Academic Information Egyptology Courses Academic Staff Academic Calendar Partner Institution – Arab Academy Other Program Information Program Management Program Manager Apply Now Costs
	Dr. Zahi Hawass

AMIDEAST is pleased to announce that its Egyptology Program in Cairo will benefit from a close association with the Egyptian Supreme Council on Antiquities and its General Secretary, Dr. Zahi Hawass. Students in the program will be able to complete internships with the Supreme Council, although internships cannot be guaranteed. In addition, the Supreme Council will arrange special access to sites and events for students in the program.

Academic Information

Students in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Cairo enroll in one of two programs:

• Modern Middle East/North African Studies
  
• Egyptology (the study of Ancient Egypt)

Students in the Egyptology Program carry a 15 credit hour course load per semester.  All students enroll in Egyptian Arabic and select other courses from offerings in Egyptology in a variety of disciplines.

Egyptian Arabic instruction begins during on-site Orientation and continues throughout the semester.  Students are placed in classes appropriate to their previous knowledge of Arabic (Arabic 121, 221 or 321).

Egyptian Arabic I (Arabic 121; 3 credits)
Students are introduced to words, expressions, and structures used frequently in everyday life. Students practice them in class before they are given assignments to    carry out with native speakers in real situations. Evaluation combines performance in class and successful interaction with Egyptians. By the end of the course, students are able to ask essential questions and understand the responses, express basic facts and opinions in simple sentences, and engage in basic conversations in Egyptian Arabic with native speakers.

Egyptian Arabic II (Arabic 221; 3 credits)
Students who have already studied Modern Standard Arabic are introduced to words, expressions, and structures used frequently in everyday life in Egypt. Students practice them in class before they are given assignments to carry out with native speakers in real situations. Evaluation combines performance in class and successful interaction with Egyptians. By the end of the course, students are able to ask essential questions and understand the responses, express facts and opinions in simple as well as complex sentences, and engage in conversations in Egyptian Arabic with native speakers about non-academic topics.

Egyptian Arabic III (Arabic 321; 3 credits)
Students with a strong background in Modern Standard Arabic are introduced to vocabulary, expressions, and structures used frequently in Egyptian everyday life. Students practice them in class before they are given assignments to carry out with native speakers in real situations. Evaluation combines performance in class and successful interaction with Egyptians. By the end of the course, students are able to ask questions and understand the responses, express facts and opinions in complex sentences, and engage in conversations in Egyptian Arabic with native speakers about a wide range of topics, both academic and non-academic.

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Egyptology Courses

Required

Introduction to Ancient Egypt (Egyptology 301; 3 credits; required of all students in their first semester)

Introduction to Hieroglyphics (Egyptology 305; 3 credits; required of all students in their first semester)

Electives (students choose 2 in their first semester; full year students choose 4 in their second semester)

Art and Architecture of Ancient Egypt (Art 310; 3 credits)

Egyptian Customs and Habits from Ancient to Modern Times (Egyptology 310, 3 credits)

Seminar on Issues in Ancient Egypt (Egyptology 401, 3 credits; may be repeated)

The City of Cairo (MENA Studies 301, 3 credits)

Religion in Egypt from Ancient to Modern Times (Religion 320, 3 credits)

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Academic Staff

Dr. Jere L. Bacharach, Academic Coordinator
Dr. Jere L. Bacharach, Golub Professor Emeritus of History and former Director of the Middle East Center and the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle serves as Academic Coordinator for AMIDEAST’s Education Abroad Programs in Cairo.  Dr. Bacharach is a distinguished and widely published scholar of medieval Islamic history who earned his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan.  He is former Acting Director of the American Research Center in Egypt and a Past President of the Middle East Studies Association of North America (MESA) and of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA).  MESA has named its Distinguished Service Award in his honor.

Dr. Randa Baligh, Deputy Academic Coordinator
Dr. Randa Baligh is a well known Egyptian scholar specializing in Ancient Egypt.  She earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from Yale University where she also taught for three years before returning to Egypt to become a faculty member at Mansoura University and American University of Cairo.  She also lectures at the Egyptian Diplomatic Academy and trains licensed guides in Egyptology.  She serves as the principal faculty member and coordinator of the Egyptology program for AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in Cairo.

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Academic Calendar

Fall 2010 Academic Semester Calendar (Tentative)

Spring 2011 Academic Semester Calendar (Tentative)

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Partner Institution – Arab Academy

The AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in the Arab World partner in Cairo, Egypt is the Arab Academy.  

Arab Academy is the world’s leading provider of online Arabic language courses. It also boasts one of the most successful Arabic Language immersion programs in the Middle East serving individuals and institutions from the United States, Europe, Africa, and Asia. It also hosts students from African countries sponsored by the Islamic Development Bank in Jeddah.

Arab Academy was founded in 1997 by Sanaa Ghanem, a professional teacher of Arabic who has taught at the American University in Cairo, and the University of Abidjan, Cote D'Ivoire.  Arab Academy has developed over 150 online courses and workbooks and continues to add more Arabic courses each year. Arab Academy has 2 branches, one in Garden City and the other in Mohandissin.  Arab Academy is licensed as a language center by the Ministry of Labor, Arab Republic of Egypt.

AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program courses in Cairo are taught by a select group of Egyptian professors from variety of academic institutions in and around Cairo.  These lecturers possess a strong instructional experience in English-speaking environments.  All faculty members have received post-graduate degrees from North American or European universities, or have spent considerable time at English-medium institutions as students, faculty members, visiting faculty or visiting researchers.

