Wake Forest University Morocco (Summer)

Morocco is a country of many contrasts, where centuries-old traditions and modern technology are at the heart of dynamic and hospitable culture. From the Roman ruins of Volubilis and the medieval cities of Marrakesh and Fez with their famous souks (markets), to the high-rise financial district of Casablanca, from the mountains and desert of the interior to the long stretches of coastal beaches, from the couscous and tajines to every kind of European cuisine, Morocco offers its visitors the unique example of a country whose deeply rooted cultural values have accommodated ideas and practices of its European neighbors.

Wake Forest University's Fez Summer Program is based at the Arabic Language Institute in Fez (ALIF). The Institute is housed in a large Moorish-style villa situated in a residential neighborhood and is within easy walking distance of shops, restaurants, and cafes. ALIF has a specialized library, a collection of Arabic films, a satellite television, and a computer center with e-mail access.
 

A Wake Forest faculty member serves as resident professor in Fez to oversee program academics. Courses taught by resident professor and professors at ALIF to include 6 hours of either Arabic or French and one 3-hour course from the resident professor's discipline for a total of 9hrs of credit. Academic study is enriched by a cultural immersion experience through homestays with Moroccan families and various excursions.

Language course offerings will be Beginning Arabic, Intermediate Arabic, Advanced Arabic or Intermediate French. In addition to the language course, students can also take Moroccan Arabic for an extra fee. Students receive 3 hours of Wake Forest credit for the area studies course and 6 hours of transfer credit for the intensive language course. Non-Wake Forest students who are applying for this program are encouraged to contact the Center for International Studies regarding how the courses are transcripted.

The 2017 summer Wake Forest resident professor is Assistant Professor of Arabic, Ahmad Obiedat. Professor Obiedat will teach 3hr WFU course HMN 224 - Cross-cultural Encounters in Morocco, that will be taken in addition to the 6hrs of intensive language credit at ALIF.

HMN 224 aims to introduce students to the innovative aspects of “al-Maghrib” thinkers from the classical era to the modern. Al-Maghrib, historically, is the Arab speaking region in north Africa and west of Egypt, including Andalusia. The core of Al-Maghrib is Morocco where the class will take place.

An important dimension is to build an understanding of the challenges facing Al-Maghrib societies in a modern world, challenges which include democratic governance, moral change, and women’s rights, as well as how Arab-Muslim cultures relate these issues to the classical canons of the Qur’an and the Prophetic traditions

Ahmad Obiedat
2017 Resident Professor
Assistant Professor of Arabic
E-mail: obiedaaz@wfu.edu

Students are matched with homestay families in Fez according to the language they choose to study. Students stay in hotels during the various excursions.

Excursions may include weekend trips to the following places:

• Meknes, Volubilis, Moulay Idriss
• Middle Atlas (Azrou, Um al-Rabi'a)
• Desert excursion (overnight)
• Rabat (overnight)

There is a planned 4-day excursion to Marrakesh, Essaouira, and Casablanca at the end of the program. Cities are subject to change.

The total cost of summer study abroad can be broken down into four categories:

• Program Fee - Usually covers room, in-country travel, excursions, some meals and other costs associated with the program.
• Tuition – Students on WFU summer programs pay WFU summer school tuition per credit hour. The 2016 summer rate was $900/per credit hour. Expect a slight increase for Summer 2017. 
• Airfare (estimated) – Varies per location. Students are responsible for their own airfare unless otherwise noted.
• Personal Expenses (estimated) – These will vary depending on the students' spending habits, cost of living in the destination country, and the number of meals included in the program fee. This may also include visa fees, vaccinations, academic supplies/books and other miscellaneous daily expenses.

Program Fee (estimated) - $4,200 (includes 6hrs of transfer credit)
Tuition (3hrs) - $2,700
Airfare (estimated) ~ $1,800
Personal Expenses (estimated) ~ $600
Estimated total cost - $9,300

Please contact the Center for Global Programs and Studies for information on summer scholarships.

Ahmad Obiedat 
2017 Resident Professor
Assistant Professor of Arabic
E-mail: obiedaaz@wfu.edu

Dr. Michaelle Browers
Program Director & Professor of Political Science
Phone: (336) 758 3535
E-mail: browerm@wfu.edu

Michael Tyson
Assistant Director of Study Abroad: Summer and Short Term Programs
Center for Global Programs and Studies
Phone: (336) 758 4072
E-mail: tysonmj@wfu.edu

Arabic Language Institute Website:
www.alif-fes.com