Program Overview
The Master's program in Migration and Refugee Studies at AUC equips graduates with advanced knowledge and analytical skills to navigate global migration and refugee issues. Its interdisciplinary curriculum, taught by expert faculty, provides a solid foundation for careers in international organizations, research, and policy-making. The program emphasizes practical experience through case studies, internships, and a global network connecting students to professionals working with refugee and migrant populations.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
The Master's program in Migration and Refugee Studies is an interdisciplinary degree offered by the Center for Migration and Refugee Studies (CMRS) at the American University in Cairo (AUC). The program aims to equip graduates with the knowledge, research experience, and analytical skills necessary to understand and address the global phenomenon of migration. The program focuses on providing students with a comprehensive understanding of migration patterns, drivers of migration, and the complexities of refugee movements. The program's curriculum is designed to develop students' critical thinking and analytical skills, enabling them to analyze different perspectives on migration and construct well-informed arguments. The MA program requires the successful completion of eight courses and a thesis, with completion typically taking two years. Graduates of the program have gone on to hold high-level positions in organizations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Organization for Migration, the United Nations Children's Fund, and Save the Children.
Teaching:
The program's teaching faculty includes:
- Ibrahim Awad: Professor of Practice in Global Affairs and Director of CMRS.
- Maysa Ayoub: Associate Director of CMRS.
- Gerda Heck: Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology, Egyptology, and Anthropology, and CMRS. Her research interests include migration and border regimes, urban studies, migrant networks and (political) organizing, religious practices and migration, and ethnography and qualitative research. Her research interests include refugee movements, civil society and transnational networks, protection, migration governance, and mixed migration. The program emphasizes hands-on experience and career preparation through elements like:
- Case studies: The core course "International Refugee Law" incorporates case studies to train students in conducting refugee status determination, preparing them for careers with legal aid agencies.
- Practicum: Internship or Research: This course offers students the opportunity to intern with organizations conducting fieldwork or research on migration and refugees.
Careers:
The MA in Migration and Refugee Studies prepares graduates for careers in various institutions dealing with migration and refugee issues. The program highlights several examples of successful career paths, including:
- International Analyst: Bianca Frazon, MA '19, specialized her career as an international analyst in Egypt.
- Refugee Status Determination Officer: Rahma Soliman, MA '18, worked as a Refugee Status Determination Officer at AMERA and EFRR while completing the program.
Other:
The program also offers Fellowships, which are competitive awards open to new and continuing graduate students who demonstrate strong academic performance, subject to available funding. The program highlights its contribution to building knowledge on migration and refugee studies, supporting policy-making, and contributing to the debate on international mobility through publications such as:
- Policy Briefs
- Cairo Studies on Migration and Refugees
