<p>My understanding is that regular digs in Egypt are available for those with training (usually grad students) and aren't for volunteers. It isn't a question of what the dig sponsors say; it is a set of requirements imposed by the Egyptian government. They have gotten very strict in recent years. (I read through the new regs once but I don't remember all the details). Even if undergraduates are theoretically eligible, there is such a demand to do this only those with experience or special skills are likely to be allowed. This was the explanation given for one program I remember -- I think it was the U of Toronto's.</p>
<p>I don't know how the Penn State field schools get around this, or if they do for that matter.</p>
<p>Other new wrinkles -- discoveries have to be disclosed to the government first (if not, you end up banned from digs, like the woman who did the special claiming a particular mummy was Nefertiti) and must be initially published in an Arabic journal.</p>
<p>About French and German -- what is needed is reading ability, not conversation ability. Most colleges have such courses for grad students. My daughter's department suggests getting reading ability in German early in one's academic career so she took it first semester. She used it right away to translate a passage for a paper in another course.</p>
<p>We've also been told by two Egyptologists that ancient Greek is useful. Latin would also be good.</p>
<p>And you have all the ancient Egyptian itself to take (not just middle Egyptian but probably Early and Late; not just hieroglyphs, but hieratic and demotic).</p>
<p>So it is a very language-intensive discipline!</p>