The Egyptology Program is overseen by Dr. Randa Baligh, a graduate of Yale University who has worked with Arab Academy on programs for international students.  Dr. Baligh is a specialist in Egyptology who is a tenured faculty member at Mansoura University.  After completing her PhD at Yale she taught there for three years before returning to Egypt.  She also has taught part-time at the American University in Cairo.

More information about Arab Academy can be found on its website:  http://www.arabacademy.com.

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Other Program Information

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 adaptation, program regulations and participant responsibilities 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.

Accommodation and Meals

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.

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 will 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/Cairo will organize special activities to facilitate student connections to these organizations.
• Service-learning: AMIDEAST/Cairo 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 individual student interests to ensure a unique and satisfying service-learning experience.
• Cross-cultural learning: AMIDEAST/Cairo and Arab Academy organize 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.

Excursions

AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Cairo 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 limited free time, allowing students to explore independently within a safe and structured framework.  Excursions will include visits to:

• Pyramids, Egyptian Museum, Citadel, Old Cairo and other major sites in and around Cairo
• Alexandria
• Upper Egypt

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

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Program Management

The program is managed by AMIDEAST/EGYPT in conjunction with AMIDEAST headquarters in Washington, D.C. AMIDEAST works collaboratively with Arab Academy to oversee the academic curriculum and implementation of the program. It also manages all logistical elements of the program, including the on-site orientation, student accommodations, arrangements for excursions, and the planning of special events and extra-curricular activities. Finally, AMIDEAST provides comprehensive support to both participants and administrators in the event of any problems or unusual circumstances.

America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST) was founded in 1951.  It has field offices in 23 cities in 145 countries in the region, giving it a well-developed infrastructure, capacity, and institutional record of successful exchange programs rooted in more than five decades of in-region experience administering scholarships and exchanges on behalf of U.S. and Arab governments, private companies, and individuals.

Since 1957, AMIDEAST has been providing quality educational services in Egypt. With offices in Cairo and Alexandria, AMIDEAST reaches thousands of students and professionals annually through English and Arabic language courses, academic advising, standardized testing, and cultural exchange programs. AMIDEAST/Egypt has designed and administered numerous programs for youth, undergraduates, and educators, and has arranged accommodation, transportation, excursions, community service, language training, professional meetings, and lectures for groups of American students.

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Program Manager

Matthew Kuehl, Program Manager
Matthew Kuehl serves as the Program Manager for AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in Egypt.  Born and raised in the small town of St. James, Minnesota, he received his education in Arabic Language and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Matthew has worked in professional and educational exchange programs for nearly 5 years, including developing a study abroad college in Sana’a, Yemen. Matthew joined AMIDEAST/Egypt in 2008, working first as the Program Officer for the USAID-sponsored Tatweer program, assisting Iraqi scholarship recipients with studying abroad in Cairo.  In his current position as Program Manager, Matthew coordinates all aspects of the program, including orientation, housing, excursions, scheduling, student activities and much more.  His experiences living, working, and traveling throughout the Middle East, including studying abroad in Cairo as an undergraduate, makes him a strong resource for students.  He further developed skills in intercultural learning in 2009 when he attended the Summer Institute in Intercultural Communication in Portland, Oregon.  Matthew lives in Cairo where he also is finishing up his M.A. in International Human Rights Law, researching human rights conceptions in Yemeni tribal law.

Tamer Magdy, Program Specialist
Tamer Magdy serves as the Program Specialist for AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in Egypt.  An Egyptian citizen who grew up in Cairo, Tamer studied law at Ain Shams University, as well as English and business administration at the British Council.  For over 8 years he has worked in guest services at 5-star hotels throughout Egypt. Prior to joining AMIDEAST in 2009, he acted as the reception supervisor at the Four Seasons in Giza.  In his current position as Program Specialist, Tamer is responsible for student housing and assists with the cultural activities and excursions.  Tamer enjoys traveling abroad, reading novels and short stories, studying French, and attending the arts.

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Apply Now

Eligible applicants:

• Are enrolled at an accredited college or university and have completed one year of post-secondary study
• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale); however, applications will be considered holistically
• Are physically and emotionally prepared to spend four months in Egypt
• Are willing to adapt to a new, potentially challenging environment

Application Deadline: Applications for the Egyptology Program are accepted and considered on a rolling basis until the program is filled. We urge you to complete your application as soon as possible, as well as contact an AMIDEAST staff member prior to submission. Applicants will be notified of admission decisions by the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World Admissions Committee within two weeks of completion of their full application.

• April 1, 2009 – Application deadline for Fall 2010

for the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the
Arab World on-line application.

For more information contact:

AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Cairo
Egyptology Program
1730 M Street, NW, Suite 1100
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 776-9629
Fax: (202) 776-7029
Email: Egyptology@amideast.org

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Costs

These are the program fees for 2009-2010.  Fees for 2010-2011 will be set during spring 2010 and will be posted to this site as soon as possible.  Please note that the fees are subject to change.

Fall 2009 and Spring 2010 Fees (per semester):

Estimated Personal Expenses:

*Housing deposit is fully refundable at conclusion of semester if apartment is clean and there has been no damage other than normal wear and tear.

Tuition and fees include:

• Courses totaling 16 credits and coursepacks
• All-inclusive one-week orientation
• Housing in shared apartments
• Program-organized excursions
• Supplementary lectures and special events
• Medical insurance, including medical evacuation and repatriation, and political and security evacuation coverage

Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Tuition and Fees do NOT cover:

• International airfare
• Meals (approximate cost is $1,500 - $2,000 per semester)
• Local personal transportation
• Communication and other personal expenses

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