NEW for Summer 08!

An Applied Workshop on Civil Society, Politics, and Conflict Resolution
Israel and Palestine
Program Dates: June 1 – July 30, 2008
Program Director: Yehuda Lukacs
Seminar and Internship: 6 credits

Have a unique and life changing experience in Israel and Palestine. In this new summer program, you will apply your skills and passions in hands-on activities that will acquaint you with the intricacies of life in Israel and Palestine.

The intensive nine-week program, offered in collaboration with George Mason University, will begin with a week-long seminar in Jerusalem where leading Israeli and Palestinian experts, representatives from various Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and think tanks, peace activists, businesses and government officials will address the group and share their perspectives on the dynamics of Israeli-Palestinian relations.

For the remaining eight weeks, students will work for five days per week, eight hours a day in an organization in either Israel or Ramallah, the West Bank. Each internship position will be related to conflict resolution, politics, and society in Israel and Palestine. The program will conclude with a group field trip to Jordan, including the Dead Sea, Amman, and Petra.

Prof. Yehuda Lukacs is Associate Provost for Global Education and Director of the Center for Global Education at George Mason University. He also teaches international relations and history. He has taught at SIS and the University of Maryland at Baltimore County and was a visiting professor of international relations at University College Cork, Ireland. Prof. Lukacs has published several articles and books dealing with contemporary international relations and Arab-Israeli affairs. He has been leading groups of students to the Middle East since 1990 and has been the director of this particular program for the past three years.

Find out more about Israel and Palestine and apply to the program by downloading the program guide [293kb PDF]

UPDATE, January 24: Change in program fee. Please note that to reflect rising costs and the declining value of the US dollar, the program fee has been raised slightly. Please download the program guide for further details.

Opportunities for Funding
Students who plan to spend at least six weeks on this program (through at least one course plus internship) may be eligible for outside funding through the Christianson Grant. The application for the grant is due March 15, 2008.