Morocco: Multiculturalism and Human Rights

Educational Excursions

Gain new perspectives and insights into Moroccan culture and society through program excursions, field trips, and village stays.

The tiled stairway to our Kasbah terrace lined with decorative tajines

The program visits the Middle Atlas, the Southern Palm Tree Valleys, the Erg and Hmada Deserts, the High Atlas, Marrakech, and Essaouira as well as universities and NGOs throughout Morocco.

Topics of inquiry on excursions include Morocco’s history, indigenous industries, impact of tourism, development issues, environmental problems, civil society questions, cultural diversity, and interactions between Berbers, Jews, and Arabs.

Students also learn to relate Morocco's geography and ecology to its diverse cultures and the historical roles played by different regions, cities, and towns.

During excursions, students make observations and rapid appraisals, complete photographic essays and mapping exercises, and learn from lectures and presentations by experts and specialists.

Southern excursion - The southern excursion covers a wide geographic area; students experience the Middle Atlas and its cedar forest, the High Atlas Mountains and their breathtaking gorges, as well as the desert. The excursion is punctuated by lectures and field study exercises. Topics of study include sustainability challenges in the Middle Atlas region, nomadic history and culture, and multiculturalism. Students will have numerous opportunities to engage with the culture; the excursion includes a camel ride on the sand dunes in Merzouga and a performance by a Gnawa music band in the heart of the desert.
Northern excursion - A weekend trip to the northern part of the country highlights Morocco’s cultural diversity, and students learn about various topics related to multiculturalism and human rights. Students visit the city of Ouezzane, the spiritual capital of the north; Chefchaouen; Fnideq; and the enclave of Ceuta. Various themes are discussed during the excursion either through lectures by the academic directors or through presentations by students.
Village stay: The village stay takes place in the village of Ait Ouhai in the Middle Atlas Mountains in the province of Oulmes. Ait Ouhai is a reference to the tribe that settled in the area centuries ago. The spoken language in the village is Tamazight (Berber), and some families speak Moroccan Arabic. Most people work in agriculture and ranching. Besides the homestay, which is one of the highlights of the excursion, students participate in different activities, e.g., group discussions with villagers and with young students, activities with children at a local school, planting trees, hiking, and learning the local dance of Ahaidous.

Credits: 16

Duration: 15 weeks

Program Base: Rabat

Language Study: Arabic

Prerequisites: None; however, students with a background in French will have opportunities for French language practice while also learning Moroccan and Modern Standard Arabic. Read more...