# Academy of Liberal Arts

**Source**: https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/liberal-arts/academy
**Parent**: https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/undergraduate-studies

With a focus on helping students transition into the American-style, liberal arts experience, AUC’s Academy of Liberal Arts empowers students to challenge their intellectual boundaries, expand their linguistic competencies and develop crucial skills in reasoning, reading, writing and self-expression.

## About the Academy of Liberal Arts (ALA)

By emphasizing critical thinking, cross-disciplinary learning and a global perspective, we prepare students for a lifetime of success. And our extracurricular activities and centers foster creativity, leadership and community service, enabling students to become engaged citizens who are equipped to tackle the complex challenges of the 21st century.

[About ALA's Mission and Vision](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/liberal-arts/academy/about)

[ALA: Celebrating 10 Years of Academic Excellence](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/liberal-arts/academy/academic-excellence)

[Honors Recipients: Celebrate the achievements of our students in the core subjects](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/liberal-arts/academy/honors-recipients)

## Message from the Dean

It gives me great pleasure to welcome all undergraduate students of The American University in Cairo. AUC first made its name as an institution unique in Egypt — an American-style liberal arts University focusing on undergraduate studies — and this mission remains at the heart of everything we do.

- [Read the Message](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/liberal-arts/academy/dean-message)

## The Core Curriculum

The Core Curriculum is the foundation of every AUC student’s education — the heart of the liberal arts experience. It includes courses in writing, language and information literacy; philosophic and scientific thinking; Arab history, literature and society; and foundational classes in the natural sciences, social sciences and humanities.

- [Check AUC Core Curriculum](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/core-curriculum)

## ALA Departments and Programs

### Departments

- [Arabic Language Instruction](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/arabic-language-instruction)
- [English Language Instruction](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/english-language-instruction)
- [Rhetoric and Composition](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/rhetoric-and-composition)

### Enrichment Programs

- [Academic Community Engagement](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/academic-community-engagement)
- [Undergraduate Research](https://www.aucegypt.edu/research/undergraduate-research)
- [Writing Center](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/mohamed-taymour-writing-and-communication-center)
- [Common Reading Experience](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/common-reading-experience)

### Student Services

- [Academic Advising Center](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/academic-advising-center)

### Outreach Programs

- [Summer@AUC](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/summeratauc)
- [Winter@AUC](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/winteratauc)

## ALA Faculty

Our faculty guide students through a broad-based liberal arts curriculum, helping them develop critical thinking, creativity and adaptability to navigate an ever-changing world.

- [Meet Our Faculty](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/liberal-arts/academy/faculty)

## Meet the Team

### Ghada Elshimi

Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Academy of Liberal Arts\
Director, Core Curriculum

[gelshimi@aucegypt.edu](mailto:gelshimi@aucegypt.edu)\
**t:** +20.2.2615.3593

### Matthew Hendershot

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Academy of Liberal Arts

[mnhende2@aucgeypt.edu](mailto:mnhende2@aucgeypt.edu%C2%A0)\
**t:** +20.2.2615.3595

### Noha Effat

Assistant to Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Academy of Liberal Arts

[nohae@aucegypt.edu](mailto:nohae@aucegypt.edu)\
**t:** +20.2.2615.3587

## Related Links

- [Academic Integrity](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/academic-integrity)
- [Writing Minor](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/undergraduate-programs/writing)
- [Language Exchange Partners Program](https://www.aucegypt.edu/academics/language-exchange-partners-program)

Request
Information

- [Fill in the form](https://www4.aucegypt.edu/infoform/)