Explore the rich history, culture, and society of ancient Egypt as well as the role those elements contribute to shaping contemporary Egypt.
Students will be introduced to the colloquial Egyptian Arabic while learning about youth life in modern Egypt. This program in Egypt provides students with a great opportunity to apply all that they have learned and practiced at Penn State in immersion context and to expand their knowledge and understanding of Egyptian history, culture, and youth life.
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: March 7–15, 2025
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.
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 $1,425. This fee includes hotel accommodations based on double occupancy (including breakfast each day), all entrance fees, and two dinners.
- Airfare: Students will purchase their own roundtrip airfare (estimated to be $750-$1,000) with guidance from the faculty leader.
- In-Country Costs: Please consult with your faculty leader(s) 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 Office of the Bursar accounts in January, and payment will be due Wednesday, January 22.
- The Embedded Program Fee for this program includes: hotel accommodations based on double occupancy (with breakfast); transportation to/from the airport in Egypt; transportation related to program activities; fees related to program activities; 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.); gratuities; course/credit tuition, fees related to visa or passport
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, December 3, 2024.
Students must fill out this form in order to be registered for the 1-credit embedded travel course, ARAB 099 or ARAB 499. 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, the Student Engagement Network or Undergraduate Research and Fellowships Mentoring.
Previous Programs
During a previous winter break, students taking ARAB 099/499 traveled to Cairo, Egypt, as part of the “Youth Life in Egypt” embedded program in the College of the Liberal Arts. The seven-day trip allowed students to apply their studies in context and visit a local university to interact with its students.
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!
