Information for term Middle East Studies
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenHome to more than 100,000 archaeological, religious, and tourist sights, Jordan is your key to Middle Eastern history, culture, politics, food, and language study. Whether you immerse yourself in university life at CIEE Amman or by directly enrolling in one course at CIEE’s partner school, Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), studying abroad in Jordan will give you insight into the politics and society of the Middle East.
Coursework is available across various academic areas in English and Arabic classes to match your skill level. If you’ve never studied Arabic before, enroll in English courses while learning basic Arabic greetings. If you have a fundamental understanding of Arabic, make your experience immersive by building on your language skills and learning Colloquial Jordanian. All your courses are complemented with CIEE co-curricular activities and excursions beyond Amman to enhance classroom learning and provide intercultural understanding and community engagement.
During your time abroad, you will have the rare opportunity to meet individuals key to the social fabric of Jordanian society, including diplomats, government officials, members of the growing private sector, Jordanian students, and families. You may also choose to gain work experience by enrolling in an internship in a governmental, semi-governmental, local, or international NGO.
Follow our Travels:
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ELECT TO DO AN INTERNSHIP
at a local or international NGO or business
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VISIT IMPORTANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL
and natural sites in Jordan, such as Petra, Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea, Jerash, and several historical and biblical sites
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INTERACT WITH LOCAL UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
and improve your Arabic through a peer language assistant program and cultural activities
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spectator capacity at the Roman Theater
6,000 -
hills form the main cityscape
7 -
visitors per year
2M+
Location & Culture
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Your Destination
Amman boasts ancient history and diverse, vibrant modernity. It is an accessible, cosmopolitan city with numerous museums, art galleries, and theaters, not to mention a delicious variety of Arabic food, like hummus! With its reputation for security and hospitality, Amman is home to inhabitants from all over the Middle East. The city provides a safe and stable environment for students to learn about the region.
During your time in Amman, you will have every opportunity to immerse yourself in Jordanian culture. Special guest lectures by government officials, activists, and local experts will enrich your academic program. You are encouraged to use your Arabic language skills in everyday settings and out-of-classroom activities. This practice fosters Arabic language proficiency and a better understanding of Jordanian society. CIEE also coordinates a series of local site visits and cultural activities. Our staff will help keep you updated on local cultural events, such as conferences, films, and concerts.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Amman.
The Culture
EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES
Students enjoy a number of excursions to Jordan’s archaeological, historical, and natural wonders. These visits may include exploring biblical Jordan, camping in the middle of the desert during an excursion to Wadi Rum (known as the Valley of the Moon), visiting one of the New Wonders of the World, Petra (known as the Rose City), or hiking in a Middle Eastern forest. You’ll also have an opportunity to participate in an organized community service project in Amman.
INTERNSHIP
CIEE partners with more than 20 institutions and organizations where students may participate in for-credit internships.  
In the past, students have interned at Eco-Peace, Leaders of Tomorrow, Generations for Peace, Center for Strategic Studies, American Friends Service Committee, Global Nomads Group, and USAID. The experience of an internship, combined with your studies in Jordan, will offer you a unique insight into the Jordanian social structure and work environment.
VOLUNTEERING
Give back to your host community while learning about Jordanian culture and people by volunteering. You could help to renovate and paint an elementary school in a nearby rural area, hand-in-hand with the community for one day. Or help Jordanians with their English language skills. Students have also found opportunities to engage with Amman-based organizations that work with underserved communities. You may also volunteer in a community kitchen or an orphanage.
Volunteering can also serve as a not-for-credit internship. 
INTERACT
Through the Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), CIEE students have the option to enroll in a PSUT course and engage with PSUT students by participating in cultural clubs, sports teams, and general activities organized by the student council. You may enroll in one course at PSUT, keeping in mind that you will have to stay in Jordan for at least one month after the end of the CIEE program since their semester starts after ours.
Program Blogs
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Daily Life
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HOUSING
Study abroad students have the option of living with a Jordanian host family or in an apartment with other CIEE program participants. All housing options are between a 20 and 40-minute commute to CIEE Amman.
