Location
  • Jordan
    • Amman
Term
Fall, Spring
Subject Areas
Anthropology Christian Programs Conflict Studies Cultural Studies Global Studies History Humanities Jewish Studies Liberal Arts Middle Eastern Studies Peace Studies Political Science Public Policy Religious Studies Service Learning Social Sciences Theology +7

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
Bachelors
Housing
Apartment Host Family
Language
Arabic

Pricing

Starting Price
$16,200 USD
What's Included
Accommodation Activities Classes Meals Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Apr 12, 2019
Apr 23, 2019

About Program

Located in Amman, Jordan, the Middle East Studies Program (MESP) immerses you in the daily life, language, food, culture, religion, and politics of one of the oldest continuously-inhabited cities in the world. With Jordan as your home base, you'll travel throughout Morocco, Egypt, Palestine, and Israel while exploring intersections of faith and culture.

Grounded in Christian liberal arts, MESP engages the religious culture and politics of the Middle East. You'll examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from every perspective. You'll live with a local family during a week-long homestay. You'll sit at the feet of native experts to learn about topics most precious to the region.

Whether you're learning Arabic over a cup of local coffee or sleeping on a sand dune in the Wadi Rum, the heart of MESP is the community you’ll build with your neighbors, host families, and fellow students.

Get ready to experience hospitality beyond borders at MESP.

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • Live in Amman, Jordan, one of the oldest continually inhabited cities in the world
  • Learn about the complexities of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the pursuit of peace
  • Gain a better understanding of the Middle East through courses on Islam, people and cultures of the Middle East, and Arabic language
  • Participate in various service opportunities in the communities around Amman
  • Visit Israel, Palestine, Morocco, Egypt, and various parts of Jordan, all included in the program cost!

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Program Reviews

10 Rating
based on 2 reviews
  • 9-10 rating 100%
  • 7-8 rating 0%
  • 5-6 rating 0%
  • 3-4 rating 0%
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  • Academics 10
  • Support 10
  • Fun 10
  • Housing 9
  • Safety 10
Showing 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Default avatar
Carissa
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

The Best Semester You Could Ever Do

The MESP program is one of the most unique and memorable experiences you may have in your life. As an alum, I can still hardly believe I walked inside the pyramids of Giza, rode a camel through the set of Star Wars (also known as Wadi Rum), and listened to esteemed lecturers from anthropologists and professors, to members of the Knesset and the PLO. Most importantly, these experiences were made special because of the people - fellow students and directors alike - that created one of the most loving and accepting environments I've ever been a part of. The Middle East is a difficult region to understand as it is layered by cultural, religious, and political histories that weave together indiscriminately, quite unlike they do in the West. I couldn't imagine a better way to start unpacking these layers and learning to understand the people, cultures, and religions of the Middle East.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Bring lots of lightweight clothes that you feel comfortable and fashionable in! You'll love walking the streets in your most fashionable.
5 people found this review helpful.
Haley
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program

Great program for all

I loved my semester with MESP. The program staff are incredibly supportive, adventurous, and culturally involved. They both pushed and supported us in adapting to Jordanian culture, and when we were confused navigating differences, their common answer to our question was, "That's a great question for one of your Jordanian friends." While the program is well-fit to a broad disciplinary interest, students of anthropology, politics, and related disciplines were especially well-fit. The housing is in a great location, the country is very safe and hospitable, and the program includes incredible travel opportunities. Classes encouraged us to see ourselves from other perspectives through study of political conflict, Arabic language dialects, and cultural ways of being. The program prepared me well for a hopeful future in Middle East studies.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would approach the program with more personal confidence. Cultural learning is an experience-driven process, and reflection is an essential piece -- but constant self-critique prevents us from engaging openly and honestly.
6 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers