Duke in the Arab World
RELIGION, CITIZENSHIP, AND GOVERNANCE: A 6-WEEK SUMMER PROGRAM IN MOROCCO AND EGYPT
STUDY THE SOCIOPOLITICAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN ARAB WORLD
Apply NowOn this program you’ll spend four weeks in Morocco and two weeks in Egypt. In Morocco, you will be residing in the city of Fez with excursions to the cities of Rabat, Meknes and Marrakesh. The historic medina of Fez is one of the world's few remaining medieval cities and is considered Morocco’s cultural and spiritual capital—a must visit for any student of Arabic and Islamic studies. The metropolitan capital city of Rabat is one of the Arab world’s most modern cities. Located on the northwest Atlantic coast, Rabat has the second largest population in the country.
Egypt is often called the mother of the world due to its rich history, the Pyramids and its Eternal Nile.
It is also the most populous country in the Middle East, and has remained a vital component for security and peace in the region.
Through partnerships with AUC and other entities, we will explore the history of Cairo, its institutions, cultural societies and civil society groups. Excursions to the Pyramids, Alexandria, the Old Cairo, the Nile etc.. are part of the program.
Throughout the program, you’ll explore not only the sociopolitical development and intricacies of the Arab world, but also gain real life experiences through observation, field visits, and interaction with local scholars, students, and homestay families in Morocco and collaboration with the American University in Cairo, in Egypt. The program exposes you to aspects of continuity and changes, commonalities and differences—all while creating opportunities to develop your Arabic language skills and cross-cultural competencies related to Morocco.
PROGRAM FAST FACTS
Location: Fez, Morocco and Cairo, Egypt
Term: Summer I
Dates: May 14- June 25, 2024
Application Deadline: Extended to February 15
Academic Theme(s): Religious Studies, Language & Culture, Political Science
Credit Type: Duke Credit
Eligibility: Open to all majors. Non-Duke students are welcome to apply. Previous study of Arabic not required.
Duke Affiliation: Co-sponsored by Duke’s Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies (AMES) and Duke’s Sanford School of Public Policy
Housing: Homestay Families
Primary Contact: Mbaye Lo
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Duke in Arab World 2023
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Discussion with local Moroccan students
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Sahara desert camel ride excursion
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Fes Festival of World Sacred Music
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Duke in Arab World 2023 students in front of The International Academic Center of Safi and Aesthetic Studies
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Excursion to the Sahara Desert
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Duke in the Arab World 2023
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Rabat Language Center
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Local market
ACADEMICS
All students will enroll in two courses: the signature course on religion, security and citizenship, and the Arabic language instruction, each offering one Duke credit. No pass/fail option or auditing is permitted for either course.
Both courses are designed to maximize your understanding and exposure to a diverse yet connected human experience in the Arab world. As part of this intensive educational experience, you’ll interview Moroccan students in selected universities and centers.
AMES 326A / RELIGION 371A / POLSCI 395A / ICS 362A / PUBPOL 339A
Religion, Security, and Global Citizenship in the Arab World
(CZ, CCI, EI) 1.0 Course Credit
Only offered on the Duke in the Arab World program.
This course will examine how individuals, states, and Arab societies are embodied in the global system of the 21st century. Students will examine how the major Abrahamic traditions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—had their historical origins in the eastern Mediterranean and continue to coexist, albeit with tensions, with modern notions of citizenship. Students will also explore how the rise of extremist movements and the Arab uprising have challenged conceptions of state citizenship and impacted the regional and international security environment. Course taught in English.
ARABIC 296A
Dardashaat Arabiyyah: Arabic Language and Culture of Morocco
(CCI, CZ, FL) 1.0 Course Credit
This course facilitates full immersion in Arabic of Morocco within a cultural context; students will develop basic communicative skills through emphasis on all four language skills beyond the elementary level; through daily instructions, home-stay, field-visits, reading short-stories, and interviewing citizens, students will acquire a strong understanding of society and culture; students will explore cultural institutions and entertainment outlets in both countries and examine commonalities and differences between the two societies.
EXCURSIONS
Program participants enjoy a full complement of excursions, both day trips and extended trips, all included in the cost of the program. We’ll take a 3-day trip to the desert, and we’ll tour the cities of Meknes, Irfan, Marrakech, and Shifshawn. Cooking, calligraphic, and music classes will also be included. While in Cairo, participants will go on excursions to the pyramids, Alexandria, Old Cairo, and the Nile.
HOUSING & MEALS
In Fez and Rabat, Morocco, you will be placed into carefully selected homestays with Moroccan families. Homestay families will provide two meals per day for the duration of the program.
Other student housing options such as a residence hall are available upon request for special housing arrangements.
COSTS
These costs are estimated based on previous years’ programs and the current exchange rate. All costs are subject to change.
Summer 2024
| Duke Students | Non-Duke Students | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition | $5,680 | $5,680 |
| Program Fee | $4,200 | $4,200 |
| Transcript Fee | N/A | $120 |
| Other Costs | See Cost Sheet | See Cost Sheet |
| TOTAL (Estimated) | $13,455 | $13,575 |
Explanation of Costs
The program fee for this program includes:
- Accommodations
- Limited meals
- International SOS Coverage
- Program-sponsored activities and excursions
- Orientation program
- Internet usage where available
- Flight from Morocco to Egypt
What is not included?
Use the following list to assist with budgeting for expenses outside the program fee. This list contains common examples but should not be considered exhaustive.
