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 Am. 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
Caryn Benisch
Abigail Childs
L. Graham Jones

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
Beersheba Semester or year Ben Gurion Univ None Apts w/ students Desert location, internships, direct application, smaller program. 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 Small prg. in north, ulpan or kibbutz required, direct application or via BU, Rutgers. Total enr: 13,000; Prior
Jerusalem Semester or year  Hebrew University. None Dorm Historic, multicultural city; well regarded university, extensive program with pre-med option. Total enr.: 40,000; Number of participants: 300 Naomi Dimon
Tel Aviv Semester or year Tel Aviv Univ. None Dorm International city, large program with many Americans, direct application. Total enr: 26,000; Number of participants: 200 Samuel Geller


Jordan

Amman Semester School For International Training None Family & group Modernization and Social Change; intensive Arabic; ind. study project.  
Amman Semester CIEE None Family, apts. Arabic and Middle East Studies at Univ. of Jordan; Arabic. Lower cost. Number of participants: 30 Prior

Morocco

Rabat
Semester School For International Training None  Family & group Two program options: Culture and Development, an intro to Arab & Islamic world or Migration Studies (more focused program); indep. study project; knowledge of French useful. Attractive setting in a diverse country. Number of participants: 25 Prior


Oman
Muscat Semester  School For International Training 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: 15 Doug Badrigian


Turkey

Ankara Semester CIEE None Dorm; family; apts. Turkish and Turkish studies at two Ankara universities; some classes with Turkish students. Remote capital city. Number of participants: 5-10 Prior


Multi-Country
Multi-Country
Semester International Honors Program None Family & group  Cities in the 21st Century: People, Planning and Politics. Less cultural connection due to frequent travel. Number of participants: 25-30 Sabrina Meiss

Link to other programs:

©2008Bates College. All Rights Reserved.  Last modified: 11/11/08 by David H. Das