Bates College
Off-Campus Study Program


Shabbat Afternoon in Tel Aviv (photo by Carine Warsawski '07)

This list of programs and universities is provided to assist students in the identification of junior semester and year abroad opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa. A great deal of variation exists in the locations, durations, housing options, and educational formats.  Other programs exist in some of the countries on this list, but have been excluded because their duration, academic program, or sponsoring organization does not conform to the principles established by the Off-Campus Study Committee.  (Students may petition the Committee to participate on an unapproved program if they believe it provides a compelling academic advantage compared to the listed programs.)  You may access the program and university web sites by clicking on the Sponsor/University name.

The "number of participants" entry in the Comments column is per semester. Numbers often fluctuate from semester to semester, and we provide them to give a general sense of program size.

Hard copies of the brochures and past evaluations for most programs are available in the Off-Campus Study Office Library.

Approval of participation, including completion of a Bates application, is required to receive credit for study on any of these programs or universities.  Please see Dean Sawyer or Mr. Das, in the Off-Campus Study Office in Lane Hall, for further information and discussion.

Location  Duration  Sponsor/Univ'ty Lang. Req. Housing Options  Comments  Faculty and Returning Juniors & Seniors;  Prior = past Bates participants

Egypt
Cairo
Semester or year American Univ. in Cairo None  Dorms

Full curriculum in English, Arabic & Middle East studies, new campus outside of city. Total enrollment: 5,000; Number of participants: 125

 Prof Hughes
Prior

Israel - Programs include an "ulpan," an intensive language program, followed by a semester or year of study at an "overseas students" program based at one of the universities listed below. At the university, students continue Hebrew in one course with the other courses in English
Beer Sheva Semester or year Ben Gurion Univ None Dorm w/Israelis Desert location, internships, direct application, smaller program and city. 1 1/2 hours via train to Tel Aviv, Jerusalem. Total enr.: 15,000; Number of participants: 50 Prior
Haifa  Semester or year Haifa University None Dorm w/ Israelis Smaller program in north, ulpan or kibbutz exp. required, diverse student body; Arabic lang. available. Total enr: 13,000; Alison Blanksteen
Jerusalem Semester or year  Hebrew University. None Dorm w/Israelis Historic, multicultural city; well regarded university, extensive program; pre-med, psych, env. studies. Total enr.: 40,000; Number of participants: 300 Brandon Cooper
Shawn Sendar
Tel Aviv Semester or year Tel Aviv Univ. None Dorm w/Americans International coastal city, large program with many Americans. Limited housing. Total enr: 26,000; Number of participants: 200 Prior


Jordan

Amman Semester SIT Study Abroad None Family & group Modernization and Social Change; intensive Arabic; ind. study project. Number of participants: 25  
Amman Semester CIEE None Family, apts. Arabic and Middle East Studies at Univ. of Jordan; Arabic. Lower cost. Number of participants: 80 Prior

Morocco

Rabat
Semester SIT Study Abroad None  Family & group Multiculturalism and Human Rights; indep. study project; knowledge of French useful. Attractive setting in a diverse country. Number of participants: 25 Caroline Gottlieb
Sara Sinicropi-Yao
Alice Thompson
Rabat
Semester SIT Study Abroad None  Family & group Migration & Transnational Identities; indep. study project; knowledge of French useful. Attractive setting in a diverse country. Number of participants: 25 Caroline Gottlieb
Sara Sinicropi-Yao
Alice Thompson


Oman
Muscat Semester  SIT Study Abroad None Family & group Diplomacy, Development and Identity in the Middle East; travel to Qatar and UAE. English widely spoken. Ind. Study project. Intensive Arabic.Number of participants: 20 Prior
Muscat Semester SIT Study Abroad None Family & group Economic develpment and energy in the Persian Gulf. Ind. study project or internship.  


Turkey

Istanbul Spring CIEE None Dorm Turkish area studies at Koç University (English language univ.) in suburbs; Turkish lang. req.; classes with Turkish students. Easy access to vibrant international city of 15 million. Number of participants: 5-10  

Link to other programs:

©2008Bates College. All Rights Reserved.  Last modified: 09/24/09 by David H. Das