Jordan is located in the Middle East, northwest of Saudi Arabia, east of Israel and the Palestinian Territories, and south of Syria. The country is a constitutional monarchy led by King Abdullah bin Al-Hussein. The King's father, the late King Hussein, was known as the father of modern Jordan. Jordan's long history stretches back through antiquity, the remains of which can still be seen in stunning locations such as Petra, the site of an ancient city literally cut into towering rock walls. Today, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (as it is officially called) is a moderate nation and a crossroads within the Middle East for trade and communications. It is also part of a region that has always served as a connector between Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Jordan is a wonderful destination for students interested in studying Arabic as well as a host of other subjects including anthropology and archaeology, history, economics, religion, political science, media studies, and more. Jordan also makes an excellent destination for internships or volunteer work due to its developing economy. If you are intimidated by the thought of going to the Middle East because of conflicts in the region, you may be pleasantly surprised to find Jordan is a moderate, stable, peaceful nation whose people welcome international students.

Jordan began to build a comprehensive national system of education in the 1920s with a strong emphasis on literacy and access to education, to develop the human capital of its citizens. The progress made since then has been inspiring, and today there are about 20 public and private universities, and some 50 community colleges, with more and more Jordanians opting to pursue higher education. The University of Jordan, established in 1962, is the country's oldest public four-year institution and today provides over 3,500 courses per year in 65 academic departments. Many study abroad programs partner with the University of Jordan in order to offer students an immersive study abroad experience in Jordan.

The University of Jordan is located in the country's capital, Amman, a growing city with a variety of charms from its Roman ruins to its art galleries and museums. Amman is a cosmopolitan city with inhabitants from all over the region and the world. Students delight in shopping at the city's buzzing souk (marketplace), meeting its friendly people, and marveling at the commingling of modern and ancient all around them.

That commingling in Amman typifies the modernization process that Jordan is currently undergoing. One of the many facets of Jordan that has been influenced is its economy, which has been experiencing a transformation in recent years. Challenged by limited natural resources including water and oil, Jordan has struggled to overcome these issues through economic reforms, monetary policy, privatization, and a number of other initiatives. Jordan's economy revolves around a number of industries including textiles, phosphate mining, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, light manufacturing, tourism, and others. 

One of Jordan's unique treasures is the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth at more than 1,300 feet below sea level. Aside from its beautiful setting, it is also a significant contributor to Jordan's economy due to tourism and the salt and minerals that can be harvested from it. The waters and mud of the Dead Sea are known for their healing properties. Interestingly, the Dead Sea is dropping by a foot per year and scientists estimate that it will dry up by the year 2050 if no intervention occurs. Jordan has therefore made an agreement with its neighbors to import water to the Dead Sea to keep it "alive" for many years to come. Another interesting fact is that due to the high salt content of the water, the Dead Sea is actually devoid of plant and animal life.

Many students also delight in educational expeditions to Wadi Rum or Petra. Wadi Rum is famous for its desert scenery and towering rock formations known as "jebels." The film "Lawrence of Arabia," was filmed in Wadi Rum, which is home to a nature preserve with rare plants and variety of birds and other creatures. The inhabitants of the area are primarily the semi-nomadic Bedouin people who are known for their friendly welcome of visitors. Students who travel to Petra will see the iconic Treasury (Khazneh) that is often used as a symbol to represent Jordan, but will discover far more than that, from an ancient 8,000 seat amphitheater to the intricate carvings in the city's rock-cut tombs.

Many people think only of deserts or the Dead Sea when they envision Jordan, but it also has a rich diversity of marine life, and many people travel to Aqaba in the south to go diving in the Red Sea. The Gulf of Aqaba is actually the world's northernmost coral reef ecosystem and, as such, is home to an amazing diversity of soft and hard corals as well as countless other marine life-forms.

For students, Jordan offers a wonderful opportunity to live and learn in a nation in the midst of modernization. Its welcoming people, stunning landscapes, diverse ecological environments, ancient monuments, and modern cities all contribute to the reality of Jordan today. Also due to its location, it makes a wonderful place to learn Arabic and gain a greater understanding of an area at the center of modern world events. The Middle East is often in the news, and many people have a host of pre-conceived notions about what studying there might be like. Take the opportunity to investigate Jordan for yourself as it will no doubt surprise you and provide a unique and enjoyable destination for your time abroad. Jordan is a wonderful destination for students interested in studying Arabic as well as a host of other subjects including anthropology and archaeology , history, economics, religion , political science, media studies, and more. Jordan also makes an excellent destination for internships or volunteer work due to its developing economy. If you are intimidated by the thought of going to the Middle East because of conflicts in the region, you may be pleasantly surprised to find Jordan is a moderate, stable, peaceful nation whose people welcome international students.

Jordan began to build a comprehensive national system of education in the 1920s with a strong emphasis on literacy and access to education, to develop the human capital of its citizens. The progress made since then has been inspiring, and today there are about 20 public and private universities, and some 50 community colleges, with more and more Jordanians opting to pursue higher education. The University of Jordan, established in 1962, is the country's oldest public four-year institution and today provides over 3,500 courses per year in 65 academic departments. Many study abroad programs partner with the University of Jordan in order to offer students an immersive study abroad experience in Jordan.

Resources -

Photos courtesy of: Visit Jordan: http://www.visitjordan.com/
The University of Jordan: http://ju.edu.jo/
Jordan National Information System (NIS): http://www.nis.gov.jo/en/index.html
A Living Tribute to the Legacy of King Hussein I: http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/
SIT Study Abroad: http://www.sit.edu/studyabroad/
AMIDEAST - American-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc.: http://www.amideast.org/
Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE):http://www.ciee.org/
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program:http://www.iie.org/gilman
National Security Education Program: http://www.iie.org/NSEP
MIUSA Resources for Students with Disabilities: http://www.miusa.org/ncde/intlopportunities/jordan