Study Abroad

DU offers these programs in cooperation with the School for International Training. Founded in 1964, SIT was established with field-based learning as the cornerstone of the curriculum. Although SIT has some 50 programs around the world, DU has chosen a select number that complement specific areas of study while offering unusual locations. Each program provides structured course work along with field study and an independent study component.

Location: Jordan is located east of Israel. It remains one of the safest and most secure locations from which to study regional issues. This Arabic-speaking country has a lot to offer students interested in the Middle East and the social change of the region. With its strategic location and its reputation as a moderate Arab state, Jordan has historically served as a conduit of trade and communication amongst the other Arab states and the world.
Areas of Study: Students take the following required coursework: Intensive Arabic Language, and Field Study Seminar. In addition, the program offers a theme-based seminar on Modernization and Social Change, which touches on the areas of History, Politics, Culture, Religion and Society. Finally, students complete an independent study based on their interests and the resources of the area.
Activities: Due to the field studies nature of the SIT structure, students interact with the locals on many levels. Excursions to other parts of the region are also included in the program. Check the program details for more information about the various excursions.
Accommodations: Students are housed in a homestay for nine weeks while in Amman. During the independent study, students may also be placed in small hotels or hostels.
Academic Calendar: Fall semester: August–December
Spring semester: January–May
Eligibility: 3.0 GPA. This is a competitive program. Only fifteen DU students can participate in all of the approved SIT sites during the academic year.
Language of Instruction: English
Web sites: -Jordan: Modernization and Social Change; -Jordan: Appropriate Technology and Sustainable Development
Additional information: Flyer

CIEE: University of Jordan

The University of Denver offers this program in cooperation with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). The CIEE Center is located on the University of Jordan campus. The University of Jordan was founded in 1962 and is the first public four-year institution of higher education in Jordan. The University has 13 academic faculties and a diverse student body of nearly 35,000 including 1,800 international students. The program is also operated in conjunction with America-Mideast Educational and Training Services (AMIDEAST). This is a non-profit organization that strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa.

Location: Jordan is located in the Middle East, bordered by Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. It is a nation at the crossroads of ancient traditions and modern development. Controlled by many empires over its 11,000-year history, this predominantly Muslim nation only gained independence in the twentieth century. With its strategic location and its reputation as a moderate Arab state, Jordan serves as a conduit of trade and communication in the region and beyond.
Areas of Study: Fields of study in include anthropology, culture, economics, history, literature, political science, and religion. All students are required to take two Arabic courses. The program format involves language study and usually two or three additional courses taught in English.
Activities: The program includes field trips to points of interest within Jordan to explore its ancient heritage and contemporary culture. Students are also encouraged to take part in campus activities and are able to volunteer in the community if desired.
Accommodations: You have three options for housing on this program. You can live with a host family, in a residence hall or in an apartment with other CIEE participants. Housing for males may be limited to residence halls and apartments. Meals are included for the homestays but not for the other options.
Academic Calendar: Fall semester: August–December
Spring semester: February – June
Eligibility: 2.75 GPA (Cherrington: 3.0)
Language of Instruction: English.
Web site: http://ciee.org/program_search/program_detail.aspx
Additional information: Flyer

At a Glance

Cherrington Scholars Eligible

During its heydey, the ancient city of Petra was home to as many as 30,000 people. Set in a deep canyon and carved entirely of rock, the city was the site for an exciting scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Sunbathers love the Dead Sea because it is the one place on Earth where harmful ultraviolet rays are filtered by an extra atmospheric layer.
In the third century B.C., Amman, the capital of Jordan, was named Philadelphia after the Ptolemaic ruler Philadelphus.
The city of Jerash is known as the “Asian Pompeii” because of its carefully excavated and preserved ruins.
Jordan consists mostly of arid desert plateau in the east, with Highland area in the west. The Great Rift Valley of the Jordan River separates Jordan and Israel. The highest point in the country is Jabal Ram, while the lowest is the Dead Sea.
Along with 14 other countries, Jordan is considered to be the "cradle of humanity".