About CASA

The Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) was established in 1967 to offer intensive advanced Arabic language training at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Since its inception, CASA has trained more than 1,387 upper level undergraduates, graduates, and professors specializing in various areas of Middle Eastern Studies. For the 2011-12 academic year, an additional 51 fellows are being trained.

CASA is currently administered at University of Texas at Austin by a U.S. Director and Program Coordinator. The CASA programs are offered at the Tahrir Square campus of the American University in Cairo (AUC), under the guidance of an Executive Director and a CASA Co-Director (who is the Director of the Arabic Language Institute at AUC).

CASA is represented by a Consortium of thirty-four American universities and colleges who serve a vital role in directing various academic, financial and administrative aspects of the CASA programs.

CASA receives its primary funding from the United States Department of Education, under the Group International Study Abroad Program. In addition, CASA is currently supported by two endowments from the Ford and Mellon foundations, with additional funding from the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt.