Environmental and Land Use Studies in Israel

Spring Break 2008 cancelled

March 1 - March 9, 2008

Sponsored by the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources; in collaboration with the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

This program, conducted in collaboration with the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies (AIES), introduces students to the unique ecological aspects of desert environments and their varied natural resources, and provides an understanding of the environmental and development challenges that are associated with land use and settlement impacts in arid regions. It is divided into a number of integrating themes, including…

• Sustainable agriculture and development
• History of human settlement and land use impacts
• Desert ecology, bio-diversity and land use
• Water management and irrigation impacts in dryland regions
• Marine/coastal ecosystems, bio-diversity and aquaculture
• Regional impacts of tourism development
• Environmental preservation and conservation – tools and objectives

The Arava Institute, situated on Kibbutz Ketura in Israel's southern Arava Valley, serves as a regional center for natural resource conservation and environmental protection. It provides students with the technical information, fundamentals of public policy, and an understanding of theoretical and philosophical concepts necessary for effective participation in environmental planning and conflict resolution.

The program is notable not only for its focus on the environment, but also for its location on Kibbutz Ketura. Because students will be living and studying on the kibbutz, they will experience life in this unique model of communal agricultural life.

Where does it take place?

The principal location is the Arava region encompassing two mountain ranges and the northern portion of the Great Rift Valley which stretches from the Middle East (Dead Sea) to southeast Africa (Mozambique). The rift valley is one of the most complex geological regions in the world – formed by tectonic faulting, volcanic eruptions and lake deposits - and is viewed as the region that buried and preserved evidence of mankind’s origins and its earliest evolution. This study location is considered politically stable and far removed from the disputed territories of the Gaza strip and the West Bank.

Most lectures are provided at AIES, Kibbutz Ketura, located 30 miles north of Eilat and sites in the Arava rift valley, an ecologically uniquely and tranquil region of Israel. The kibbutz was founded in the early 70s, is lush and green, situated against the stark desert landscape that is framed by two mountain ranges - the Negev Mountain range to the west, and the dramatic red and purple mountains of Edom to the east. While the desert summers are hot and dry, the Arava is renowned for its mild, sunny winters, and a wealth of desert fauna and flora in the spring.

What can I study?

Students will enroll for a minimum of two (2) credits in the following courses:

RD 480/891	Environmental Studies Abroad	1-6 cr.
(Note: effective Spring Break 2008, RD 480 will become ESA 480. RD 891 will stay as is)
ACR 891	Selected Topics in Agriculture, Community and Recreation	1-9 cr.
ANR 475	International Studies in Agriculture and Natural Resources	1-4 cr.
AEE 475	International Studies in ANR Education and Communication Systems	1-6 cr.
(Note: effective Spring Break 2008, AEE 475 will become ACR 475)
AEE 875	International Studies in Agriculture Extension and Education	1-4 cr.
(Note: effective Spring Break 2008, AEE 875 will become ACR 875)
CSS 491	Special Topics in Crop and Soil Science	1-4 cr.
PRR 410	International Parks and Tourism	1-6 cr.

Instruction for this course is provided by Dr. Gerhardus Schultink from MSU; Dr. Clive Lipchin and other associated and adjunct faculty members of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, Ben Gurion University, and Interuniversity Institute of Marine Biology; and environmental practitioners working in the region.

Various field excursions, including a marine ecology lecture and reef exploration are conducted nearby, such as at the Interuniversity Institute of Marine Biology Laboratory in Eilat, located on the shore of the Gulf of Eilat, Red Sea. The final excursion goes to the site of the International Research and Monitoring Program for the Jordanian-Israeli Peace Park. The purpose of this multilateral program is to provide scientific data for improved management of coastal ecosystems and coral reefs and to strengthen the regional capability for science, information exchange, and national decision-making on resource conservation and development for the Gulf of Aqaba and Bay of Eilat, an area facing increasing tourism development pressure.

What are the requirements?

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.

Where will I live?

Participants will be housed in recently-completed dormitories at Kibbutz Ketura, the location of the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies, or adjacent kibbutz accommodations, and tourist class accommodations in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

Meals at the Institute location will be provided in the cafeteria of the Kibbutz.

All housing costs, all meals, field trips, and all in-country transportation are included in the program fee.

Who can tell me more about this program?

Dr. Gerhardus Schultink
Professor, International Development Planning
Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies
Associate Director, Land Policy Institute
College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
310 Natural Resources Building
Phone: (517) 353-1903
E-mail: schultin@msu.edu

Web: http://www.carrs.msu.edu/Main/People/faculty%20bios/schultin.asp

Do I need a passport or visa?

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States. If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date. If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of 10-12 weeks is usually required for processing. During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required. Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices. They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/passports.html

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose. The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early. It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.

For more information about visas visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/visas.html

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/health.html

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $1,365 and includes the following:

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:

Students may request a cost sheet which estimates these additional expenses not included in the program fee by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

*Check http://www.ctlr.msu.edu/studrec/ for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the Lifelong Education rate, regardless of state of residence.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid.

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing. This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university. If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/finaid/index.html

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships. Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need. Requirements are listed in the scholarship application. The deadline to apply for these scholarships is February 1st for spring break programs.

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit http://studyabroad.msu.edu/scholarships/index.html

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form by visiting http://studyabroad.msu.edu/applications/index.html

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by February 1st for spring break programs. We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year. Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required. Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program. Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter. You can also read the handbook online at http://studyabroad.msu.edu/abcs/index.html.

Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances.

Return to the Study Abroad Home Page