Morocco is a gateway to Africa and the Arab world. A meeting point for civilizations and continents situated on the northwest tip of Africa, contemporary Morocco, with its nearly 35 million people, is a fusion of Arab, European, and African cultural influences. Here, visitors have the opportunity to experience life in a Muslim country while exploring the distinct society and traditions of the Maghreb. Whether enjoying a croissant and mint tea at a café, visiting Amazigh (Berber) villages or wandering through the medinas and their souqs, each experience in Morocco offers rich insight into its remarkable culture. With its striking topography, vibrant culture, and distinctive history, Morocco is an ideal destination for cross-cultural interchange and learning.

2013-14 Tuition and Fees*:
 

AMIDEAST - Education Abroad in Morocco

The program is managed by AMIDEAST/Morocco in conjunction with AMIDEAST headquarters in Washington, D.C.

AMIDEAST works collaboratively with Mohammed V University-Agdal to oversee the academic curriculum and implementation of the program. It also manages all logistical elements of the program, including the on-site orientation, host family placement and supervision, arrangements for optional travel 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.

Orientation

Upon arrival in Rabat, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in an in-depth, week-long orientation designed to introduce them to Moroccan culture and daily life, and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. During orientation students also are introduced to the principles of intercultural communication.  Students stay in a hotel in central Rabat during orientation, and move to their accommodation for the semester at the end of the first week. The orientation combines structured informational sessions with organized activities and free time to familiarize participants with the city of Rabat. Topics such as safety and health, family life in Morocco, cultural adjustment, program regulations, participant responsibilities and other essential information are all discussed during orientation.

The AMIDEAST Education Abroad Programs in the Arab World partner in Rabat, Morocco is Mohammed V University – Agdal. 

Founded in 1917 in Rabat, Mohammed V University-Agdal is Morocco's most prestigious public university. It has over 25,000 students in its various schools, and over 10,000 in its College of Letters and Humanities, where the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program is focused. Its faculty includes many of Morocco's pre-eminent scholars, while its students are among the most promising in the nation.

Dr. Mohammed Ezroura (Academic Coordinator and Professor)

Dr. Mohammed Ezroura is a professor of English and former Vice Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities at Mohammed V University-Agdal. He earned his PhD in Comparative Literature and Critical Theory from the University of British Columbia, his MA in the Sociology of Literature from Essex University, and his undergraduate degree in English from Mohammed V University. He served for many years as resident director of the Vassar College study abroad program in Morocco and has been a visiting scholar or professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara; the American Studies Research Center in Hyderabad, India; University of British Columbia; University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee; Vassar College; Lincoln University; Connecticut College; Seoul National University; Cairo University; Edinburgh University; and Stirling University.

Colloquial Moroccan Arabic I (Arabic 111; 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 Moroccans. 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 Moroccan Arabic with native speakers.  Living with a Moroccan family or in a student residence hall with Moroccan students provides daily opportunity for practice.

 Le Maroc et l'Europe: Economie et Politique (Economics 340; 3 credits)

Ce cours vise à décrire et à analyser les différentes étapes de la politique européenne à l'égard du Maroc et ce, plus précisément depuis le processus de Barcelone de 1995. Cette politique économique est jalonnée par un certain nombre d'enjeux, de contraintes et d'opportunités pour les deux parties marocaine et européenne. Le cours visera à la fois une analyse critique de cette politique et tentera d'aborder l'implicite de cette politique en termes d'intérêts différentiés/mutuels que de valeurs partagées.

Rabat is one of Morocco’s “imperial cities,” as well as its political capital. It is home to the leading educational institutions in the country and offers students opportunities to move from the shops and cafes of the “European” city to the winding alleys and exciting markets of the old medina in a few minutes’ walk.

The AMIDEAST Education Abroad Regional Studies in French Program in Rabat offers a diverse set of courses taught in French on Morocco in its Muslim, Arab, African and Mediterranean contexts. In addition, students learn Moroccan Arabic and have the opportunity to study Modern Standard Arabic if they so desire. Students in the program live either with French-speaking Moroccan families or in a private Moroccan student residence hall.