Summer in Ifrane, Morocco: Development, Islamic Studies, and Democracy

  Morocco

Ifrane

Term: Summer 
Dates: June - July 2010

Description: Georgetown's summer program in Morocco is hosted by Al-Akhawayn University (AUI), an English-language university modeled after the American university system. AUI is located in Ifrane, a resort community in the Middle Atlas Mountains of Morocco, which is approximately 60 kilometers from the historic cities of Meknes and Fez. As part of the coursework, students go on field trips to development projects and receive classroom visits from development workers, civil society activists, and local politicians. At the development projects, students have the opportunity to interact with the local populations the projects are designed to benefit. There is also an extended field visit to Rabat, the capital of Morocco, to meet with Moroccan politicians and with development practitioners from the World Bank and the Moroccan office of United States Aid for International Development (USAID).

Curriculum:
All students enroll in two, three-credit courses in Government:

GOVT 426-62 Development in Theory and Practice, encapsulates the present state of the development debate and explores the experiences of people in the Third World whose benefits from development efforts have been at best uneven. What works in theory may not work in practice. Taking advantage of AUI's location, students visit development projects in Morocco and the capital of Rabat where they meet with officials from the World Bank and USAID. In addition, development experts working on local projects visit the classroom to share their views on the development process.

GOVT 432-62 Islam and Democracy, explores the Muslim approach to politics. The course begins with the study of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity in comparative perspective. This is followed by an exploration of the historical foundations of traditional Muslim and Christian political theory. The course also addresses varied interpretations of Islam, including radical interpretations of the religion and interpretations which parallel Western concerns for liberal rights and democracy. Leaders and activists from religious and government parties in Morocco meet with the program participants and visit the classroom.

In addition, students are required to attend approximately one hour per day, four days per week (16 hours total), of classroom instruction in Moroccan Arabic. Focused on practical skills and important phrases for daily living, the course is designed to help both elementary and more advanced speakers function successfully in their host-country culture. Each student's grade in the language class counts as 25% of his/her overall grade in GOVT 432-62 Islam and Democracy. Upon successful completion of the program, students receive six Georgetown University credits.

Highlights:
- Instruction in Moroccan Arabic.
- Course visits to development projects and institutions, including the Moroccan branches of the World Bank and USAID.
- A number of cultural visits are planned for the students, including trips to the cities of Fez and Meknes. In Fez, students visit the historic Kairouine Mosque and Kairouine University, disputably the oldest university in the world. Students also visit religious sanctuaries and the tombs of saints, important aspects of customary Islam. A long visit to the border of the Sahara enables students to explore the religious foundations of the present Moroccan dynasty.

Degree Level: Bachelors Degree (Undergraduate)

Cost in US$: Inquire for more information.

Experience Required: yes

This program is open to both undergraduate and graduate students. A minimum 2.7 GPA is required.

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Morocco Independently

Typically Participants Work in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Disciplinary Clearance Form
• Essay
• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Other
• Transcript

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad

Georgetown University Office of International Programs's Mission Statement: The mission of Overseas Studies at Georgetown University is to promote, support, and develop international and intercultural educational opportunities for students, and in so doing, help to define the international character of Georgetown. These programs are developed and evaluated in collaboration with the wider Georgetown community to ensure that they are academically rigorous, linguistically appropriate, and complementary to the Georgetown curriculum. In keeping with the Jesuit philosophy of education and service, these overseas opportunities invite participants to reflect on the values that form their own identities, and encourage them to assume their roles as responsible world citizens. The Office of International Programs offers more than 120 programs in 39 countries.