Next Short-Term Study Abroad | July 01-14, 2024
APPLICATION DEADLINE MARCH 18, 2024
In Association with Luther Rice and Jerusalem University College
Experience the Biblical World
Study Abroad Course Information
There is no better way to introduce you to the land of the Bible than through the short-term study abroad course. The short-term program is an academically-engaging and physically-rigorous study experience. Together with our JUC Professor, we explore the land of Israel for two weeks to gain a better understanding of the Bible. Visit places of Old Testament significance that provide understanding of the expectation of Messiah. Sit on steps where early rabbis taught to better understand the context of Jesus’ teaching. Watch the sunset on the Sea of Galilee. Feel the personality of Herod through his massive building projects. All this and more will make Jesus and his ministry come to life in new ways.
Open to students and non-students.
See the Sample Itinerary below.
Are You Ready?
Our next study-abroad course is scheduled for July 1-14, 2024. The Jordan Field Study Option is scheduled for June 28-July 1, 2024. If you are ready, go ahead and apply and reserve your space on this life-changing experience! Please note that the first date is your arrival date and the last date is your departure date.
*Be sure to indicate that you are part of a group program. In the dropdown menu in your application, choose Luther Rice College & Seminary (7b24).
Sample Itinerary*
Jesus and His Times Short-Term Program
On this short term program, students typically visit the following sites:
Day 1: Arrival Day and Housing Check-In
Day 2-3: Program Orientation and Herodian Jerusalem Field Study
- Pool of Siloam
- Jewish Quarter/Wohl Museum
- Temple Mount
- Temple Mount Area
- Pool of Bethesda
Day 4: Parables Field Study
- Inn of the Good Samaritan
- Sataf
Day 5: The Dead Sea Area Field Study
- Masada
- Ein Gedi
- Ein Feshka
- Qumran
- Dead Sea beach for swimming
Day 6: Bethlehem Field Study
- Herodium
- Bethlehem
- Shepherd's Field
- Church of the Nativity
- "Solomon's Pools"
Day 7: Exploration Day and Lecture
Day 8-10: Galilee Field Study
- Nazareth
- Beth She'an
- Sepphoris
- Arbel Cliffs
- Augusteum at Omrit
- Banias/Caesarea Philippi
- Golan/Damascus Road
- Bar'am
- Kedesh Temple
- Bethsaida
- Capernaum
- Kursi
- Chorazin
- Magdala
- Tabgha
- Gamla
Day 11: Approach to Jerusalem Field Study
- Jordan River
- Jericho
- Judean Wilderness
- Mount of Olives
Day 12: Jerusalem to the Ends of the Earth Field Study
- Church of the Holy Sepulchre
- Samaria
- Caesarea
Day 13: Exam, Departure Meeting, and Exploration Time
Day 14: Departure Day
*All Itineraries are subject to change due to logistical reasons or the preference of the instructor or group leader.
Don't miss out on an experience of a lifetime.
Jordan Field Study Option (June 28-July1)
Join a Jordan Field Study for three additional days at the beginning of your program.**
This is an average daily itinerary for the Jordan Field Study:
Day 1: Gilead and Moab
- Jerash
- Jabbok River
- Moabite capital of Dibon
- Arnon Gorge
Day 2: Edom and the Nabateans
- Petra
- Edomite capital of Bozrah
Day 3: Ammon and the Medeba Plateau
- Ammonite capital of Rabbah/Amman Citadel
- Madaba
- Mount Nebo
Day 4: Program Day 2 (Program Orientation and Herodian Jerusalem Field Study)
**The Jordan Extension requires a minimum of seven participants.
Luther Rice Students! Study Abroad Credit
How does your course credit work?
If you choose the college credit option, upon the satisfactory completion of the academic requirements of this trip, you will receive 2 credit hours from Jerusalem University College that you can apply in the future in whatever way you wish. However, for Luther Rice students, the credit hours do not transfer.
Therefore, to obtain academic credit at Luther Rice, you must enroll in one of the following approved courses during your summer 2024 term:
Undergraduate
- OT2206 Joshua/Judges (Study Abroad)
- OT4214 Chronicles (Study Abroad)
If you have any further questions regarding how academic credit for Israel Study Abroad at Luther Rice, please feel free to contact me.
Important Information and Requirements
Apply to Program
Click on the button below, then click on short term programs. When you complete your individual application, you will be asked in the 'Education' section whether you are part of a group program. Indicate yes and choose Luther Rice College & Seminary–7B24 from the dropdown menu.
Health and Fitness Requirement
JUC’s program is academically and physically rigorous, including up to twelve hour days in the field or longer. The field studies involve hours of walking, standing, and several hikes (although some are optional). There are usually opportunities to sit throughout the day and plenty of time on the bus. However, students should expect an intensely physical program and plan to sweat.
Visa to Travel to Israel
Everyone traveling to Israel must have a passport that expires at least six months after they plan to exit the country at the end of their program. Short-term students who travel from countries that have normal relations with Israel will be issued a three-month tourist visa upon arrival. Students from the United States, Canada, and most European countries fall under this category.
Accommodations and Housing
JUC offers both on- and off-campus housing for our short-term students on nights when they will stay in Jerusalem. Accommodations with hotels are arranged when the class is traveling for field studies. The hotels furnish buffet-style breakfasts and dinners. JUC students are provided with lunches by JUC whether in Jerusalem or on field studies.
Jerusalem Off-Campus Housing
Students can choose hotel housing rather than JUC campus housing for an increased housing fee. While JUC cannot guarantee that students will stay at any particular place, each hotel will be well-rated and in or adjacent to the Old City of Jerusalem.
Jerusalem On-Campus Housing
Students who opt to spend nights in Jerusalem on campus will stay in dormitory-style housing, with 2-6 persons (or sometimes more) to a room. The campus has limited housing for couples with no double beds available. Shared bathroom facilities are a short walk away from each room, sometimes across a courtyard and up or down a flight of stairs.
Frequently Asked Questions
You have questions? I have answers!
Do I have to be a student to participate?
No. This program is open to all that wish to be enriched by an in-depth study of the Land. The academic credit is optional. If you are participating as an audit (no-credit), then you are simply exempt from the exams and reflection papers. You will still want to sit-in on lectures and map work so that you can further enrich your participation in the field studies.
What makes this program different than other Israel tours?
To start, it's not a tour, it's a short-term study abroad. Spend two weeks in the Holy Land studying under one of JUC's experienced professors and with me. Venture off the beaten path to places less traveled (where tours don't go), explore more than twice the sites of a typical tour to Israel, and have the option of earning academic credit. This is a unique experience!
Should I book my own airfare?
Yes. Most of our students are all over the country and securing a group rate is difficult to coordinate. If I do come across a special airfare price out of Atlanta, I will share it with the group. Securing your own travel makes sense for anyone that wishes to use frequent flyer miles, buddy passes or works for an airline. All I ask is that you share your travel itinerary with me.
Are the dates flexible?
No. You must make every effort to arrive and depart on the specified dates (July 1 and 14). Please note that the first date is the day you must arrive in Israel between the hours of 7 a.m. and 12 midnight Israel time. The second date is the day you must depart from Israel. Please note that if your arrival or departure dates are other than those specified, you must secure your own accommodations and meals for those dates.
When are payments due?
The application fee is due upon submission of your application (it will be deducted from the total) and the deadline to apply is March 18, 2024. The deposit is due 3 months before the program starts (so approximately April 1, 2024). The total program tuition must be paid by June 2024. Exact dates will be provided.
Do I need travel insurance?
That all depends. It is always recommended to travel with insurance to places like the Middle East and because of the length of time we will be in Israel, as well as the monetary investment you are making for this trip. It is not required, but it is suggested. Travel insurance can be purchased from a variety of providers online.
What are the on-campus accommodations like?
Students who opt to spend nights in Jerusalem on campus will stay in dormitory-style housing, with 2-6 persons (or sometimes more) to a room. Shared bathroom facilities are a short walk away from each room, sometimes across a courtyard and up or down a flight of stairs.
