Embedded Fall: Egyptian Art: Ancient, Islamic, and Modern
The Program
“Man fears time, but time fears the pyramids”
– Arab proverb
The on-campus course will cover the history of art in Egypt, including ancient sphinxes, Coptic textiles, medieval Islamic mosques, modern urban developments, and the contemporary graffiti of the Arab Spring. We will focus on how art and cultural heritage have been preserved and presented in museums. Students will visit the Newark Museum of Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art to view how Egyptian art is categorized and displayed in the United States.
In January 2026, we will travel to Egypt for two weeks, staying in Cairo and then Luxor. Students will visit world famous ancient sites like the Pyramids of Giza and the King Tut treasures at the Egyptian Museum, as well as other heritage sites with diverse religious backgrounds like the Ben Ezra Synagogue, the Coptic Hanging Church, and Ibn Tulun Mosque. We will also visit modern art museums and meet with contemporary working artists. This experiential aspect of the course will expose students to Egyptian culture, the Arabic language, and the diverse ways in which museums are crafted and maintained outside the United States.
Program Locations
Egypt
Cairo
Cairo: Egypt’s capital and one of Africa’s largest cities, Cairo sits on the banks of the Nile River. From the Ancient Giza Pyramids to the Mamluk Sultan Hassan Mosque to contemporary art galleries near Tahrir Square, its rich history spans millennia.
Egypt
Luxor
Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes, Luxor is home to the sprawling Luxor and Karnak temples. Nearby are the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, and Temple of Hatshepsut.
Academics
The Fall course, required as a pre-requisite for the January trip, will fulfill Rutgers-Newark students’ Arts & Media core requirement. The class will also count towards the major or minor in Fine Arts or Art History, as well as towards the minor in Middle East and Islamic Studies.
Students will enroll in the course Egyptian Art: Ancient, Islamic, and Modern (21:082:306) during the Fall 2025 semester. The class will meet on Newark Campus, Thursdays 11:30 a.m. - 2:20 p.m. ET.
Housing and Meals
Students will stay in comfortable, centrally-located, and Wi-Fi-equipped hotels in shared rooms. Most meals are included in the course fee, as are a number of cultural activities.
Financial Information
Program Costs
| All Students | |
|---|---|
| Program Cost | $3,750 |
Program Cost includes:
- Housing
- Some meals
- In country transportation
- Excursions and cultural visits
- Administrative Fees
- Emergency Medical Access Abroad
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | Covered by MadRose Foundation |
| Meals | $200 |
| Personal Expenses | $200 |
| Total | $400.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket, while some of these expenses, such as meals and personal expenses, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Scholarships
Faculty Leaders
Prof. Seggerman is an art historian who specializes in Islamic art and modern art history. Her first book, Modernism on the Nile, was based on extensive research in Cairo. Email Prof. Seggerman at alex.seggerman@rutgers.edu