Dates (tentative): May 8 - June 16, 2010
Dialogue Leaders: Prof. Denis Sullivan, d.sullivan@neu.edu; Cynthia Rapp, c.rapp@neu.edu
Course Description: Dialogue of Civilizations: "Egypt -- History, Politics, Culture, and Society: Pharaonic Times-Present" is a 5-week, faculty-led program offering students immersion in the Arabic language (see Arabic Immersion course info below), and analysis of the history, politics, culture, and society of Egypt from ancient times to the present. Students engage in a wide range of on-site lectures on historical and contemporary issues in various cities throughout Egypt (Alexandria and Cairo, among others), people-to-people "dialogues" with Egyptian students and professionals, and meetings with official organizations such as the Arab League and the US Embassy in Cairo. We will also be meeting with NGOs dealing with health, human rights, and social and economic development. Students concentrate on understanding Egyptian and Arab history, politics, culture, economy and society by visiting important Pharaonic, Hellenistic, Coptic, Islamic, and modern sites throughout Egypt. Students will also volunteer at a refugee center by providing English tutoring to refugees from Eritrea, Iraq, Sudan, Ethiopia and other countries. At the end of the program, students will have had the opportunity of interacting and exchanging ideas with people from different backgrounds, and thus get exposure to a wide spectrum of Egyptian society and Egypt's place in the global community.
Arabic Immersion: Students will spend 4 weeks studying the Egyptian dialect of Arabic. The focus of the Arabic courses will be on Egyptian conversational Arabic, and students will also learn skills in writing and reading Arabic. Students should take at least one semester of Arabic before participating on the Dialogue. After arrival in Cairo, students will be tested and placed into the appropriate level of Arabic (see numbers below)
Prerequisites: The program is open to students of ANY major. Students must have completed at least one semester of Arabic. Additional Arabic or Middle East coursework preferred.
Course Credits: INTL4938 Dialogue of Civilizations (4 SH) AND ARAB 1301, 1302, 2301, 2302, 3301, 3302 Arabic language immersion (4 SH)
Cost of Program:
Summer tuition for 8 NU credits plus additional costs TBD.Application Process:Download the Dialogue of Civilizations application and waiver form. Turn in two copies of each completed form and two copies of you unofficial transcript to the Office of International Study Programs in 10 BV.
Application Deadline: December 1, 2009
For more Information: Contact Cynthia Rapp at c.rapp@neu.edu or 617-373-5472.
Disclaimer: Some information posted here is tentative and subject to change based on costs and dates of available flights. The website is updated as current information becomes available.
