During this intensive language program, classes meet for several hours a day, a total of 70 contact hours of Modern Standard Arabic and are taught by local faculty at the Qalam Language Center in Rabat. Students in the program live with Arabic-speaking Moroccan families and attend classes at Rabat Qalam Center in the modern "Souissi" area of the city, housed in a spacious villa and enclosed within its own tranquil garden, the school is an ideal place to learn and also offers students plenty of space for quiet study or reflection. Students will gain the advantage of an authentic cultural and linguistic immersion in an Arabic speaking country alongside formal languages classes. Cultural Excursions to visit various points of interest in Morocco supplement the Arabic training and further enhance the immersion experience provided at Qalam.
Program Highlights
- Intensive Arabic language program in the capital and second largest city in Morocco.
- Rabat was a world heritage site in 2012.
- Students will experience authentic cultural and linguistic immersion through daily classes, cultural activities and excursions, and living with Moroccan host families.
Eligibility
This program is open to all undergraduate students, including students who do not attend George Mason University. Non-students are also welcome to participate.
Undergraduate students must have a minimum GPA of 2.25.
All participants must have successfully completed ARAB 110 or the equivalent before the start of the program.
Credits
3 credit hours
Course Options
Undergraduate:
- Arabic - ARAB 375: Study Abroad in the Arab World
- On return to Mason, students will have the option of testing out of 200/300-level classes. Please reach out to the Arabic Department for more information.
Program Dates*
January 3 - 22, 2022
Tentative Itinerary
| January 3 |
Students arrive in Rabat & check-in with host families |
| January 4 |
Morning: Orientation; Afternoon: Placement Test and Oral Interviews |
| January 5 |
Morning: Class; Afternoon: Rabat City Tour and Language Partner Meetings |
| January 6 |
Full Day of Class |
| January 7 |
Full Day of Class |
| January 8 |
Trip to Marrakech. Overnight |
| January 9 |
Trip to Marrakech. Return to Rabat |
| January 10 |
Morning: Class; Afternoon: Cultural Excursion and Language Partner Meetings |
| January 11 |
Morning: Class; Afternoon: Moroccan Cooking Workshop |
| January 12 |
Full Day of Class; Arabic Calligraphy Workshop |
| January 13 |
Full Day of Class; Language Partner Meetings |
| January 14 |
Morning: Class; Afternoon: Departure to Sahara |
| January 15 |
Weekend Trip to Sahara |
| January 16 |
Weekend Trip to Sahara. Return to Rabat. |
| January 17 |
Morning: Class; Afternoon: Pottery Workshop and Language Partner Meetings |
| January 18 |
Full Day of Class; Arabic Calligraphy Workshop |
| January 19 |
Full Day of Class |
| January 20 |
Morning: Class and Final Exam; Afternoon: Class and Exam Correction and Language Partner Meetings |
| January 21 |
Morning: Class and Oral Presentations; Afternoon: Farewell Ceremony |
| January 22 |
Students depart for the U.S. |
* Dates and itinerary subject to change. The Global Education Office reserves the right to make changes to a program in light of currency fluctuations, changing security and safety conditions, and/or any other unforeseen circumstances.
Program Cost
Winter 2022: $3800
The Program Cost for study abroad courses is assessed separately from Mason tuition and fees. This means separate charges are put on your student account for this course, a study abroad tuition charge and a study abroad program fee charge, which together equal the published Program Cost for this course.
Included:
- Application deposit
- Tuition for 3 credits and mandatory fees
- Accommodations with a host family
- Breakfasts and dinners provided by host family, lunches (Monday-Friday)
- Guided tours and excursions as described in itinerary
- Airport pick-up in Rabat
- cell phone & sim card rental in Morocco
- International emergency medical insurance
- Pre-Departure Orientation
Not included:
- Airfare*
- Passport and visa fees
- Some meals
- Daily transportation
- Personal spending
- COVID-19 testing and vaccinations
- COVID-19 testing while abroad
- Required textbooks and/or course materials.
*Note: This program does not include a group flight. Information regarding arrival times and location will be sent out to all participants after the application deadline. Do not purchase airfare until you receive the "Green Light for Flights" notice from the Global Education Office via email.
The notice will include information on the arrival/departure airports, flight times, and where to meet the group. Students who fail to follow the guidelines GEO sends out will be responsible for applicable costs of changing their flights. When the time comes to purchase airfare, GEO will be recommending the purchase of Flight Interruption and Cancellation Insurance. The “Green Light for Flights” email will provide additional information about this insurance.
Program Payments
The full program fee is charged to your Mason Student Account. Students pay the Global Education Office (GEO) Program Fee as advertised in two payments (Application Deposit + Final Payment.)
Application Deposit: $200 non-refundable Application Deposit must be received by the application deadline. This fee is paid online through the MasonAbroad application system and is included in the program fee.
Final Payment: The final balance payment is made through the Mason Bill+Payment system. Payment is due according to the
Mason Payment Schedule. The amount due is the difference of your Program Cost minus the $200 you will have already paid, the Application Deposit
Note:
- You can make your final payment in the Mason Bill+Payment system even if you do not see the GEO program charge on your student account.
- George Mason University applies payments to outstanding charges first. If you have an outstanding balance from a previous semester your payments will first go to paying that charge. You will still be responsible for the GEO charge.
Financial Aid:
In most cases, financial aid (federal, state, institutional financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans) can be used to finance study abroad. It is the student’s responsibility to check with the Office of Financial Aid to review their financial aid package. The Office of Financial Aid is the only office that can determine your aid eligibility.
Meeting with your financial aid officer prior to applying to study abroad will help you understand if, how much, and when your aid can be used to study abroad.
Confirmation of your financial aid award may not be available until registration and billing for the term in question is final. If aid eligibility changes, or the amount of aid disbursed is lower than anticipated, students are responsible for all remaining account balances or risk late fees, holds on their accounts, and program dismissal.
To assist students in the processing of their financial aid, GEO will communicate with the Office of Financial aid those students who plan to utilize financial aid for their specific study abroad program through their application with GEO. Please note there is no guarantee to students that their aid can be utilized for their specific study abroad program.
If you plan to use federal, state, institutional financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans to finance your study abroad you must:
- Mark “Yes” to “Do you plan to use Financial Aid to finance your program (federal, state, institutional financial aid, scholarships, grants or loans)?” in your profile in MasonAbroad.gmu.edu.
After acceptance:
*Students must be enrolled at least half-time for federal loans and the majority of grant funds. Please refer to the Financial Aid Website for a definition of half-time for undergraduate and graduate students:
https://www2.gmu.edu/admissions-aid/financial-aid/eligibility.
VA Benefits: The Veterans Administration determines if a program is eligible to receive VA benefit payments based on the participants VA education program. Use of benefits is dependent on type of benefit and type of program. If you plan to use VA benefits to finance study abroad contact your program officer at
MasonLed@gmu.edu to request the "Intent to Use VA Benefits Form." You will complete that form with Mason’s Office of Military Services. To contact Military Services be sure to email them directly at
Military@gmu.edu.
Withdrawal and Refund Policy: All participants are bound by the Mason GEO
Withdrawal and Refund Policy.
Tuition Exemptions
If you plan to apply for a tuition exemption (for example VMSDEP or senior citizen exemption) to cover a portion of the total cost of the Study Abroad program please contact GEO immediately. Not all exemptions are eligible for use on study abroad courses. When an exemption is eligible for use, only tuition charges are covered. The participant will be required to pay program fees, which may include housing, meals, and direct payments to our overseas partners.
Employee Tuition Exemption Benefit
Global Education Office (Study Abroad) courses and trip fees are ineligible for tuition waivers under this policy. For more information please see the
Employee Tuition Exemption Benefit for details.
Payment Instructions
For more information on payments, financial aid, and information for non-Mason students:
Payments
Scholarships
GEO offers a number of need- and merit-based scholarships. All Mason students on this program are welcome to apply:
Scholarships
Application Deadline:
October 10
Application requirements:*
Program Deposit: $200 for all applicants.
Course Selection Questionnaire: You will choose the course(s) you would like to be receive credit for on this program. Check the "Academics" tab to see what courses are offered on this program. If you need help selecting your course, check with your academic advisor.
Passport Status Questionnaire: You do not need a passport to complete this questionnaire or the application. However, if you do not have a valid passport, you should begin applying for one now. The Global Education Office offers Passport Grants to help.
Signature Documents: Read and electronically "sign" the documents regarding the acknowledgement of risk, the pre-departure orientation, and your financial responsibility.
Additional requirements for non-Mason applicants:
- Official transcript: To be mailed or emailed to the Global Education Office at George Mason University.
- Non-degree Contract Course/Admission Form: Please complete the form and upload it into the questionnaire.
* Additional application requirements may apply to individual programs. Once you open your application, you will see all application requirements.
Application instructions: