The Pyramids.  Luxor and Karnak Temples.  Irrigated agriculture.  Water wheels.  Papyrus boats that sailed the oceans.  The Nile Barrages.  Suez Canal.  Aswan High Dam.  Preservation of Abu Simbel.  El-Salaam Water Project. From ancient times to the present, many of the world’s most impressive engineering feats have occurred in one country – Egypt.  

Academics

The History of Engineering is a 3-credit course offered jointly by AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World and the Faculty of Engineering of Cairo University. Topics addressed during the course range from ancient engineering feats such as the temples and monuments of ancient Egypt to ancient and modern water resource management and irrigation. Preservation and restoration of historic sites, including ancient monuments, mosques, churches and synagogues will also be covered.  These topics are addressed through lectures, discussions and numerous site visits and excursions. 

Excursions

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

• The Giza Plateau – site of the Great Pyramid and Sphinx
•  Luxor and the West Bank of the Nile to visit ancient temples, monuments and tombs
• Aswan and the Aswan High Dam
• Abu Simbel
• The Nile Barrages
• Irrigation Museum
• Major Islamic monuments in Cairo
• The Suez Canal and El-Salaam Water Project

Faculty

History of Engineering will be taught by a team of Cairo University Engineering faculty members led by Dr. Abdallah Bazaraa (PhD, Colorado State University), Dr. Sherif Mourad (PhD, UC Irvine) and Dr. Hafez Abdel-Azeem.  They will deliver lectures, lead site visits, and accompany students on the tour of Upper Egypt.  In addition, a group of distinguished guest lecturers will address the group.