Witness the massive humanitarian response to the regional refugee crisis, with a focus on refugee health and protection. Understand the normative strategic aspects and policy frameworks guiding refugee protection and humanitarian action during an excursion to Switzerland.
16
None
Arabic
English
Jan 25 – May 9
Jordan
Switzerland
Amman
Required
Global Health & Well-being
Get a firsthand look at humanitarian action in Jordan and Switzerland. Jordan, a regional hub for the UN and International NGOs, provides a unique opportunity to explore humanitarian response in various sectors, including health, protection, food security, and WASH. In Amman, you’ll learn about refugees’ protection policies, and health and psychosocial interventions to improve the well-being of displaced populations. In Geneva, an international hub for UN agencies and international aid organizations, you will explore the international humanitarian architecture and global coordination mechanism, as well as contrasting integration and identity challenges of asylum seekers in Jordan and Switzerland.
None
Students studying on this SIT semester-length program can choose to simultaneously complete a minor, with no additional coursework or cost. At SIT, a minor is a minimum of 16 credits taken within a content area. This standout credential can help boost your future job or graduate school applications.
SIT's program in Jordan offers the choice to do a minor in global health or refugee studies. You'll develop practical skills in needs assessment, evidence-based interventions, and protection strategies while engaging with UN agencies, international NGOs, and refugee communities in Amman and Geneva. Through field visits to refugee camps and your Independent Study Project or internship, you'll examine humanitarian architecture, healthcare responses, psychosocial interventions, and health policies while improving your Arabic proficiency.
You will visit health centers and community-based organizations providing health and protection services to refugees in local host communities. During these excursions, you will also learn from refugees and host communities about well-being and protection challenges, as well as community-based interventions to provide protection and enhance resilience and social cohesion.
At this UNESCO World Heritage site, you’ll take in the splendors of the ancient city of Petra, a world-famous archeological wonder featured in Indiana Jones “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
Heading further south, you’ll behold the vast desert of Wadi Rum (Valley of the Moon), the shooting location for much of “Lawrence of Arabia” and many other films. You’ll enjoy an afternoon of desert trekking around the vast and awe-inspiring sandstone mountains.
More than 80 percent of Syrian refugees are located in northern Jordan. During this excursion, you will be able to assess the impact of refugees on host communities and visit key sites:
Known in ancient times as Arabella, Irbid is the second largest city in Jordan. Located approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of the Syrian border, the city hosts the second largest number of urban registered refugees in Jordan, as well as Palestinian and Syrian refugee camps.
Atop a windswept mountain with views of the Golan Heights and Sea of Galilee, you’ll visit the ruins of ancient Jadara.
You’ll walk among the extraordinary ruins of the best-preserved Roman city outside of Italy.
Spend the night at a cozy lodge in the forest of Ajloun surrounded by oak, pine, pistachios, and wild strawberries after visiting Qalaat Errabadh, the medieval castle built by Muslims to protect the area from invading Crusaders.
You’ll spend most of your stay in the capital, Geneva. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to engage with experts about the international refugee system and learn about the challenges facing health relief agencies providing refugee protection and assistance. You’ll visit the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the World Health Organization, and the UN Office at Geneva.
Explore Old Geneva with its quaint chateaus and fine arts museums. Enjoy a cruise along the shores of Lake Geneva and experience the city’s rich history, architecture, and cuisine. You’ll have time to explore Bern, Switzerland’s capital: It’s entire old city is a UNESCO World-Heritage Site, with medieval shop-lined streets, cathedrals, and the clock tower or Zytglogge.
Please note that SIT will make every effort to maintain its programs as described. To respond to emergent situations, however, SIT may have to change or cancel programs.
Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:
The following syllabi are representative of this program. Because courses develop and change over time to take advantage of dynamic learning opportunities, actual course content will vary from term to term.
The syllabi can be useful for students, faculty, and study abroad offices in assessing credit transfer. Read more about credit transfer.
Refugees and Displaced Populations in the Context of Jordan – syllabus
(MDES3000 / 3 credits)
This seminar introduces students to the principles, guidelines, and laws related to refugee protection. The seminar also explores the major issues refugees face, such as identity challenges, social integration, and cultural-contextual change, as well as the social, economic, and security impact of the successive waves of refugees on Jordan. Policies and interventions to prevent and respond to gender-related and child risks will be explored in depth.
Beginning Modern Standard Arabic – syllabus
(ARAB1006-1506 / 6 credits)
Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic – syllabus
(ARAB2006-2506 / 6 credits)
Advanced Modern Standard Arabic – syllabus
(ARAB3006-3506 / 6 credits)
The language course is offered at different levels: Choose to take either two thematic seminars and a 3-credit language course OR the thematic seminar Refugees and Displaced Populations in the Context of Jordan, and a six-credit language course.
