Middle East Studies Program

VISION

**Update: The Middle East Studies Program is scheduled to run its last semester Spring 2024**

The Middle East Studies Program seeks to prepare students to live the Christian life in a world that is religiously and culturally pluralistic, whether that's in the Middle East, North America, or other parts of the world. Based in Amman, Jordan, the Middle East Studies Program (MESP) offers students a unique opportunity to explore and interact with the complex and strategically important world of the modern Middle East.

The interdisciplinary seminars give students the opportunity to explore the diverse religious, social, cultural, and political traditions of Middle Eastern peoples. Through travel (typically Egypt, Morocco, and Turkey), students are exposed to the diversity and dynamism of the region. At a time of tension and change in the Middle East, MESP encourages and equips students to relate to the Muslim, Eastern and Jewish worlds in an informed, constructive, and Christ-centered manner.

QUALIFICATIONS

MESP is interdisciplinary and encourages students of various majors to apply. To be eligible you must:

• Have at least Sophomore standing at time of application
• Maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75
• Possess a strong commitment to academics and Christianity

CREDITS

A total of 15-18 credit hours are possible. Courses include:

• Introduction to Arabic Language (4–6)
• Islamic Thought and Practice (4)
• Conflict and Change in the Middle East (4)
• Peoples and Cultures of the Middle East (4)

Gordon credit is given for Middle East Studies Program courses. To find course codes and course descriptions search Gordon's undergraduate catalog  for "MES" (catalog.gordon.edu).

COSTS

Program costs include:

• Tuition (16 hours of credit) & Fees
• Room
• Board
• All necessary expenses during program-related travel

Additional expenses include:

• Passport (required)
• Flights
• Visa (purchased upon arrival in Jordan airport)
• Books
• Local transportation not related to class
• Personal medical expenses, if incurred
• Personal discretionary expenses 

The Global Education Office will work with Student Financial Services to reassess each applicant's institutional aid for their off-campus semester. Institutional aid includes Gordon-awarded merit scholarships and grants, honors program awards, and major-or department-specific awards. Federal and private aid will not be affected. Factors in the reassessment process include financial need, GEO program flexibility within your major/minor, and program cost. SFS will provide a breakdown of costs to each student after approval has been issued by the GEO. 

APPLICATION PROCEDURE & DEADLINES

All Gordon students applying to a CCCU GlobalEd program must first submit an online seat application to the Global Education Office before applying directly to your program. Seat applications for Fall and Spring semester must be submitted to the GEO by March 1.

After the Global Education Office has notified you of your approval, you may then proceed with the CCCU GlobalEd application. CCCU GlobalEd has a rolling admission policy. See CCU Global Ed's Middle East Studies Program website for more information on application and deadlines. 

APPLY