CASA III
PLEASE NOTE: The CASA III program has been temporarily suspended as a result of loss of Fulbright funding for the program. The CASA III program will resume, in shaa'allaah, in 2013-2014.
The CASA III program is intended as an Arabic "refresher" course for professors in various fields of Middle Eastern Studies who are interested in improving their language skills or in further developing their ability to use the language in contexts appropriate for their own research areas. The CASA program offers three or four CASA III fellowships each year, funded by the Binational Fulbright Commission in Egypt and the U.S. Department of Education.
The program requires a general level of proficiency in Arabic of at least Intermediate-High on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale. A 15-20 minute oral interview in Arabic will be conducted with each CASA III applicant to assess their current level of proficiency in the language. Applicants must also complete an application form and providing supporting documents.
The program offers a great deal of flexibility both in terms of the curriculum it offers and the time it requires of each fellow. CASA III participants have the option of attending during the CASA summer session, or choosing a period ranging from 2 to 4 months in length in either Fall or Spring during which to complete their CASA III program of study. Please note that you are required to participate for a minimum of 2 months due to Fulbright regulations.
The curriculum is set by individual CASA III fellows in consultation with the CASA Executive Director. A CASA III fellow may choose to concentrate on developing her/his skills in Egyptian Colloquial, or in Standard Arabic, or both, or may choose to do tutorials in advanced readings with specialists in her/his area of research. Some CASA III fellows may opt to participate fully or partially in the regular CASA Summer Program (early June to end of July) in order to benefit from the classroom experience and exposure. Others may choose to paritcipate in the program in the fall or spring and may be interested in a program that combines text reading and language skill development. The program is highly individualized and aims to fulfill the Arabic language and research needs of each fellow. Generally, the number of contact hours for each CASA III fellow will range between 12 and 15 hours/week, depending on the fellow's needs, interests and focus. In all classes and tutorials, CASA III fellows are paired with distinguished AUC language teachers and distinguished professors from Egyptian universities.
For more information regarding the CASA III Program, please contact us. If you are interested in applying to the CASA III program, please go to the "Applicants" section of the website.
What Does the CASA III Fellowship Cover?
Each CASA III fellow will receive the following:
- Round-trip airline ticket to/from Cairo, Egypt. Travel is restricted to CASA program dates.
- Paid tuition for all courses.
- A monthly stipend paid in Egyptian pounds, equivalent to an amount between $1,250-$1,500.
- Book and educational supplies allowance paid in Egyptian pounds, equivalent to an amount between $300-$500 total.
- Program-related tours of Cairo and subsidized trips to historical sites in Egypt.
The CASA program will handle all travel reservations and issue tickets to fellows upon confirmation. CASA III fellows are responsible for arranging and paying for their housing and meals. Each CASA III fellow is expected to pay a non-refundable program fee of $1,500 (Consortium rate) or $2,000 (Non-Consortium rate). Please note that only faculty affiliated with a CASA Consortium School, at the time program fees are due, are eligible for the Consortium rate.