What are the off-campus accommodations like?
Students that are accompanied by a spouse or single students that choose off-campus housing will be housed in hotel housing rather than JUC campus housing for an increased housing fee. While JUC cannot guarantee that students will stay at any particular place, each hotel the college contracts with is well-rated and in or adjacent to the Old City of Jerusalem.
Do we stay in Jerusalem or at JUC the entire time?
No. JUC arranges accommodations with hotels or kibbutz when the class is traveling for field studies outside of Jerusalem. This is already included in the price.
Are all the meals covered?
Yes. JUC and the field study hotels furnish buffet-style breakfasts and dinners. JUC students are provided with lunches by JUC whether in Jerusalem or on field studies. It is suggested that you bring some money for souvenirs and treats...the Shawarmas in the Market are amazing!
How will I earn the academic credit at JUC?
You will need to choose that option and take the exams and write the reflection papers. Upon completion of the course, JUC will provide you with an official transcript reporting your grade in the course. Your grade will be determined by your performance on the course assessments. You will be awarded 2 credit hours for the course in Jesus and His Times. Because JUC is accredited, the credits may be transferred to your current college or seminary, if accepted.
How will I earn the academic credit at Luther Rice?
JUC credit hours will not transfer to your Luther Rice program of study. Therefore, to obtain academic credit at Luther Rice, you must enroll in one of the following approved courses during your summer 2024 term:
- OT2206 Joshua/Judges (Study Abroad)
- ΟΤ4214 Chronicles (Study Abroad)
What is the quality of the teaching I will receive, and is it orthodox?
For over 60 years, Jerusalem University College has offered graduate and undergraduate study programs that engage the biblical text, explore its multi-faceted context, and maximize the rich educational resources of Jerusalem. JUC grounds its mission in the broad evangelical traditions that focus on the centrality of Jesus Christ and the authority of Scripture. Put succinctly, JUC exists to explore the ancient and modern contexts of the world of the Bible so that students can get to know the Word of God—the Bible—and the Word of God—Jesus—better.
Do other schools partner with JUC?
Yes! Here is a list of current consortium seminaries and graduate schools. Here is a list of colleges and universities. As a matter of fact, if you are a student at one of these institutions, your credits can be transferred automatically and count towards a course of study in your regular program of study. Speak to your registrar to confirm.
Will there be free time or is it just work?
Of course! Students have evenings free, and on exploration days and exam day have half-days off.
What can I do during my free time?
Seriously? You're in Jerusalem! JUC's strategic location gives you access to the Old City at a very short hike away. You may also go into the New City which is a few blocks away.
Is Israel safe?
Yes. JUC takes the safety of our students with the utmost seriousness and have a proven track record of operating for over 60 years in the Holy Land. Click here for detailed information about how JUC handles local issues related to safety and prepares students to do the same.
What about church or devotional time?
That is why I will be there as well. We will have group devotional times and times to reflect together with the reflection papers that need to be written for the course. For personal devotions, you will have the entire campus at your disposal. Enjoy the morning and evening hours as you hear the Christian bells, Muslim chants and Jewish calls to worship. On Sundays, JUC provides a list of like-minded evangelical churches where you can worship.
What do I need to pack?
For short-term students who will be at JUC for a few weeks, here is a list of what to pack.
What is the refund policy?
- Application Fees and program deposits are non-refundable. They are, however, transferable to another program if a student wishes to delay their program to another time.
- Refunds can only be made in the original form of payment.
- JUC will refer to the following refund schedule if a student or group cancels their program after their final payment is due.
- 75% Refund 51-60 days before program.
- 50% Refund 31-50 days before program.
- No Refunds 0-30 days before program.
In Partnership with
Informational Meetings Postponed
Due to the tragic events unfolding in the Holy Land, It is prudent for us to postpone this meeting until further notice. I will keep a close eye on the situation and let you know if we will be able to continue our plans for a study abroad.
Please pray for the peace of Jerusalem.