Study Abroad in Jordan —

Program Details

Program Eligibility

About Study Abroad in Jordan

The Study Abroad in Jordan program is based at The University of Jordan (UJ) in Amman, a large institution of over 35,000 students. The campus offers many resources, including access to the library, green spaces, and a running track. You’ll also receive a UJ student ID card, which will get you reduced fees at many of the city’s historical and archaeological sites.

Conveniently situated, the CET Center is located within the University of Jordan's Office of International Relations building. This is where you will take your classes, meet with staff, use the wifi, or just hang out with peers.

Travel Warning

The US Department of State has issued a travel warning that affects this program. The Learning Abroad Center has obtained approval from the University of Minnesota's International Travel Risk Assessment and Advisory Committee (ITRAAC) for the Study Abroad in Jordan program. Review the approval details.

Housing & Meals

You’ll share an off-campus apartment with local roommates and other US students from the CET program. All University of Minnesota students wishing to earn Arabic course equivalency credit at the UofM (either for an Arabic major/minor or pass the CLA or Global Studies second language requirement) will be placed in housing that adhere to a full-time language pledge. The housing component is immersive, and tied to the curriculum and program as a whole. You’ll live in a family neighborhood with other college students, living like a local and using your language skills to help you navigate your new life. The presence of Jordanian families living in the building require respect of local norms both in and around the housing, much like a homestay. 

Apartments are new, fully furnished, air-conditioned, and only a ten minute walk from campus. However, it is important to remain flexible and set realistic expectations as the standards in Jordan are different than in the US.

Meals are not included, but cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, and the local market are within walking distance.

Sharing an apartment with a Jordanian roommate is frequently cited by students as one of the best parts of the program. Jordanian roommates are selected from local Jordanian universities. All roommates agree to abide by the full-time language pledge if you are enrolled in the Intensive Arabic Language track.

The program facilitates the roommate relationship. Jordanian roommates attend excursions, plan activities, and present a lecture series to their peers. Beyond this, the program steps out of the way to allow roommates to develop natural cross-cultural relationships that move beyond the host-guest paradigm.

Excursions

Each term, different activities that allow you to explore Amman, experience Jordanian culture, or just unwind with your friends.

This program offers a variety of activities that allow you to explore Amman, including cooking classes, museum visits, shopping at the Friday flea market, concerts, and soccer matches.

Excursions include visits to the Ajloun Castle, Umm Qais to view the Sea of Galilee, and a three-day retreat (for semester and year program only) to the Dead Sea, the Nabatean ruins at Petra, and the magnificent Wadi Rum valley.  

Learning Outcomes

• Augment your cross-cultural understanding through interaction with Jordanian students and community members
• Experience Jordan and international perspectives on the world through direct contact with Jordanian nationals and other US students
• Gain 1 full year of Arabic language instruction in an 8-week summer or 15-week semester program (Intensive Arabic Language track only)
• Enhance your intentionality through independent, though supported, living and learning opportunities

Students on the intensive language program sign a language pledge to speak only Arabic, providing the most immersive experience possible. Internship students sign a partial language pledge and also see language improvements throughout their time in Jordan.

Faculty & Staff

The Learning Abroad Center offers the Study Abroad in Jordan program in partnership with CET. CET and University of Jordan's Office of International Relations jointly provide a cultural and academic support upon arrival. CET (both in the US and on-site) offers academic advising and support services. The Learning Abroad Center staff and CET's US staff provide pre-departure and post-return support.

The on-site staff consists of:

An Academic Director who oversees the curriculum, manages the faculty, and monitors courses. Do you have particular learning needs? Do you need advice for keeping up with the class pace? The Academic Director will provide you with the support you need.

Programming staff  who handle excursions, internships, and day-to-day logistics. They are also trained in emergency prevention and management. Have a question about your apartment? Need to see a doctor? Just want some advice on where to go? Programming staff are your best resource.

