Israel Seminar Details

ACADEMICS

June 9 through June 30: Participants will take an intensive three-week international seminar through JUC on the geography, history, and archeology of Israel, BCM291: Geographical and Historical Settings of the Bible. 

July 1 through 17: Participants who wish to will participate in the additional two-week course BCM291A: Historical Geography of Jordan that focuses on the land of Jordan as well as BCM291: Israel International Seminar in Geographical and Historical Settings of the Bible above.

ACADEMICS REQUIREMENTS

• Assignments based on materials furnished by JUC will be completed prior to arrival in Israel. This work provides the necessary biblical background and regional introduction to study in Israel. Students will spend 15–20 hours on this work.
• The Pre-Israel Assignments will be supplemented by two preparatory sessions on Gordon's campus at times to be scheduled during the final two weeks of the spring semester. These are separate sessions from the scheduled lectures.
• The content of lectures and field study in Israel will serve as the basis for five brief examinations and student journaling.

See a tentative Course Syllabus and Israel Student Manual available under Downloads.

APPLICATION

Gordon applicants must:

• Have one year of study in Old and New Testament at the college level
• A 2.0 or higher overall GPA
• Complete online application (Click here).
• Submit a $30 application fee and $250 program deposit fee.
• Attend required class sessions in preparation for the experience

COURSE REGISTRATION
Registration for international seminars is handled by the GEO.  After accepted students have paid their deposit to the GEO, the GEO will send a list of the seminar participants to the Registrar’s office.
 

CREDITS
You will earn 4 credits for the course BCM291: Israel International Seminar. Students participating in BCM291A Historical Geography of Jordan earn 2 additional credits.

GLOBAL UNDERSTANDING CORE CREDIT
Students wishing to fulfill Global Understanding core through participation in the China Seminar must:

• Participate in COR210/211 New Perspectives in Global Understanding 1 and 2 (0-credit,) Lab fees apply as of Fall 2013.
• Register for COR210/211 on the online international seminar application. 

Pre-Departure: COR210 New Perspectives in Global Understanding 1 is a one-day Saturday seminar class. For students going studying internationally questions regarding the interpretation of cultural difference, ethnocentrism, and culture’s shaping of behaviour and values are not “academic” questions. They will soon be lived reality. This course equips students to reflect purposefully upon the theory and praxis of what it means to be citizen-sojourners.

Re-Entry: COR211 New Perspectives in Global Understanding 2 is a one-day Saturday seminar class when seminar students return to campus in September. Nobody knows better than a returning student how inadequate the question “How was your international experience” is. This course equips students to ask the deeper questions of their global experience and reintegration, and take up the challenge of being a citizen-sojourner.

SECURITY

JUC has been operating for over 50 years and knows when to avoid certain areas and circumstances. Your time is highly structured to provide protection at all times. Travel about the country is on busses operated by a private tour company. You will never use public transportation. However, travel to Israel always poses some enhanced danger. In case of emergency, officials for both Gordon College and JUC will have operational contingency plans for evacuation of students.

COST

The total cost is $4,661 for the Israel Seminar and $7,101 with the Jordan Extension. This includes:

• Tuition
• Airfare (roundtrip from Boston to Israel)
• Ground transportation (within Israel)
• Meals
• Accommodations
• Transport and site fees

SCHOLARSHIPS

Eleven scholarships of $500 each will be available for qualified students who participate in the BCM 291 International Seminar to Israel (9-30 June 2012). These awards are competitive and will be based on assessment of four factors:

1. Financial need
2. Cumulative GPA
3. A faculty recommendation,
4. A personal statement (no more than 250 words) as to the perceived contribution of this program toward your own calling.

Students who wish to apply for the scholarship must first complete the program application process. Scholarship applications will be avaiable from the Global Education Office after October 1. Please arrange for the faculty recommendation to be sent to the GEO, and submit the personal statement as an attachment to geo@gordon.edu.

All portions of the application are due in the GEO by Wednesday, 30 November 2011. Recipients will be notified as soon as possible thereafter.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Students are housed in a small and gracious hotel just inside the Old City. While on field trips, accommodations are in small two-star hotels or kibbutzim. Travel about the country is on air-conditioned buses.

SUMMARY OF DATES AND DEADLINES