The language course emphasizes speaking, reading, and writing skills in Modern Standard Arabic (fusha) through classroom and field instruction. Students are placed in intensive beginning, intermediate, or advanced classes based on in-country evaluation, including oral proficiency testing. A component on Jordanian Colloquial Arabic is also part of the course.
Beginning Modern Standard Arabic – syllabus
(ARAB1003-1503 / 3 credits)
Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic – syllabus
(ARAB2003-2503 / 3 credits)
Advanced Modern Standard Arabic – syllabus
(ARAB3003-3503 / 3 credits)
The language course is offered at different levels: Choose to take either two thematic seminars and a 3-credit language course OR the thematic seminar Refugees and Displaced Populations in the Context of Jordan, and a six-credit language course.
AND
Refugee Health and Humanitarian Action – syllabus
(MDES3500 / 3 credits)
This seminar examines firsthand the humanitarian response taking place in Jordan and the region to provide aid to Syrian refugees, with special emphasis on the health, WASH, and nutrition sectors. The seminar addresses the principles, rights, and standards governing humanitarian action and investigates the challenges of providing assistance to refugees. The health status, risk factors, health policies, actors, and services available to refugees, including sexual and reproductive health, child health, mental health, communicable and noncommunicable diseases will be addressed. There will be a special emphasis on vulnerable groups including women, children, and people with disabilities.
Social Science Methods and Ethics – syllabus
(RSCH3500 / 3 credits)
This course is designed to introduce you to the methodological tools used by social scientists to conduct empirically grounded, theoretically engaged research. The course will cover the basic elements of research design, the role of theory in empirical research, and the ethics for social scientific research, with particular attention to the complex ethical considerations that arise when conducting research in international and cross-cultural contexts. Students will gain hands-on experience with both basic quantitative and qualitative methods, with the flexibility to emphasize their preferred methodological approach in their final work. Using this project-based approach, the course will prepare you to design and execute social science research projects while developing competency across methodological traditions.
OR
Global Organizational Culture and Ethics – syllabus (GOCE3500/3 credits)
This course equips students to engage meaningfully and ethically in internship experiences across diverse sociopolitical, cultural, environmental, and global contexts. Using a critical, practice-based approach, students examine the nature and purpose of internships as transformative experiential learning opportunities that connect to the program’s Critical Global Issue theme. Emphasis is placed on navigating workplace and organizational cultures, reflecting on identity and positionality in professional settings, and applying ethical principles to working globally with communities, individuals, and environments—particularly in collaboration with vulnerable populations and in sensitive ecological or habitat settings.
Independent Study Project
Independent Study Project – syllabus
(ISPR3000 / 4 credits)
The Independent Study Project is conducted in Amman or another approved location in Jordan appropriate to the project. Sample topic areas: mental healthcare provision available to various populations, including refugees; the effect of daily stressors on Syrian refugee women; consequences of displacement on increased risks of domestic violence and gender-based violence; malnutrition in refugee children; refugee women’s empowerment and protection.
Sample ISP topic areas:
Browse this program’s Independent Study Projects / undergraduate research.
OR
Internship and Seminar
Internship and Seminar – syllabus
(ITRN 3000 / 4 credits)
This seminar consists of a four-week internship with a local, national or international NGO that provides humanitarian interventions to refugees and disadvantaged local communities in various sectors, including health, protection, WASH, and nutrition; a research organization; a business or an international development agency. The aim of the internship is to enable students to gain valuable professional and personal development experience and enhance their skills in an international professional environment.
Sample internships include:
You will live with a homestay family in Amman for 12 weeks. The homestay is a unique opportunity to become a member of a local family, share meals with them and take part in special occasions. Jordan is known for its warm hospitality. You will learn about traditions, local perspectives on issues, and Arab culture while experiencing the country through your homestay family’s eyes.
Most homestay families are middle class and maintain the customs of a typical Arab home. Homestay families commonly include first- or second-generation Palestinians who are major contributors to Jordan’s social and cultural life. The homestay experience gives you an opportunity to further enhance your spoken Arabic.
Other accommodations during the program include hostels or small hotels.
SIT Study Abroad is committed to ensuring that international education is within reach for all students. We believe in the transformative power of immersive, intercultural experiences and are dedicated to supporting students in their educational journey.
See All Costs
A critical step in preparing for your study abroad program is planning how you will maintain your health and wellbeing. Please review the following information carefully and contact [email protected] with any questions or concerns.
Learn More
Students are required to obtain a visa for this program. Your admissions officer will provide you further guidance on the process and support documents. Please do not apply without instructions from your admissions officer.
SIT alum Isabella Cronin explained what it was like to see the Za’atari Refugee Camp in person, the world’s largest camp for Syrian refugees.
