AUC's School of Humanities and Social Sciences (HUSS) focuses on enhancing its students' ability to analyze opinions and assumptions, become more aware of the past while open to new ways of thinking, and develop a capacity for critical thinking and creative approaches to problem solving. HUSS faculty seek to help students learn how to think, not what to think -- a vital ability in a rapidly changing world.

The school's graduates seek careers that contribute to solving social and political problems and enhance the cultural and intellectual life of Egypt, the region and the world.

The Student Experience

Each year, hundreds of students problem solve on vital domestic and international issues through the Model Egyptian Parliament, the Model Arab League and the Model United Nations. Students act, direct and create scenery and costumes for plays in Arabic and English that attract enthusiastic audiences. They exhibit their paintings, sculptures and photographs in galleries on campus and intern and exhibit their art in public and private galleries in Cairo and Alexandria. Students in Arabic studies, Egyptology, Coptic studies, modern history and Arabic language have unparalleled opportunities to explore Egypt
and travel elsewhere in the region and Europe as a central part of their academic program.

Many students engage in service learning that deepens their sense of responsibility for resolving social and economic problems. In short, students have a wide range of opportunities to participate in fun, useful and intellectually challenging activities.

Facilities and Resources

HUSS boasts state-of-the-art language laboratories and facilities for the arts and psychology on the new campus, as well as creative and award-winning professors. Students are encouraged to attend the school’s many theater performances, gallery exhibitions, lectures by distinguished visiting professors and conferences. Many of these programs are sponsored by pioneer graduate studies institutes in gender and women’s studies, forced migration and refugee studies, Middle East studies, European studies and the new American studies center. The literary journal Alif and social science monograph series Cairo Papers in Social Science are widely acclaimed for publishing original research. These opportunities expand students’ horizons and deepen their understanding of critically important issues.

Departments and Programs 

 Arab and Islamic Civilizations   

• Bachelor of Arts in Arabic Studies with specialization in Arabic literature, Middle Eastern History and Islamic Art and Architecture.
• Minor in Arab and Islamic Civilization
• Minor in Arabic Literature
• Minor in Classical/Medieval Islamic History
• Minor in Islamic Art & Architecture
• Minor in Islamic Studies
• Master of Arts in Arabic Studies with specializations in Islamic art and architecture, Arabic language and literature and Middle Eastern history
• Graduate Diploma in Islamic Studies

Department of English and Comparative Literature  

• Bachelor of Arts in English and Comparative Literature
• Minor in English and Comparative Literature
• Master of Arts in English and Comparative Literature

Department of History  

• Bachelor of Arts in Modern History
• Minor in Modern History
• Minor in Comparative Religion
• Graduate credit courses

Department of Law     

• LL.M. (Masters of Law) in International and Comparative Law
• Master of Arts in International Human Rights Law

Department of Performing and Visual Arts  

• Bachelor of Arts in Art
• Bachelor of Arts in Theatre
• Minor in Art
• Minor in Film
• Minor in Music
• Minor in Theatre

Department of Philosophy  

• Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy
• Minor in Philosophy

Department of Political Science  

• Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with specialization in International Relations, Political Economy, Public & International Law or Middle East Politics
• Minor in International Relations
• Minor in Middle East Politics
• Minor in Political Economy
• Minor in Political Science
• Minor in African Studies
• Master of Arts in Political Science with specialization in Comparative Politics, Professional Development or International Relations
• Graduate Diploma in Political Science

Department of Rhetoric and Composition  

Core Curriculum courses in Rhetoric and Composition Specialized courses in writing and communication Writing Center

Department of Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Egyptology

• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology
• Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology
• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
• Bachelor of Arts in Egyptology
• Minor in Anthropology
• Minor in Coptic Studies
• Minor in Development Studies
• Minor in Egyptology
• Minor in Psychology
• Minor in Sociology
• Master of Arts in Sociology/Anthropology

Arabic Language Institute  

• Non-degree intensive Arabic Language Instruction (ALIN)
• Arabic Language instruction for the Center for Arabic Study Abroad (CASA) program
• Courses in the Arabic language for undergraduate credit (ALNG)
• Master of Arts in Teaching Arabic as a Foreign Language (TAFL)
• Graduate Diploma in TAFL

English Language Institute

• Minor in Linguistics
• Intensive English Language Instruction to incoming undergraduate and graduate students, who are non-native speakers of English
• Master of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
• Graduate Diploma in TEFL

The Cynthia Nelson Institute for Gender & Women's Studies  

• Master of Arts in Gender and Women's Studies
• Graduate Diploma in Gender and Women's Studies
• Minor in Gender Studies

Center for American Studies and Research

• Minor in American Studies

European Studies Program

• Graduate Diploma in European Studies

 Forced Migration & Refugee Studies Program

• Graduate Diploma in Forced Migration and Refugee Studies

 Middle East Studies Program

• Bachelor of Arts in Middle East Studies
• Master of Arts in Middle East Studies
• Graduate Diploma in Middle East Studies