan High Dam, Egyptian monuments match the country’s gargantuan reputation. Ancient Egypt was responsible for some of history's greatest monuments; many of which are still in existence today such as the Giza Pyramid complex, Sphinx, ancient Memphis, tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and temples of Abu Simbel. Egypt has been ruled by various dynasties since its ancient fame and one can find a unique combination of art and architecture that speaks to the presence of the Mamluks, Ottomans, French, and British in Cairo. Due to the growth of the historical Al Azhar University, Egypt has remained a hub for Islamic scholarship in the Arab world. In more recent history, Egypt has played a major role as mediator in the Israel-Palestine conflict was the second country to join in the Arab Spring movements that spread around the region in 2011. As Egypt continues to changes and grow, it remains a remarkable place to study abroad. Quite simply, very few students live and study in cities as politically important and historically significant as Cairo.
Culturally, Egypt has been called the “Hollywood of the Middle East” because of the great influence Egyptian literature, music, film, and television has had on the Arabic-speaking world. As a result of Egyptian dominance in Arab media, the Egyptian Arabic dialect, ammeya, is one of the most recognized and widely spoken in the Arab world. A true “city that never sleeps,” Cairo is at once both intoxicating and comfortably chaotic. Students in the Area & Arabic Language Studies Program have the opportunity to study political science, economics, religion, sociology, and Arabic. In this program students take relevant courses related to the Middle East, Modern Standard Arabic and Egyptian Arabic from leading Egyptian faculty. When not in the classroom, students gain practical experience with the Arabic language and explore the changing Middle East each, and every, day.
In addition to academics, students benefit from the following program components.
• in-country orientation
• the opportunity to live in the center of bustling Cairo
• structured ways to meet local Egyptian students
• service-learning opportunities
• organized excursions to breathtaking locations such as upper Egypt (including the Valley of the Kings) and the Siwa Oasis
Students live and take classes in the heart of Cairo in the neighborhood of Dokki; just a short walk from the west bank of the Nile. There, students engage in experiential learning every day by shopping in local markets, haggling with taxis, and frequenting local cafes with Egyptian friends. Students who study with AMIDEAST in Egypt discover the dynamic and rich side of Cairo, not just the tourist sites.
Academic Information
Students enrolled in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Cairo carry a 14-17 credit hour course load per semester. All students enroll in Arabic and two or three other Area studies courses (depending on the student’s preference) from a variety of disciplines taught in English including art, economics, Egyptology, history, media Arabic, Middle East and North African studies, political science, and religious studies.
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