2026 Summer Programs in the Middle East
Jordan
CIEE Jordan Middle East Studies
Spend four weeks in Amman, Jordan in this rigorous summer program designed to help students learn about the history, culture, and politics of Jordan and the Middle East with content courses taught in English. From an archeological survey of Jordan to an exploration of the Palestinian conflict, students gain insights into the history and culture of this complex region. In this undergraduate course, students will critically examine the complex relationship between the United States and the Arab World during the past 150 years, with particular focus on relations during the past decade. (3 credits; MES 380)
Note: this course can apply towards the Middle East/North Africa regional concentration or the International Security and Diplomacy concentration for IR students!
Republic of Türkiye (Turkey)
Istanbul Geographies: Memory, Community, and Urban Change
This seminar provides students with an in-depth engagement with the diverse histories and geographies of Istanbul. The first half of the trip focuses on the politics of the built environment. Through focused case studies, we consider how transformations of the built environment have been used to convey new (and often competing) claims to place. The second half of the trip focuses on several themes that are central to understanding the city: Memory, migration, and Islam. Through engagement with readings, ample exploration of the city – bring walking shoes! – and visits with archives, museums, and speakers, students will finish the trip with a rich understanding of the complex interrelationship between identities and the changing urban landscape. (3 credits, GEO 300)