Required courses include philosophical thinking, scientific thinking, Arab society, Arabic literature, Arab history, a seminar, and an extensive English writing program. Students select other courses from the sciences, humanities, and social sciences. The Arabic Language Institute conducts specially-tailored intensive Arabic Language programs for foreign business people, diplomats, and others. For students of both English and Arabic, AUC operates four language laboratories. Established in 1953, the Social Research Center conducts and encourages social science research of benefit to Egypt and the Middle East.
Current studies focus on population, health, and the environment.
Other AUC activities in the field of research and development include the Desert Development Center which integrates technology, biology, and desert community research and offers extensive training programs in desert agriculture and land development. The University Library houses about 286,000 volumes and subscribes to about 2,400 periodicals. The Rare Books and Special Collections Library is one of the world's finest research facilities for Islamic art and architecture and 18th-19th century Egypt with over 50,000 items, including books, photographs, slides, and maps on Pharaonic, Islamic, and modern Egypt, as well as other Middle Eastern countries. AUC provides faculty, administration, researchers, and students with modern computing facilities and services. These include library automation, student records, administrative support, provision for online public access services to the AUC community, consultation and support, training, PC labs and resources, assistance in using information technology in curricula, computer literacy programs for faculty, staff, and students, and full access to the Internet and World Wide Web.