Explore the rich history, culture, and society of ancient Egypt as well as the role those elements contribute to shaping contemporary Egypt.
Students who commit to the program will be manually enrolled in a 1-credit embedded travel course, ARAB 099 or ARAB 499, for the Spring 2027 semester.
Students will explore the rich history of Egypt through guided tours in Cairo, the multicultural capital of Egypt, as well as additional cities in Egypt. The program includes a tour of the Pyramids and Sphinx, a group cooking class, tours of various churches, temples, and museums, a kayaking trip down the Nile, and more!
Program Dates: December 29, 2026–January 5, 2027
This program is open to previous and current students in the Arabic language program and students who are taking classes related to the Middle East. Students who commit to the program will be manually enrolled in a 1-credit embedded travel course, ARAB 099 or ARAB 499, for the Spring 2027 semester.
Students should review their academic term plans to determine any financial implications, especially if you plan to take over the maximum 19 credits in a semester. Students can anticipate actual charges using the University’s updated Tuition Calculator.
- Program Fee: Maximum of $1,885. Students are eligible for a $150 scholarship to offset the program fee for this program. Please contact Professor Reham Aly (rum21@psu.edu) for more details.
- Airfare: Students will need to purchase their own roundtrip airfare with guidance from the faculty leader.
- In-Country Costs: Please consult with your faculty leaders about the amount of money to bring to cover the costs of meals and any additional spending money.
NOTE: The Embedded Program Fee will be billed to participants’ Penn State Bursar accounts in early January 2027, and payment will be due on January 22, 2027.
- The Embedded Program Fee for this program includes: hotel accommodations (based on double or triple occupancy, breakfast included); transportation to/from the airport in Egypt; welcome and farewell dinners; transportation and fees related to program activities in Egypt; emergency and administrative support.
- The Embedded Program Fee for this program does NOT include: airfare; transportation to/from the airport in the United States; most meals; spending money (souvenirs, etc.); course/credit tuition or fees; passport or visa fees.
NOTE: Students are expected to arrange and pay for their own flights to/from Cairo, Egypt (with guidance from the faculty leader about arrival/departure time windows); the group will not be traveling together.
To officially commit to the program, thoroughly read and submit the Official Financial Commitment Form by Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
Students must fill out this form in order to be registered for the 1-credit embedded travel course (ARAB 099 or ARAB 499) for the Spring 2027 semester. Students with questions may contact Associate Teaching Professor Reham Aly at rum21@psu.edu.
There are several official avenues for embedded program funding within the University. The primary ways are through Liberal Arts Enrichment Funding and Penn State Global, but students can also explore funding opportunities through their academic department or Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring.
Students are eligible for a $150 scholarship to offset the program fee for this program. Please contact Professor Reham Aly (rum21@psu.edu) for more details.
Previous Programs
Get career ready!
Embedded programs help students to gain key skills that employers are most looking for in college graduates, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). Below are 1-2 major competencies students can start to develop by participating in this program – just to start!
Critical Thinking
Explore and analyze information from various historical and cultural sites to help understand contemporary Egypt today, recognizing a diverse set of sources and seeking to gain a fuller perspective of the culture beyond the classroom.
Communication
Be exposed to colloquial Egyptian Arabic and practice your language skills in an immersive context, interacting with native speakers in everyday situations.
Want to hear more? Meet with a Liberal Arts career coach in the Career Enrichment Network to discuss your experience and identify even more ways that this program can enhance your personal and professional development!
