Programs
CASA III Program
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 at least between Intermediate-Mid and Intermediate-High on the ACTFL Proficiency Scale (equivalent to three years of college-level Arabic). 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 regular summer session (early June through end of July) , 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.
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
- paid tuition for all courses
- monthly stipend paid in Egyptian pounds, equivalent to an amount between $1250 and $1500
- book and educational supplies allowance paid in Egyptian pounds, equivalent to an amount between $300 and $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 the tickets. 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 (for professors affiliated with CASA Consortium Schools) or $2,000 (for faculty not affiliated with Consortium Schools). More details regarding program expenses.
