Welcome

Welcome to Culture and History: Understanding the Arab World, Columbia's pre-college summer program in the Middle East.

The required forms and important information about paying the program fee and preparing to study in Jordan are available on this Web site. Please make certain that all of your paperwork is completed and returned to us as soon as possible and that you have taken the necessary steps to secure a visa. 

Dormitory check-in takes place on Sunday, June 24, from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Rooms are not available before this time. Attendance is required at the Welcome Barbecue, which starts at 5:00 PM, Sunday evening, followed by dormitory suite meetings. At 9:00 AM on Monday, June 25, all students must attend Orientation in the auditorium in Alfred Lerner Hall. Classes begin directly after Orientation.

During the first week of the program, classes are held at Columbia University on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. On Thursday, June 28, you will fly with your fellow students, the program instructors, and the resident advisers to Jordan and will take up residence at King's Academy. On Sunday, July 15, all program participants return to New York City for the remainder of the program.

Checkout from the residence halls at Columbia University takes place on Saturday, July 21, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. No student will be permitted to stay in the dormitory after 11:00 AM.

In both New York and Jordan, during free time students can choose from various optional trips and activities led by resident advisers.

We congratulate you on your admission to the Summer Program for High School Students and look forward to seeing you here on campus.

Sincerely,

Darlene Giraitis
Executive Director
Secondary School Programs

Anna Swank
Site Director
Culture and History: Understanding the Arab World