- Airport transportation to/from program sites
- Local transportation
- On-site accident and health insurance policy
- Out-of-pocket medical expenses
- Visa (if needed)
- Passport
- Mobile phone
- Laundry
- Independent travel and entertainment
- Items of a personal nature
- Incidentals
Personal expenses can fluctuate greatly depending upon habits and preferences of the individual. It’s also wise to budget for unexpected expenses such as medical emergencies. You can use a cost-of-living comparison tool to get an idea of what daily life costs in the program host location.
Step 1: Within 2 weeks of acceptance to the program, submit the Summer Participation Agreement found in your MyExperientialEd application to confirm your enrollment. A parent/guardian’s co-signature is required. This form takes the place of a deposit.
NOTE: If you withdraw after March 15, you will be charged a cancellation fee for voluntary withdrawal. Fees range from $2,000-3,000.
Step 2: Summer invoices will be sent via email to your Duke email address and home email address. Remit payment to the Bursar per due date and address indicated on your online statement. All financial arrangements involving Consult the Duke Bursar's office billing schedule for payment due dates.
Financial Aid
Duke students receiving institutional need-based grant aid are eligible for aid for this program; work-study funds are converted to grants. Students are individually responsible for making the necessary arrangements with the Karsh Office of Undergraduate Financial Support and the Duke Bursar’s Office.
Non-Duke students are not eligible to receive financial aid at Duke and should contact their home institutions for financial aid information.
Scholarships
This program offers the following scholarship opportunities:
DATES
Attendance is required at all classes, excursions, and group events. Given the intense nature of this program, late arrival and/or early departure is not permitted.
- Arrival: May 14
- Departure: June 25
Flights
You will make your own travel arrangements to and from the program site. You are expected to arrive on the arrival date cited above, which usually means departing the U.S. one day prior. Once you have a flight itinerary, log in to MyExperientialEd to update your travel registry.
Housing Before/After
You will need to make your own housing arrangements if you will be arriving before the program start date or leaving later than the program end date.
- VISA & PASSPORT
VISA & PASSPORT
Visa
U.S. citizens are not required to have a visa for travel to Morocco, but will pay $25 for a single entry visitor visa to Egypt.
Non-U.S. citizens—Pay special attention to the visa requirements for your specific citizenship by contacting your country’s embassy. GEO can provide a letter that may be required as part of the visa application process. Please begin the visa process as soon as you have been admitted to the program to ensure you receive your visa in time for the program start date.
Passport
All participants must have a valid passport. Make sure your passport has at least six months of validity beyond the program end date to avoid unintended disruptions. For instructions on obtaining or renewing your U.S. passport, visit passports.state.gov.
PROGRAM FACULTY & STAFF
The Duke in the Arab World program director can assist with questions related to program academics, admissions, on-site needs, etc. For all other inquiries, please contact the Global Education Office.
ADMISSIONS
Deadline: Extended to February 15
This program has rolling admission. Applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis until the program fills; after that, qualified students are added to a waitlist and notified of openings. Applications must be received by the deadline to be considered. Application opens November 1.
Priority: Priority is given to applicants who apply early.
Minimum GPA: There is no minimum GPA.
Non-Duke students: Non-Duke students are welcome to apply for this program. You must be a degree-seeking student in good standing at an accredited college or university. Consult your university’s registrar and/or study away advisor for assistance with transfer credit. Students who are not matriculated at a college or university are not eligible to participate in Duke’s study away programs.
GEO policy for graduating seniors who wish to apply for a Duke summer study abroad/away program:
Students must be active, matriculated students in order to participate in any Duke-in summer programs, including Duke’s domestic summer programs. All program courses must be taken for graded credit. If seniors plan to graduate in May of the year they plan to study abroad in the summer, they will not be eligible to participate on any of our summer programs unless they receive approval from their academic dean at Duke to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended.
Non-Duke students planning to graduate in May in the year they plan to study abroad in the summer must provide approval to delay their graduation until after the summer program has ended from the appropriate official at their home institution. Such approval must be furnished in writing to GEO before the student will be allowed to participate in the summer program. This approval may be sent via email to the appropriate program assistant at GEO.
Duke students who defer their graduation to participate in study abroad should consult with their financial aid advisor in the Duke Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid to determine whether they are eligible for a summer aid package and/or a GEO summer scholarship.
Physical Requirements
Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:
- Walking approximately a mile in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or cobbled terrain
- Climbing and descending stairs
- Using public transportation, including sometimes crowded buses or trains
- Standing during tours and site visits
- Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
- The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning
If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Duke Office of Global Health and Safety (oghs@duke.edu)
APPLY
Start your application early to ensure that it is complete by the deadline! Incomplete applications will not be forwarded to the program directors for consideration.
Submit the following items using MyExperientialEd:
- Online application
- Official transcript(s) from all colleges and universities attended. First-year students should wait for fall semester grades to be posted before submitting their transcript.
- Personal statement, no longer than one page, explaining why you would like to participate
STUDENT STORIES
Student Blogs
Duke in the Arab World students publish a program blog reflecting on their experiences and course readings.
Morocco is beautiful and rich with history and the people are wonderful. I think if you're open to learning and gaining new perspectives, this program is great!”
The fact that we were learning dialect Arabic (not formal/modern standard) helped me so much to feel more integrated into the community and really benefit from a cultural immersion experience.”
GEO ADVISING IS HERE FOR YOU
Get advice on choosing a program, exploring courses and credits, and covering the costs of study away when you engage the Global Education Office's advising network.