This is a 4-5 week program with classes on Sun - Thurs
Weekends - Friday and Sat are free and organized trips are included
You take one UConn honor's class and one Tel Aviv University (TAU) class focused on regional history, language and/or culture.
Class offerings change yearly, summer 2026 choices below:
- Politics: Middle East Politics: From the Arab Spring uprisings to the Iran-Israel War – Dr. Brandon Friedman, learn about the major "players" behind what you hear on the news. Will discuss drivers of political change in the Middle East from the Arab uprisings (2010) through the Iran-Israel war (2025). How (1) the USA’s effort to redefine its role in the region has influenced regional politics; (2) the Arab Spring uprisings threatened to alter the regional balance of power between Sunnis and ShiꜤis; (3) the intra-Sunni divide over the Muslim Brotherhood manifested itself across the region; (4) COVID and the Ukraine War led to regional de-escalation; (5) Hamas's October 7 terror offensive can be seen as the opening salvo in the first Iran-Israel war.
- History/Culture: TLV CityLab taught by Prof. Rona Yona, Students will become familiar with Tel Aviv, it’s emergence, critical discussions on Israeli culture and will acquire academic analytic tools for exploring urban spaces. Transfers as TBD: Foreign Study – 3cr NOT OFFERED 2026
- Language: Beginner’s Hebrew - contact Etan for more details - basic Hebrew, for “students with zero previous knowledge of Hebrew”. Focus on themes related to life in Israel, such as geography, the environment, history, and cultural events. Transfers as TBD
"My Arab and Israeli conflict class was a very well put together summary of the historical events that led up to the modern day tensions in the conflict, as well as current peace talks and the different ideas for a peace plan..."
"... good way to meet students from the TAU international program, as well as students who are from Tel Aviv, and learn more about the history of the country"
