A United States Department of State Travel Warning is currently in effect for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza.  State Department Travel Warnings may be viewed at United States Department of State website. Students are advised to read the Travel Warning carefully and to also read the Country Information Sheet for Israel. The State Department issues Country Information Sheets for every country of the world with information on such matters as the health conditions, crime, unusual currency or entry requirements, any areas of instability, and the location of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate in the subject country.

 
Program Provider: The Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Rothberg International School

Program Site: Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus, located in the northeast part of Jerusalem and fabled for its views of the city.

Duration: Spring or Year. Spring semester runs from mid January to early June, academic year runs from early August to early June.

Description: With a population of about 750,000 inhabitants, Jerusalem is well known for its abundance of historical sites and tourist attractions. It is one of the oldest cities in the world, but has succeeded in melding its ancient roots with modern innovations; the city not only has an abundance of holy sites and museums, but it is also rich in art galleries, theaters, concert halls, cafes and dance clubs.

Founded by luminaries such as Albert Einstein and Sigmund Freud, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel's first and leading university. Today, some 24,000 students of all races and religions study on one of the university's four campuses. The Rothberg International School (RIS) welcomes over 1,200 study abroad students each year to pursue challenging coursework while discovering the Israeli people, geography, culture and politics.

Academics: All students attend an intensive Hebrew language course, or Ulpan, prior to the beginning of the semester (those with sufficient knowledge of Hebrew are exempt). Yearlong students take the Summer Ulpan from around early August to late September. Rothberg's fall semester courses run from early October through early January.  Spring semester students take the Winter Ulpan, which runs from around the beginning to the end of February. Rothberg's spring semester runs from around the latter part of February through early June.

Courses at Rothberg can then be chosen from a wide variety of disciplines including Judaic, Israeli, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, political science, international relations, history, religion, literature, philosophy, archeology, Hebrew, Arabic, and Yiddish. Courses offered at Rothberg are taught in English; students with sufficient knowledge of Hebrew can attend regular university courses together with Israeli students. Study abroad students at Rothberg may take some of the regular Hebrew U. courses that are taught in English. 

Sample Rothberg International School (RIS) courses:
-    Israel and the Israeli: Images through Film
-    Peace Building and Conflict Resolution in a Divided Society
-    Women, Religion, and Politics in the Middle East
-    Jerusalem's Architectural Heritage
-    Belief and Ritual in Early Islam
   
Course load and Credit: Yearlong students take the Summer Ulpan (6 USC units). During the academic year they must take one Hebrew course each semester. Spring students take the Winter Ulpan (4 USC units), and they must take one Hebrew course during the spring semester. Semester courses taught in English are available in a wide range of fields. Yearlong students should note that 14 of the 32 units available for the year will be in Hebrew language coursework, leaving a maximum of 18 (approx. 9 units each semester) available in other subjects. Spring semester students should note that 8 of the 17 units available will be in Hebrew language coursework, leaving a maximum of 9 units available in other subjects. A maximum of 17 USC units are granted for the spring semester and a maximum of 32 USC units are granted for the year.

Accommodations: Students are housed in the Scopus Student Village located next to campus. Each student is allocated a single room in a suite containing five bedrooms, a living room, dining area, kitchen, and bathroom. There is no meal plan available.

Activities and Other Program Features: The RIS Office of Student Activities organizes a wide array of extracurricular programs including a Galilee/Golan weekend, a Sea-to-Sea hike, a trip to Eilat, meditation workshops, yoga and belly dancing classes and much more. Students may also join sports clubs on campus. Numerous volunteer opportunities are available; in past years students have worked as nurse's aides in a hospital, 'big brothers' to disadvantaged children, English tutors, and medics in Magen David Adom stations. Internship opportunities are also available in a wide variety of institutions.

Eligibility: Minimum 3.0 GPA and two semesters of college-level Hebrew (or the equivalent). 

Estimated Semester Cost:
Tuition...........................$11,405
Additional Expenses*........$9,192
Total.............................$20,597

Cost Updated: 3/31/09
Text Updated: 8/19/08


*Additional expenses include estimated costs for airfare, room and board, books and supplies, health insurance, and personal expenses (which can vary greatly from student to student). USC financial aid, scholarships, and tuition remission may be applied to program costs. Please visit the Office of Overseas Studies for more detailed cost information.

Links:

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Rothberg International School
Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles
Israeli Tourist Information
Lonely Planet Israel
Lonely Planet Jerusalem