Homestays: Placements are made on the basis of compatibility between families and students, and in some cases a suitable homestay may not be available for every interested student. All CIEE housing options in Jordan require students to make adjustments to the host culture, including curfews, limits on guests, and etiquette.
Student Apartments: These apartments are shared with other CIEE students and have two or three bedrooms per apartment. Each student will have their own bedroom with a shared common space/living room, kitchen, and bathroom. The apartments are equipped with basic home appliances including a stove, fridge, microwave, and washing machine. CIEE apartments have limits on visitors and quiet hours for safety purposes and deference to local norms. -
MEALS
For students planning to stay for the academic year, meals between the fall and spring semesters are not included in the program fee unless they continue to reside with their homestay family.
Homestays: Students in homestays generally eat breakfast and dinner with their families, and most meals on the weekends. Students are responsible for their lunches.
Student Apartments: Students selecting the apartment option need to budget for all meals, as they are not included in the program fee.
Amman, Jordan Where You'll Study
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A
CIEE AMMAN
Based in a traditional neighborhood, this location allows students plenty of opportunities to interact with local residents and navigate to key institutions and sites with ease.
Academics
Click to OpenAcademics
CIEE’s Middle East Studies program offers study abroad students a series of specially designed area studies courses in international relations, history, environment, literature, politics, regional diplomacy, economics and religion. All courses provide an overview of issues relevant to Jordan and the broader Middle East region. One of these courses can be an internship at a local government agency, international organization, national organization, or business. Although there is no language prerequisite, all students are required to take both Modern Standard Arabic and Colloquial Jordanian Arabic while in Amman following an onsite placement exam.
Students also have the option to take one course from Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT).
Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) was founded in 1991 and is the only private and nonprofit university in Jordan. It is owned by the Royal Scientific Society (RSS), the foremost applied research center in Jordan. Students in the Middle East Studies program may choose to enroll in one PSUT class.
CIEE Amman is located in a traditional neighborhood, which allows students plenty of opportunities to interact with local residents and get to know key institutions and sites with ease.
Please note: If you opt to register for a course at PSUT, the end of the term will be at least one month after the CIEE program ends. Please check with your enrollment advisor for the exact date and arrangements.
GPA
2.5
Language Prerequisites
There are no specific language requirements for this program.
Additional Requirements
Demonstrated interest in the Middle East and Arabic language through coursework and statement of purpose.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Program Requirements
- Modern Standard Arabic at the appropriate level
- Colloquial Jordanian Arabic at the appropriate level
- Two or three elective courses.  This may include one course from PSUT.
Program Credit
Total credit: 15-18 U.S. semester/22.5-27 quarter credits
Course Credit
- CIEE courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 45 contact hours
- CIEE Internship: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 seminar hours, 100-120 internship placement hours
- CIEE Directed Independent Research: 3 semester/4.5 quarter credits; 15 contact hours, 100-120 research hours
- Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT) courses: 3 U.S. semester/4.5 quarter credits; 48 contact hours 
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Academic Culture
This program is academically rigorous and offers focused students an opportunity to make great strides in their language and overall knowledge of the region. Students attend Arabic language courses five days per week. Area studies courses are held in the afternoons or evenings once a week. Class attendance is required, and unexcused absences count against students’ final grades. Jordanian classrooms and classes tend to be lecture style; however, many are conducted seminar style, allowing for dialogue and discussions. Many of the professors who teach CIEE courses have received degrees in either the United States or the United Kingdom or have participated in fellowships abroad and thus are familiar with American classrooms.
Class Format
Participants study only with other CIEE students from the Middle East Studies program at CIEE Amman. The extracurricular activities, lectures, and workshops with experts on a range of contemporary issues allow CIEE students to gain official insight into Jordan’s most pressing domestic and international concerns. Participants who choose to take a course through PSUT will study with Jordanian and other international students on the PSUT campus.
Grading
Grades (A-F, with pluses and minuses, based on a 100-point scale) are assigned based on mid-term and final exams or paper and, depending on the course, additional assignments, such as a research paper, assignments/homework, or class presentation. Attendance and class participation are incorporated into the final grade for the program courses. Class attendance is mandatory for all CIEE classes.
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Language of Instruction
English and Arabic
Individual courses may have additional prerequisites; for CIEE courses, these are listed in the syllabi below. Students are responsible for having their own course approval conversations with their advisors.
