This program takes place in the Sultanate of Oman, one of the most intriguing destinations in the Arab world. An enchanting destination with a long history and distinctive identity, Oman is AMIDEAST’s newest locale for an Area & Arabic Language Studies Program. Well-known for its long-standing trade routes stretching from East Asia to East Africa, and notably the southern half of the Strait of Hormuz, Oman has been recognized since ancient times as one of the greatest seafaring nations of the world and that enthralling maritime identity is still seen today. Due to its strategic location on the Southeast tip of the Arabian Peninsula, and paired with the unique shipbuilding abilities of its inhabitants, Oman attracted much foreign interest throughout the centuries including the Portuguese, whose forts continue to dot Oman’s landscape today, traders from India, Singapore and China, and even Great Britain. By the seventh century AD, Oman peacefully adopted Islam, making it one of the first countries in the world to do so. This adaptation and well-established trade routes paved the way for Omani traders to spread their faith to East Africa and Southeast Asia. A century later, Ibadism had become the dominant sect of Islam practiced within the country, and even today Oman is one of the few places in the world with a majority Ibadi population.
Students who study in Oman with AMIDEAST spend the semester living in its capital city, Muscat. Situated along a natural harbor on the northern coast of Oman, Muscat has been an important trading post for much of its history. During the 18th century, Oman emerged as a regional power, controlling the traditionally Persian lands on the opposite side of the Strait of Hormuz in addition to cities along the coast of East Africa as far away as Zanzibar.
Students enrolled in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Muscat carry a 14 to 17 credit hour course load per semester. All students enroll in two to three Arabic and two or three other Area studies courses (depending on the student’s preference) from a variety of disciplines taught in English including economics, Media Arabic, Middle East and North African studies, political science, religious studies, and women's studies.
Orientation
Upon arrival in Oman, AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program students participate in a week-long orientation designed to introduce them to Omani culture and daily life and familiarize them with the logistics of the program. Students will move into their accommodations upon arrival in the capital. During orientation, topics such as safety and health, cultural adjustment, program regulations, participant responsibilities and other essential information are will be discussed. Additionally, the on-site orientation exposes students to the Arabic and Area Studies faculty and allows them to become familiar with the AMIDEAST learning environment.
Housing
Students enrolled in the AMIDEAST Education Abroad Program in Oman live apartment-hotels, near the Sultan Qaboos University, in the Al Khoudh area of Muscat. AMIDEAST students will be paired with other AMIDEAST students as roommates in the accommodations. The apartment-hotel will house 4 students per apartment, with 2 students sharing a room. They include a shared living room, kitchen, and 2 full baths.
Breakfast and lunch are included with the program fees and students are responsible for dinner costs. There are simple kitchen facilities in the student apartment-hotel accommodations.
Weekday transportation will be provided to and from the AMIDEAST office once daily as part of the program fee. Students are responsible for all additional transportation costs in Oman including weekend transportation.
Excursions
Students participate in program-organized excursions around Oman. Visits to major attractions and historical sites may include:
- Jabal Shams & Nizwa
- Wahiba Sands
- Dhow Cruise along Bandar Khairan
The AMIDEAST Advantage
Guided by an Academic Consortium that represents a cross-section of U.S. higher education, AMIDEAST programs are designed to provide academic excellence. AMIDEAST programs also include ample opportunities to interact with local university students and to reflect on intercultural encounters in structured settings.
Transcripts
Students in Oman receive an AMIDEAST grade report which indicates letter grades and credit received. One grade report will be sent to your university and one will remain at the AMIDEAST office in Washington, D.C. Alternatively, students in Oman can request (for an additional fee) a transcript issued by AMIDEAST's Institution of Record, Northeastern University.
