In the westernmost outpost of the Arab world, students learn firsthand from leading faculty about Morocco's efforts to address contemporary issues such as gender rights, ethnic diversity, and democratization. Students' access to Moroccan culture offers unparalleled insights into the country's approach to pressing social, religious, and cultural matters of the Middle East and North Africa. In this semester/academic year program in Rabat, Morocco, students will take 12-17 credits per semester and have the option of both Arabic and Area Studies courses taught in English. Students live with host families in Rabat. There will be multiple excursions per semester, such as to Fez or Zaouiat Ahansal.

Academic Overview

• Arabic: Blended Modern Standard & Moroccan Arabic (8 credits) is recommended
• Colloquial Moroccan Arabic (3 credits) is required if not in the 8-credit course
• Elective Area Studies Courses (3 credits each) taught in English in a variety of disciplines including a Community-Based Learning course. Recent courses have been drawn from Middle East & North Africa studies, history, political science, sociology, and Amazigh studies.
• Media Arabic (3 credits) is also available as an elective

Community-Based Learning

Every semester we offer our Community-Based Learning course. This interdisciplinary course aims at strengthening and deepening students' knowledge of the Middle East through direct experience in local organizations and a series of lectures aimed at providing the theoretical framework for studying and interacting with Moroccan society, culture, and politics.

Students will have a volunteer placement in a local organization where they are expected to spend at least five hours a week. There are also lectures/seminars to contextualize the placement, providing the opportunity to directly observe and analyze different aspects of Moroccan culture, social relations, and politics under the framework provided by the class readings and discussions.

If you're curious to see what topics are covered or need to confirm whether a class will count for your university, please download the latest available syllabi here.