Egypt (J-Term)
Ownership and (DE)Nile: World Hertiage in and Beyond Egypt
The application for J-Term 2025 is live now.
Program Dates: 10-14 days between January 3-January 20 (exact dates to be determined)
Academic Focus: Politics, Economy, and Tourism in Egypt
On this trip, we will explore museums and cultural heritage sites in Egypt and attend lectures by the American University in Cairo faculty. Preliminary prep work in the fall will include readings detailing current politics in Egypt and discussions on dynasties and ancient sites that we’ll visit on our trip. While in Egypt, you will be required to keep a journal and upon our return, you will write an assessment of something you found interesting. For example, maybe you were very interested in the post-Arab Spring politics, the government’s destruction of Gurneh (a local village in Luxor) because of antiquities under the village, or how the UNESCO Heritage Site Committee began after the moving of Abu Simbel and the Philae Temple for the building of the Aswan High Dam in he 1960s.
It is recommended that students consider taking the International Tourism class in the 2024 fall semester OR access the reading material from the class to help their understanding of politics, the economy, and the tourism industry in Egypt.
Application Information
Trip Application deadline: February 25, 2024
Click here to apply for the program.
Trip Fee: $4,000 (approximate flight cost from DC to Cairo is included); funding is available through the Global Learning travel fund. Please see the details below.
Travel Funding application deadline*: March 1, 2024
Notification of acceptance and funding: In March (exact date TBD).
Application Information
Trip Application deadline: February 25, 2024
Click here to apply for the program.
Trip Fee: $4,000 (approximate flight cost from DC to Cairo is included); funding is available through the Global Learning travel fund. Please see the details below.
Travel Funding application deadline*: March 1, 2024
Notification of acceptance and funding: In March (exact date TBD).
*Please note: The funding amount is based on your FAFSA information. Students are never guaranteed to be awarded all the funding requested,
so additional fundraising may be required.
so additional fundraising may be required.
Funding Opportunities:
Info on funding: Students should apply for a Global Learning Travel Award to help supplement costs for this trip. These travel funds will first cover trip costs, and any excess funding will be sent to your student account to help cover the cost of your flight. Once you receive notification that you have been accepted into the program and received funding, book your travel to the meeting point as soon as possible. (Flights tend to get more expensive the longer you wait.) Students who do not receive full funding are responsible for the balance due, but we can meet as a group to brainstorm and plan potential fundraising events.
For further questions about funding opportunities, contact Dr. Ramona Kirsch, Director of International Programs at kirschrr@hollins.edu
Travel Award Application, click here.
Note from Dr. Kirsch, Director, Global Learning: "When the question about which program you are applying for comes up, simply click ‘other’ and then write in the professor and country (Ashleigh Breske, Egypt J-term trip).
Eligibility: Students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application (and maintain that GPA minimum the semester before the program). We have 6-8 slots available for this trip. All rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to apply.
Faculty Leaders: Ashleigh Breske, breskeam@hollins.edu
Additional Information
Info on funding: Students should apply for a Global Learning Travel Award to help supplement costs for this trip. These travel funds will first cover trip costs, and any excess funding will be sent to your student account to help cover the cost of your flight. Once you receive notification that you have been accepted into the program and received funding, book your travel to the meeting point as soon as possible. (Flights tend to get more expensive the longer you wait.) Students who do not receive full funding are responsible for the balance due, but we can meet as a group to brainstorm and plan potential fundraising events.
For further questions about funding opportunities, contact Dr. Ramona Kirsch, Director of International Programs at kirschrr@hollins.edu
Travel Award Application, click here.
Note from Dr. Kirsch, Director, Global Learning: "When the question about which program you are applying for comes up, simply click ‘other’ and then write in the professor and country (Ashleigh Breske, Egypt J-term trip).
Eligibility: Students must be in good academic standing and have a minimum 3.0 GPA at the time of application (and maintain that GPA minimum the semester before the program). We have 6-8 slots available for this trip. All rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors are welcome to apply.
Faculty Leaders: Ashleigh Breske, breskeam@hollins.edu
Additional Information
Because of the location and the nature of our activities, it is critical that the students who participate in this J-term course are prepared physically, emotionally, and mentally for the experience. You will need to be:
- Open to different cultures and foods. Your diet will not offer the choices Americans are accustomed to (we can make requests for some choices, i.e., vegetarian, vegan, etc., but this may limit the choices available).
- Physically able to walk in an urban setting that may lack accessible architecture (e.g., no curb cuts, no sidewalks, frequent physical obstacles), as well as rough terrain at cultural heritage sites.
- Able to live in multiple types of lodging, including dorm-like housing on the American University campus (double room with bathroom) and boat stateroom (a double room with bathroom).
- Adaptable and flexible, because things will not always go as planned or move slower than you may desire. You should be able to go with the flow.
- Curious and ready to expand your understanding of the world and of yourself.
All students going on this trip are expected to abide by the Hollins Code of Conduct and always remember that they are representatives of Hollins University. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Please submit the following by email to Dr. Breske:
A current copy of your Hollins transcript (unofficial printouts from the Hollins Information System are acceptable.)
A recommendation from a current faculty/staff member at Hollins (see attached form.)
Permission to inquire about your abilities and maturity from other university officials, e.g., Professors, Student Services staff, etc.
Please write a 500- to 750-word personal statement explaining why participating is important to you academically, intellectually, and personally (part of the Forms application).
Travel info: Students are responsible for booking their travel to Washington, D.C., and meeting faculty at the airport. Faculty will travel to and from Cairo with students.
If you have ANY questions, please email Ashleigh Breske, breskeam@hollins.edu.