Courses
Click to OpenCourse Information
Course Notes
Please note: If you opt to register for a course at PSUT, the end of the term will be approximately one month after the CIEE program ends. Please check with your enrollment advisor for the exact date and arrangements. 
Spring 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenAcademic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Languages and Cultural Studies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Social Sciences
Fall 2023 CIEE Courses
Click to OpenAcademic Projects
Communication, Journalism, and Media
Languages and Cultural Studies
Natural Resources, Conservation, and the Environment
Social Sciences
Host Institution Courses
Click to OpenPRINCESS SUMAYA UNIVERSITY FOR TECHNOLOGY (PSUT)
CIEE students are eligible to take a course of their choice at PSUT. The courses listed below are a sample of courses offered. A more complete list of courses may be found on the PSUT website
Courses may include:
Accounting for Financial Institutions (Banks and Insurance Companies)
Auditing Under International Standards on Auditing I and II
Communication Skills and Technologies
Consumer Behavior
Financial Management
Government Accounting
International Accounting
Introduction to Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation
Introduction to Electronic Business
Introduction to Social Media
Management Information Systems
Math for Business
Microeconomics
Organizational Behavior
Principles of Marketing
Purchasing and Inventory Management
Statistical Methods
Tax Accounting
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships
Click to OpenScholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application. Learn more at the Scholarships & Grants section of our website.
See more scholarship infoDates & Fees
Click to OpenDates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 2023 16 weeks | Deadline Passed | Jan 29, 2023 | May 19, 2023 |
$18,950
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Program FeesCIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $16,183 ** Housing = $2,300 Insurance = $167 Total Fees = $18,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $1,800 † International Airfare = $1,200 †† Local Transportation = $1,200 Books & Supplies = $150 Visa Fees = $60 Personal expenses = $1,000 ††† Total Estimated Costs = $5,410Financial AidCIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students † for students in apartments; homestay students should budget $1100 for meals †† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† If you are planning an independent study then budget more for that depending on your plans |
| Fall 2023 16 weeks | May 1, 2023 | Aug 27, 2023 | Dec 15, 2023 |
$18,950
Click to Close
Program FeesCIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel insurance with benefits. Participation Confirmation = $300 * Educational Costs = $16,153 ** Housing = $2,300 Insurance = $197 Total Fees = $18,950Estimated CostsStudents are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration. Meals not included in program fee = $2,000 † International Airfare = $1,200 †† Local Transportation = $1,200 Books & Supplies = $150 Visa Fees = $60 Personal expenses = $1,000 ††† Other = $30 †††† Total Estimated Costs = $5,640Financial AidCIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional and MSI grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants. This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time. Students required by their US home institution to study abroad via CIEE's School of Record will be charged a $500 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed. * non-refundable ** direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students † for students in apartments; homestay students should budget $1200 for meals †† round-trip based on U.S. East Coast departure ††† If you are planning an independent study then budget more for that depending on your plans †††† Covid test fees for entry to the US |
| Spring 2024 16 weeks | Nov 1, 2023 | Jan 21, 2024 | May 10, 2024 | |
| Academic year 2023-2024 37 weeks | May 1, 2023 | Aug 27, 2023 | May 10, 2024 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Looking for funding?
What's Included
Click to OpenWhat's Included
Our Staff
Click to OpenOur Staff
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Zein Nsheiwat
Director
Zein Nsheiwat has been working in the field of study abroad and cross-cultural education since 2007 and completed a MBA in 2022 at TAGUCI in Amman, Jordan.
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Jumana Tagqah
Administration & Finance Director
Jumana has been working with CIEE since 2010. She has a degree in Business Administration and Political Science from the University of Jordan.
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Samir Issa
Housing and Logistics Coordinator
Samir manages all aspects of the housing program, and recruits Arabic-speaking host families for CIEE students in Jordan.
Get Started
Here's what you need to do to take the next steps:-
1
START AN APPLICATION
Apply Now
You're one step closer to an amazing study abroad experience -
2
CONNECT WITH YOUR CAMPUS STUDY ABROAD OFFICE
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad. -
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program
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