Middle East

American University in Cairo

Semester I, Semester II or full year

Campus Program Adviser: Eric Lund, Director of International Studies (Steensland Hall, x3069)

Founded in 1919 by Americans, AUC is one of the most highly respected institutions of higher education in Egypt. Other than language courses, all courses are taught in English. 5000 students are enrolled in three schools: Humanities and Social Sciences; Sciences and Engineering; and Business, Economics and Communication. AUC offers courses in the full range of disciplines found at St. Olaf, but its location and faculty make it a particularly wonderful place to study the Middle East and the Arabic language. Arabic is taught by professors in the Arabic Language Institute, which is closely affiliated with AUC and offers one of the best Arabic language programs in the world.

St. Olaf has a long relationship with AUC, which has provided teachers for both the Term in the Middle East and the Global Semester during their one-month stays in Egypt . Since 2005, St. Olaf students have had the opportunity to directly enroll for a full semester. For more information about AUC, consult its website: http://www.aucegypt.edu/

AUC is located in Cairo , the capital of Egypt . With almost 8 million people, its streets and sidewalks hum with energy. From the juice vendors and schawarma stands to the busy markets, it is full of life. It contains the world-renowned Egyptian museum, numerous mosques and Coptic Orthodox churches, and is close to famous historical sites such as the pyramids at Giza . On weekends or semester breaks, students may investigate nearby ancient sites such as Memphis and Alexandria , travel further up the Nile to Luxor and Aswan or visit the famous monastery of St. Catherine and the beaches of the Sinai Peninsula .

Accommodations:

International students can live in housing provided by the university, a short distance from the downtown campus, in the Zamalek district on an island in the Nile river.

Term in the Middle East

Program departs in late August; returns in late December

Campus Program Adviser: Ed Langerak (Holland 601C, x3494)

2008-09 Field Supervisor: David Van Wylen (Science Center 140B, x3979)

Assistant Field Supervisor: Pat Van Wylen (Steensland Hall, x3747)

The St. Olaf Term in the Middle East, which has been in existence for more than 30 years, was redesigned in 1989 to offer students a fuller sense of the diverse character of this ancient and dynamic part of the world.

Currently, the program is based in Turkey, Morocco, and Egypt, providing students with opportunities to experience the rich cultural achievements of the Turkish, Arab, Christian, and Moslem peoples. Throughout the first semester, students encounter numerous ethnic and religious communities that have been and continue to be major participants in the complex history of the Middle East.

The academic components of the program include study of the history and culture of the countries where participating students live and the social and political developments that have made the Middle East a geopolitical area of great international significance today.

The program offers students three courses of study taught in affiliation with universities in Istanbul , Marrakech, and Cairo. The St. Olaf field supervisor provides a fourth course that runs concurrently with the others. Extensive excursions to sites in each of the countries are integrated into the courses of study.

At the end of the program, students have free time to travel independently to other areas of the Middle East or Europe.

Eligibility

Group size is between 15 and 28 students. The program is open to qualified students of other institutions. Sophomores, juniors, or seniors are eligible. Final selection is made on the basis of an applicant's scholastic standing, aptitude for the type of program involved, faculty recomendations, interview, and class in college.

Obligations

Participants must provide their own transportation to and from the American gateway.

Costs

The cost for the 2007-08 program was $8,962 over and above the St. Olaf tuition. The program covers the following: roundtrip transportation from the a gateway city (usually Chicago or New York) via regularly scheduled aircraft; tuition and fees; accommodations in standard hotels or dormitories with two, three or four persons to a room; breakfast and one main meal per day; participation in scheduled sightseeing programs and field trips according to itinerary. The program cost does not cover meals, accommodations and transportation during the break periods during and at the end of the program.

Courses of Study

Four courses are offered, taught by university faculty at the sites visited and by the field supervisor. Classes are supplemented by special lectures by scholars and community leaders. In addition, field trips, contact with local people and cultural events add important dimensions to the experience.

The following four courses are offered:

Political Science ME 254: Political Institutions of the Middle East This course examines social changes and political developments in the Middle East and their impact on emerging political institutions. It includes study of Islam and its relation to political institutions, the special role of Turkey in Middle Eastern affairs and in relation to Europe and the United States . The prospects for peaceful resolution to the Arab-Israeli conflict is also discussed. Counts toward major. GE: Studies in Human Behavior and Society (HBS); Multicultural Studies Course (MCS-G)

Sociology ME 257: Social Change in Moroccan Society This course explores the forces which have given Morocco cohesion and continuity in a rapidly changing world. Special emphasis is given to the impact of colonialism and to topics such as the family, religion, law and politics. GE: Studies in Human Behavior and Society (HBS).

History ME 250: Egypt in the Ancient and Modern World This course focuses on the unique role of Egypt in the political and cultural life of the ancient, medieval and modern Middle East. The course emphasizes the history and culture of Pharaonic and Islamic Egypt, with visits to sites in the Cairo area and Luxor. Also included is Egypt's history from the period of 19th-century colonization to its role in contemporary Middle Eastern affairs. Counts toward major. GE: Historical Studies in Western Culture (HWC)

Field Supervisor's Course:

Biology 252: Water and the Middle East For such a simple molecule, water is vitally important to our everyday life. Beginning with an examination of water from a scientific perspective - remarkable chemical properties, essential physiological regulation, sustainable ecological cycles – the course delves into the historical, political, economic, societal, and religious implications of water in the Middle East. Counts toward major, Biology. GE: Integrated Scientific Topics (IST-previously NST)

Grades

Letter grades are recorded on the student's transcript but not computed in the grade point average. There is one exception: students have the option of taking the course taught by the accompanying field supervisor either graded or S/U. In this case, the graded course is figured into the G.P.A.; if S/U, no course credit is given where the grade earned is below C-.

Bogazici University (Istanbul , Turkey)

Semester I & Interim, Semester II or full year

Campus Program Adviser: Eric Lund, International Studies (Steensland Hall x3069)

Since 1990, Bogazici University has provided a course in September for St. Olaf's Term in the Middle East . Now students are also able to enroll at the university for either semester or for the whole year. An equal number of students from Bogazici will attend St. Olaf under an exchange agreement. One of the most prestigious universities in Turkey , Bogazici offers a full range of subjects in the arts and sciences, and many courses are offered in English. For more information on Bogazici, consult the university website: http://www.boun.edu.tr/index_eng.html The campus of Bogazici University is located on a high hill, in one of the most picturesque sections of the city of Istanbul . It overlooks the Bosphorus, the narrow strait between the Mediterranean and Black Seas .

Located partly in Europe and partly in Asia, Istanbul (formerly named Constantinople ) has been an important cultural and political center for centuries, first as a Greek colony, then as the capital of the Roman and Byzantine Empires. It was conquered by the Turks in 1453 and subsequently became the capital of the Ottoman Empire . This city of over 9 million continues to be the most important commercial and cultural center in the Turkish Republic . On weekends and during breaks, students have the opportunity to explore other parts of Turkey such as the picturesque Mediterranean coast or central Anatolia , the less westernized part of the country. Travel in Turkey is relatively inexpensive.

Academics

A full load at Bogazici generally involves more courses per semester than is the case at St. Olaf. However, St. Olaf students are advised to take four courses in order to leave sufficient time for exploring the area and interacting with people. Most courses are offered in English. Taking a Turkish language course is not a requirement for participation in this program but is highly recommended in order to facilitate interaction with the local culture. The Fall semester extends from late September to January. Second semester starts in February and ends in mid-June.

Accommodations

Students from St. Olaf live together with Turkish and other international students in a modern campus dormitory called the Super Dorm.