Programs by Region

HEBREW UNIVERSITY OF JERUSALEM

A United States Department of State Travel Warning is currently in effect for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. State Department Travel Warnings may be viewed at United States Department of State website. Students are advised to read the Travel Warning carefully and to also read the Country Information Sheet for Israel. The State Department issues Country Information Sheets for every country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country.

Program Provider: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Rothberg International School

Program Site: Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus, located in the northeast part of Jerusalem and fabled for its views of the city.

Duration: Spring or Year. Spring semester runs from mid-January to late June, academic year runs from early August to late June.

Description: With a population of about 750,000 inhabitants, Jerusalem is well known for its abundance of historical sites and tourist attractions. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, but has succeeded in melding its ancient roots with modern innovations; the city not only has an abundance of holy sites and museums, but it is also rich in art galleries, theaters, concert halls, cafes and dance clubs. Founded by luminaries such as Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel's first and leading university. Today, some 24,000 students of all races and religions study on one of the university's four campuses. The Rothberg International School (RIS) welcomes over 1,200 study abroad students each year to pursue challenging coursework while discovering the Israeli people, geography, culture and politics.

Academics: All students attend an intensive three-week Hebrew language course, or Ulpan, prior to the beginning of the semester (those with sufficient knowledge of Hebrew are exempt). Year-long students take the Summer Ulpan in the month of September, then take courses from early October through late June. Spring semester students take the Winter Ulpan, which runs from mid-January to mid-February, then take courses from the latter part of February to late June.

Elective courses at RIS can then be chosen from a wide variety of disciplines including Judaic, Israeli, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, political science, international relations, history, religion, literature, philosophy, archeology, Hebrew, Arabic, and Yiddish. Courses offered at Rothberg are taught in English; students with sufficient knowledge of Hebrew can attend regular university courses together with Israeli students. USC students must also take at least one regular HUJ course which may be taught in English.

Course load and Credit:

NOTE: HUJ units do not necessarily correspond to USC units on a one-to-one basis.

Spring Semester:
Studies begin with the Winter Ulpan, which is worth three USC units. Afterwards, students are required to register for a minimum of 15 HUJ units per semester, six of which must be a Hebrew language course (these six HUJ units are articulated as 4 USC units upon successful completion of the language course). Of the remaining nine units, at least two units must be chosen from the regular HUJ course offerings outside of those provided by RIS.

Alternatively, 3rd and 4th year study abroad students may consider the Spring In Jerusalem Honors Program. Students initially attend the Winter Ulpan and then continue with their studies in the spring semester, in which they must choose a minimum of 15 HUJ units. At least two courses must be selected from a special list of advanced courses offered in English by Hebrew University departments. Students with a sufficient command of the language may choose, as an alternative, departmental courses offered in Hebrew. An Independent Research Project under the supervision of a Hebrew University faculty member or an internship in a private company, public institution or NGO may be taken in lieu of one class. Spring in Jerusalem students are not required to take Hebrew.

Academic Year:
Students who study in Jerusalem for the entire academic will take the Ulpan the summer before the fall semester begins and must take a minimum of 30 HUJ units, at least 4 of which must be outside of the RIS course offerings.

At USC
Students may earn between 16 and 18 USC units for the spring semester (inclusive of the Ulpan) and between 31 and 33 units for the year (inclusive of the Ulpan).

Accommodations: Students are housed in the Scopus Student Village located next to campus. Each student is allocated a single room in a suite containing five bedrooms, a living room, dining area, kitchen, and bathroom. There is no meal plan available.

Activities and Other Program Features: The RIS Office of Student Activities organizes a wide array of extracurricular programs including a Galilee/Golan weekend, a Sea-to-Sea hike, a trip to Eilat, meditation workshops, yoga and belly dancing classes and much more. Students may also join sports clubs on campus. Numerous volunteer opportunities are available; in past years students have worked as nurse's aides in a hospital, 'big brothers' to disadvantaged children, English tutors, and medics in Magen David Adom stations. Internship opportunities are also available in a wide variety of institutions.

Eligibility: Minimum 3.0 GPA and two semesters of college-level Hebrew (or the equivalent).

Estimated Semester Cost:
Tuition...........................$10,850
Additional Expenses*........$9,342
Total.............................$20,192

Cost Updated: 12/12/11
Text Updated: 5/27/11

*Additional expenses include estimated costs for airfare, room and board, books and supplies, health insurance, and personal expenses (which can vary greatly from student to student). USC financial aid, scholarships, and tuition remission may be applied to program costs. Please visit the Office of Overseas Studies for more detailed cost information.