The Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) was established in 1967 to offer intensive advanced Arabic language training at the American University in Cairo, Egypt. Since its inception, CASA has trained more than 1,600 upper level undergraduates, graduates, and professors specializing in various areas of Middle Eastern Studies.

CASA is currently administered at The University of Arizona by a U.S. Director, Sonia Shiri, and Program Coordinator, Sarah Stoll. The CASA program is currently being held at the Tahrir campus at the American University in Cairo, Egypt under the supervision of Executive Director Heba Salem and/or at the Qasid Arabic Institute in Amman, Jordan under the guidance of the Executive Director Dr. Khaled Abu Amsha. The program location varies year to year based on the security assessment and funding availability.

CASA is represented by a Consortium of American universities and colleges who serve a vital role in directing various academic, financial and administrative aspects of the CASA programs.

CASA receives its primary funding from the United States Department of Education, under the Fulbright-Hays--Group Projects Abroad Program. In addition, CASA is supported by two endowments from the Ford and Mellon foundations when the program is able to send students to Cairo.

CASA I, II, and III offer advanced level training in Arabic language and culture as well as research support (CASA II and III) to qualified American students and faculty at the Qasid Arabic Institute in Amman, Jordan and the Arab American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM) in Meknes, Morocco. 

• CASA I offers a 9-month advanced level training in Arabic language and culture Fellowship program to qualified American undergrad and graduate level students at the Qasid Arabic Institute in Amman, Jordan or the Arab American Language Institute in Morocco (AALIM) in Meknes, Morocco. 
• CASA II offers a semester-long language and research support Fellowship program for doctoral students (U.S. citizens) in MENA Studies through the Qasid Arabic Institute in Amman, Jordan.  
• CASA III offers a semester-long language and research support Fellowship program for faculty (U.S. citizens) in MENA Studies through AALIM (Arab American Language Institute in Morocco) in Meknes, Morocco.  

The CASA program will handle travel reservations and issue tickets to fellows to and from the program. CASA Fellows are responsible for arranging and paying for their housing, meals, and travel over breaks. (Stipends are intended to cover basic living expenses, but may not be enough to cover travel back home over holidays/breaks.)

Each CASA Fellow is expected to pay:

• A non-refundable Program Fee
• International Insurance
• Miscellaneous fees and expenses during travel (i.e. visas, travel over holidays, living expenses not covered by the monthly stipend)

Please see each program page for further details.

CASA I: https://arabicspecialprograms.arizona.edu/casa-i

CASA II: https://arabicspecialprograms.arizona.edu/casa-ii 

CASA III: https://arabicspecialprograms.arizona.edu/casa-iii-casa-scholars 

All CASA applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals or permanent residents.  For CASA I, non-U.S. citizens may apply as a Pay-Your-Own-Way participant.

CASA I Requirements:

This program is designed for learners who are planning careers that require advanced Arabic proficiency in fields such as academia, government, the professions, or international development.  In addition to the citizenship requirement above, applicants must have a minimum of 3 years of formal instruction in Arabic prior to joining CASA and fall into one of the following categories:

• current graduate students (e.g., PhD or MA student)
• current undergraduate students in their junior or senior year
• holders of either a bachelor's or master's degree

CASA II Requirements:

In addition to the citizenship requirement above, the applicant must be a doctoral student in an institution of higher education, who is a prospective teacher in the areas of Middle East and North African (social sciences, humanities and foreign languages).

CASA III Requirements:

In addition to the citizenship requirement above, the applicant must be a faculty member currently employed full-time in a U.S. institution of higher education, teaching or doing research on the Middle East and North Africa region.

• junior
• senior
• graduate

• US Citizen
• Permanent Resident

Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA)
School of Middle Eastern & North African Studies
University of Arizona
1219 N. Santa Rita Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 621-6045
CASA@email.arizona.edu

Sarah Stoll
CASA Senior Program Coordinator
Phone: (520) 621-6045
CASA@email.arizona.edu(link sends e-mail)

Director

Dr. Sonia Shiri
CASA Stateside Director
soniashiri@email.arizona.edu(link sends e-mail)