Egypt's Role in Middle Eastern and Global Contexts
Dates: May 22 - July 8, 2022
This study abroad program explores the cultural, social, intellectual, and political role of Egypt in its regional and global contexts from an interdisciplinary perspective. Using systemic reasoning as a pedagogical method, the students will be taught courses that show the political, social, economic, demographic, and geopolitical connections that have enhanced, but meanwhile undermined, the role of Cairo in regional and global contexts. Students will develop sophisticated understanding of the interconnections between/among concepts such as intellectual thought, identity formation and nationalism, religious diversity, and regional and global politics. Leading scholars from the Al-Azhar University, American University in Cairo, Cairo University, and Ain Shams University will offer students unique classroom experiences that will be aligned with extracurricular enhancements. Also, the program enhances Arabic language proficiency. The learners will be taught Standard Arabic and Egyptian dialect, the most intelligible dialect in the MENA region. This language portion of the program will be a window to understanding contemporary Egyptian culture through language.
