growing demand for higher education among world-wide youth motivated
universities from the United States, Great Britain, and other countries
to establish branches throughout Israel. Additionally, many foreign
universities coordinate programs for their own students at Israeli
universities to supplement the approximately 30 overseas campuses
operating with the consent of the CHE. The following American campuses
and programs exemplify this developing trend:
Boston University's
International Graduate Center provides a forum at
the school's campus at the Ben-Gurion University for Americans to earn
an American graduate degree in business. Here, students enroll in the
Master of Science in Management program run jointly by both schools and
taught in English. The curriculum, initiated in 1985 as the first of its
kind between an American university and an Israeli institution, consists
of twelve courses emphasizing
international management.
A similar program is currently run between the University of
California-Poly San Luis Obispo and The Ruppin Institute in Emek-Hefer.
The Leon Recanati Graduate School of Business at Tel Aviv University runs
its International Executive MBA Program in conjunction with Northwestern
University's Kellogg School of Management.
At Touro College Israel, coursework in subjects such as history,
literature, and economics are offered to students of Touro College's New
York campuses, matriculating students from other accredited American
universities, and persons with Bachelor's Degrees interested in taking
specific courses. Located in Jerusalem, the College offers studies in the
fall, spring, and summer.
Hebrew Union College's (HUC)
Jerusalem campus specializes in programming
for rabbinic, cantorial, and educational studies. Students at HUC's
School of Jewish Studies are provided with intensive Hebrew training
designed to increase involvement in Israeli culture and society. At the
Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology, postgraduate students
research ancient Israeli history at excavation sites throughout the
country.
Based in New York City, the The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) houses the College of Jewish Studies, the Graduate School, Rabbinical School, the Graduate School of Jewish Education, Cantorial School and College of Jewish Music. At its Israeli Campus, JTS' Institute for Jewish Research is dedicated to the exploration of Hebrew liturgical poetry. The Seminary of Judaic Studies, also in Jerusalem, offers Rabbinic and Education programs, which provide both Israeli and overseas students the opportunity to pursue M.A. degrees in such areas as Jewish Studies and Israel Studies.
Programs for Overseas Students
Because the land of Israel doubles as a classroom, international
students come together at many universities in programs that have been
specially designed to survey Israel's unique culture and remarkable
history. Semester and year programs cater to thousands of
English-speaking undergraduates at nearly all of Israel's universities
while graduate students pursue both master's and doctoral degrees in
fields of history, religion, politics, and the sciences. In all, between
1500 and 2000 Americans study in Israeli universities annually:
- Hebrew
University's Freshmen Year Program entices both students who
wish to prepare for admission to
the University as degree candidates and those intending to continue
their studies elsewhere upon their return from Israel. The curriculum
is academically accredited at most American universities.
- The Tel Aviv University's Sackler School of Medicine operates with
the New York State/American Program to provide accredited American
medical training and clinical experience to students. Modeled after U.S.
medical school curricula, all classes are conducted in English and often
utilize Israeli hospitals and clinics.
- The Ben Gurion University's Summer Institutes in Desert Studies
offer classes in English in diverse areas such as ecology, Bedouin
studies, and archaeology. These programs are often supplemented by tours
throughout Israel and Jordan.
- Bar-Ilan University conducts a 14-month International MBA program in
English at its S. Daniel Abraham Center for Economics and Business.
- Haifa
University's Honors Program in Psychology allows students to
focus on individualized research work in psychology while enrolled in
One Year Program courses supplemented by a special Psychology seminar.
For more detailed information about studying
in Israel, see map with host university
websites.
University of California
The University of California has worked hand in hand with
several Israeli universities to expose American
students to Israel. Dr. John Marcum is the Director of the UC Education
Abroad Program (EAP).
To what extent do you attribute the success of the EAP in Israel?
The EAP in Israel began in 1968/69. Since its inception, nearly 1300
students have studied there. EAP maintains its own Study Center in
Jerusalem with a UC
faculty member on hand, and guarantees students University of California
academic credit for coursework abroad.
How are Israeli Universities involved in the EAP?
The EAP currently has institutional relationships with three
universities in Israel. At The Hebrew University students can enroll in
excellent English language courses in Judaic studies, history, and
politics of the Middle East taught by outstanding scholars or
practitioners or, if linguistically proficient in Hebrew, pursue studies
in their major in a wide range of disciplines. At Ben-Gurion University
students can participate in a program that focuses on Science, Health
and the Environment or Ethnic Studies. At Haifa University,
students can register for an eight-week ulpan.
What attracts University of California students to study in
Israel?
Students cite many
reasons for wanting to study in Israel. Prominent is to gain a firsthand
understanding of the socio-economic, historic, political, and religious
issues facing the Middle East. Some wish to explore their religious
roots. Israel provides a fascinating living laboratory in which to study
Arab-Israeli relations and the peace process.
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