Arabic language instructors who are seasoned teachers, hand-picked by CET from either the host university or other institutions. Since the program’s curriculum is flexible and unique to CET, all instructors undergo extensive training with the Academic Director before classes begin. The faculty who teach your content-based language courses also typically hold a PhD in their field and have experience teaching foreign students.

Some of your classes also include academic partners. These are teachers-in-training who attend some classes and expose you to different accents and serve as partners for group work.

Program Structure

Students are required to maintain a minimum enrollment of 13 credits per semester or maintain the minimum credit enrollment determined by their study abroad program, whichever is greater. In the case of this program, the minimum enrollment is 15 credits.

Full-time Arabic Language Pledge: All University of Minnesota students wishing to earn Arabic course equivalency credit at the UofM (either for an Arabic major/minor or pass the CLA or Global Studies second language requirement) must adhere to CET's full-time language pledge and will be placed in housing that supports and enforces the language pledge.

Prerequisites

Semester/year

• 3.0 GPA
• sophomores and above

Summer

• 3.0 GPA
• sophomores and above

Program Tracks

Semester/Year

Study Abroad in Jordan (semester/year)

Summer

Study Abroad in Jordan (summer)

Coursework

Course syllabi are available on the CET website.

Semester or Academic-Year Programs

• Enroll in 2 core courses: a 6-credit Modern Standard Arabic course, plus a 3-credit Jordanian dialect course
• Select an additional two to three 3-credit electives in Arabic or English, including an internship opportunity and directed research.
• Electives available in a variety of disciplines.

Summer Program

• For the Intensive Arabic option, enroll in a MSA Arabic course at your level plus a Jordanian dialect course for a total of 9 credits per summer.
• For the Internship option, enroll in a 3-credit internship course alongside your internship placement (8 hours/week), a MSA Arabic course, a Jordanian dialect course, for a total of 9 credits.
• For the Research option, enroll in a 4-credit Modern Standard Arabic course, a 2-credit Jordanian Dialect course, and a 3-credit research component, for a total of 9 credits.

Global Identity

Dates & Deadlines

Note: University of Minnesota students must complete the Learning Abroad Center portion of their application by the above deadlines, even if CET's published deadlines are later.*If the deadline falls on a weekend, submit your materials by the following business day.

Orientation Dates & Locations

Fees for Study Abroad in Jordan

Fall 2019

Academic Year 2019-20

Spring 2020

Summer 2020

Summer 2021 (available March 2021)

Fall 2021 (available March 2021)

Academic Year 2021-22 (available March 2021)

Billing & Payments

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Bridging Loan

Cancellation Policy

Submit

Complete

Upon submitting the LAC's online application, you will receive an automated email message indicating you have opened an application.

At this point, you will be assigned an application checklist to complete the remaining portion of your application. Your application is not considered complete until all items on your application checklist are received.

• Begin an application on CET's online application portal

  • Submit the Study Abroad Office Recommendation Request form at least two weeks before the application deadline
  • For the Faculty Recommendation, submit your request to Professor Katrien VanPee (kvanpee@umn.edu). An individual meeting is required. Allow up to two weeks for her meet with you to complete the form.

This is a Learning Abroad Center (LAC) program offered in partnership with CET. You will complete application materials for both the Learning Abroad Center and CET. Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you on the respective online application portals.

Next Steps

1. When your LAC application is complete, you will receive an email message indicating your application is "under review" by LAC staff. The LAC will complete and submit the CET Study Abroad Office Recommendation Form to notify them that we have nominated* you for the program and allows CET to begin reviewing your application. The LAC does not make program acceptance decisions. 

              *this means that you meet basic eligibility requirements for your program.

2. CET will review your application and notify you of an acceptance decision by email. If accepted, you will be assigned a confirmation (post-acceptance) checklist of new tasks to complete by both the Learning Abroad Center and CET. Log in to both application portals to review the confirmation checklist and submit the required items to confirm your participation in the program.

You may not participate in this program until you have submitted all of your confirmation checklist items to the Learning Abroad Center.

If you decide not to continue with the application process, please be advised of our Cancellation Policy, and notify the Learning Abroad Center by submitting a Cancel Request in the application system, or by email.