Programs by Region

AMMAN, JORDAN

Program Provider: CIEE

Program Site: The University of Jordan, founded in 1962, has a diverse student body of nearly 35,000, including 1,800 international students.

Duration: Fall, Spring, or Year. Fall semester runs from late August to mid December. Spring semester runs from late January to late May.

Description: From the ancient stone city of Petra to the teeming center of urban Amman, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a unique destination offering fascinating sights and a prime location at the crossroads of the Middle East. Amman is a city of over two million draped over many hills, with ancient ruins that dominate the downtown skyline. CIEE Jordan provides a challenging academic program combined with in-country cultural experience and intensive Arabic study. Students gain a greater understanding of the Middle East, with specific emphasis on the Jordanian perspective and experience.

CIEE students receive instruction at the CIEE Study Center at the University of Jordan. Students with two or more semesters of Arabic can participate in the Language and Culture (LC) Prorgam, which offers a variety of elective coursework in English related to regional and national issues. The Arabic Language (AL) Program is for students with five or more semesters of Arabic and focuses on language, literature, and communication skills.

Academics: Participants take classes with other CIEE students only, but students are encouraged to take advantage of being on a university campus, where Arabic is the main language spoken, to befriend local students and practice speaking Arabic.

LC students take six units of Modern Standard Arabic and three units of Colloquial Jordanian Arabic. Additionally, LC students must take two 3-unit area studies courses taught in English. Courses include Economic Transformations of the Middle East, Modern History of Jordan and the Middle East, America and the Arabs, International Relations and Diplomacy in the Middle East, Contemporary Arab Women Writers, Islam in the Modern Context, and Environment and Politics of Water. LC students at a high level of Arabic who want more coursework in Arabic may take Media Arabic in place of an area studies course.

AL students must take six units of Modern Standard Arabic, Advanced Topics in Arabic Conversation for four units, and a one-unit course on intercultural communication (this course is only taken in the fall semester for year-long students). Beyond that, AL students must take two 3-unit elective courses taught in Arabic on literature, history, media, or business communication.

CIEE also arranges internships with practical and academic components for which CIEE awards 3 units of academic credit. Students may do the internship course in place of an area studies course. NOTE: USC students are not guaranteed any academic credit for the internship. To have their internship course considered for academic credit, they must follow the USC Guidelines for Internship Credit (available at the Office of Overseas Studies) and submit all required documentation upon return to USC. Depending on what is submitted, they may earn anywhere from 0 to 3 units.

Course load and Credit: Successfully completed coursework yields 15 USC units per semester for the LC Program and 17 USC units for the AL Program. Year-long students can earn 30 units on the LC Program, and 31 on the AL Program.

Accommodations: There are two housing options for LC students: homestay or shared students apartments. The off-campus apartments are shared by CIEE program participants. Students living in apartments are responsible for their own meals. Homestays with Jordanian families, which are required for AL students, provide an excellent opportunity for language practice and immersion into the culture. Homestay students are provided two meals a day during the week and three meals a day on weekends.

Activities and Other Program Features: CIEE begins the program with a four-day orientation. The program includes a two-day trip to Petra and Wadi Rum, a one-day trip to archaeological sites in the north of Jordan and a camping trip in one of Jordan's spectacular nature reserves. There are many volunteer opportunities available in Amman. Students in the past have worked with NGOs and women's rights organizations and have tutored local schoolchildren. CIEE arranges Peer Language Tutors from the Department of Arabic, and students are encouraged to meet with them for up to three hours per week. CIEE organizes a series of Arabic clubs to complement language instruction and which cover conversation, poetry, dance, music, and calligraphy.

Eligibility: A minimum 3.0 GPA and two semesters of college-level Arabic (or the equivalent) are required for the LC Program. AL Program students must have an overall minimum GPA of 3.3 and five semesters of college-level Arabic (or the equivalent).

Estimated Semester Cost:
Tuition...............................$13,448
Additional Expenses*............$7,156
Total..................................$20,604

Cost Updated: 12/12/11
Text Updated: 5/24/11

*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.