These courses are for people who wish to deepen their understanding of Israel, Jewish or Foreign cultures via a study travel experience. They are designed for individuals who are interested in learning about different cultures and societies as well as for people with professional responsibilities in multicultural and other field of education.

• A5956-Understanding Foreign Cultures: A Travel Study Experience

• A5958-Understanding Israel: A Travel Study Experience

• A5959-Understanding Jewish Culture: A Travel Study Experience

Credits: Participants may earn from 2 to 6 college credits which may be used for salary increment programs, professional growth or transfer credit to another academic institution. The first credit requires seven (7) days of travel. Subsequent credit hours call for five (5) days each (e.g., 2 credits call for 12 days of travel, 3 credits call for 17 days, etc., etc.) Course participants must register before departure and pay in advance for the number of credits they expect to earn. Students may request a letter grade or a passlfail grade in which "Pass" indicates a grade of "C" or better. NOTE: While Gratz College will grant the number of academic credits indicated upon successful completion of the requirements, the decision by another institution to accept transfer credits is within the discretion of the accepting institution.

Course Requirements:

• A. At least three weeks before traveling, the participants must submit a Travel Study Plan (TSP) on forms provided by the Office of Continuing Education. The TSP must include such items as:
  
• Learning Objectives: What new knowledge and perspective do you hope to gain from your travel study trip?
  
• Bibliography: Gratz College has prepared a basic bibliography which the students may use to acquaint themselves with Israeli history, culture, politics and society as well as with Israeli leaders. Participants may use any of these reading for their assignment. Additional readings based on their specific interests would be recommended by the travel study coordinated.
  
• Itinerary: What is the travel itinerary of place, persons, institutions and events to be encountered? Each participant will be advised when the submitted TSP is accepted. This constitutes final notification of admission into the course.

• B. While traveling, the student will be expected to maintain an academic log which will include a daily record of activities such as:
  
• List of places visited.
  
• Description of events in which the participant was involved.
  
• Notes on persons communicated with, record of personal impressions, insights, and perhaps even conversations.
  
• Identification of well-known historical sites, institutions or place of special interest.
  
• References as to prominent geographical, religious, cultural and historical features.
  
• Observation on customs, dress and other cultural characteristics.
  
• Notes on any progress in relationship to learning objective stated in TSP. It is suggested that the participants write a brief paragraph or two each day on their experiences. Students should try to relate experiences to the objectives of the course, as outlined in the TSP.
  
• C. Students are expected to prepare a paper whose length would be based on the number of credits and determined by the travel study coordinator. The paper should discuss some of the issues facing their destination today as well as place those issues in some sort of historical, cultural or political perspective. The paper should be based on both the bibliography and travellstudy experience.
  
• D. Personal Evaluation: In addition, on a separate sheet of paper, students should complete a reflective evaluation on the StudyITravel experience in terms of how their trip to their destination enhanced their understanding of Jewish cultures, as well as contributed to their personal growth andlor professional development.
  
• E. Proof of travel: Enclose a copy of plane ticket showing departure and arrival dates and/or a photocopy of the port of entry and port of departure stamped on the passport.