1. Global Immersion Program
Application Destinations
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Located in Israel's cultural, financial and industrial heartland,
What type of work do you see yourself doing in the next five years? Tel Aviv University is the largest university in Israel and the biggest
Jewish university in the world. It is a major center of teaching and
research, enrolling approximately 30,000 students.
_____________________________________________________________
TEL AVIV-YAFO
_____________________________________________________________ Tel-Aviv, the first
modern Jewish
_____________________________________________________________ city built in Israel,
and the ancient
_____________________________________________________________ port city of Yafo
were united into
Have you ever traveled outside the United States? Where? the municipality of
Tel Aviv-Yafo in
1950. Situated on
_____________________________________________________________
the coast of the Social Conflict, Empowerment
Mediterranean
_____________________________________________________________ Sea, the combined and Creative Practice in
Israel
city is a center of
_____________________________________________________________ commerce and culture, agriculture and tourism, and the home of
Israel's only stock exchange. Tel Aviv-Yafo is the country’s second
_____________________________________________________________ largest city, a rapidly growing international metropolis with a
booming population, energy and around-the-clock culture that gives
Are you a U.S. citizen? ______ Do you have a U.S. passport? ______ it a cosmopolitan flair comparable to few other cities in this part of
the world. The city that never sleeps, Tel Aviv-Yafo is known for its
great restaurants and thriving night life.
Describe any of your classes or experiences that might be related
to this course. JERUSALEM
Jerusalem, the
largest city in
_____________________________________________________________
Israel and the
nation's capital, is
_____________________________________________________________ one of the most
extraordinary
_____________________________________________________________ places in the
world, with its
_____________________________________________________________ unique combina-
tion of history,
spiritual sanctity
Briefly describe your expectations for the program and what you and colorful
would like to accomplish. cultures. It is a
place where the
_____________________________________________________________ first century rubs shoulders with the 21st century and where pictur-
esque "old" neighborhoods nestle against glistening office towers
and high-rise apartments. An ancient Middle Eastern city of key
_____________________________________________________________
Montgomery Ross Fisher Building
importance to the religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam,
Jerusalem’s sites and museums attract a constant stream of pilgrims
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0411
_____________________________________________________________ of all faiths. At the heart of Jerusalem is the Old City, roughly 220
USC School of Social Work
acres surrounded by walls built in the 16th century and divided into
www.usc.edu/socialwork
University Park Campus
_____________________________________________________________ Muslim, Jewish, Christian and Armenian quarters.
GALILEE
Please return application along with a The Galilee is a mountainous region in the northern part of Israel
non-refundable $250 deposit with an abundance of fertile valleys, forests and farmlands.
(check made payable to USC) to: Relatively densely populated since ancient times, Galilee is home to
Dan Hester the largest variety of ethnic communities in Israel today. Tourists are
Director, International Programs drawn to recreational pursuits, nature preserves, hot springs,
USC School of Social Work, MRF 202B historical sites, kibbutzim (communal farms) and religious shrines.
669 West 34th Street
Los Angeles, California 90089-0411
213.740.3939
hester@usc.edu

2. Program Overview Program Details Frequently Asked Questions Application
FORMAT Will I get credit toward my degree?
The three-week program is offered in the summer and comprises pre- If you are enrolled in the USC School of Social Work, you will receive a
Social Conflict, Empowerment departure sessions in Los Angeles on the USC campus that include 4-unit credit for completing the program. Social Conflict, Empowerment
and Creative Practice in lectures with faculty followed by an immersion visit in Israel. During and Creative Practice in
the two weeks, daily instruction will combine lectures with faculty and Will this program help my chances of finding a job?
Israel
guest speakers, discussion panels and in-class discussion, expressive
practice exercises, fieldwork experience and site visits to community
organizations in and around Tel Aviv. Participants will also visit cultural
With the world growing smaller every day and the economies of all
nations becoming increasingly intertwined, employers, regardless of
profession, are eager for employees who bring new and innovative
Israel
sites and participate in events in Tel Aviv-Yafo, in addition to taking two approaches that are often shaped by international experiences.
special field excursions to Galilee and Jerusalem.
Is financial aid available?
PARTICIPANTS If you are receiving financial aid for your graduate education, you may BASIC INFORMATION
The program is designed for a limited number of graduate-level social also be able to use it toward international study. For details, visit the
work students who are interested in creative practice, social justice School of Social Work’s Financial Aid Office. Name ________________________________________________________
and client empowerment and those who want to study international
social work by learning how Israeli society deals with its social Do I need a passport and visa?
Student ID # ________________________________________________ _
_
problems. It will be of a particular value to students interested in Yes. To obtain a passport for the first time, you will need to go in
communities and community organization, children and families, work person to any passport acceptance facility with two photos of yourself,
with minorities and immigrants, group work and social justice issues. proof of U.S. citizenship and a valid form of photo identification. Your Date of Birth _______________/________________/______________
___
passport needs to be valid at least six months from the intended date
ACCOMMODATIONS (subject to change) of entering Israel. As a United States citizen, you do not need to obtain Address______________________________________________________
USC will arrange housing in Tel Aviv at either a small hotel or short- a visa prior to traveling to Israel as long as you are traveling as a
term apartment. tourist and do not plan on staying in Israel beyond three months. For _____________________________________________________________
_
more details, visit travel.state.gov.
COSTS
Program costs include two-week accommodations (double-room What is the weather like in Tel Aviv in the summer? Phone __________________________Cell _______________________
___
occupancy), breakfast and lunches, local transportation during The summer temperatures remain in the 80s and 90s. It rarely rains in
program hours, field excursions to Jerusalem and Galilee, and an the summer. Email ________________________________________________________
administrative fee. Other fees are additional including tuition for a
4-unit course (SOWK599) and a required health insurance policy if not What do I pack? Alternative E-mail ___________________________________________
__
enrolled in the mandatory USC student health insurance plan and Casual, light clothing. Jeans are acceptable in the classroom and in the
The University of Southern California School of covered by the international study abroad option. All participants will field. You may also want to bring a bathing suit and sweater or jacket
Social Work offers a unique global immersion program be responsible for their own dinners and snacks, non-program local for comfort in air-conditioned buildings. Please note that you will be
in Israel for individuals interested in Israel’s current transportation and other incidentals. able to travel with two checked pieces of luggage weighing no more SCHOOL INFORMATION
than 50 pounds per piece. You will be charged additional fees for
and longstanding social conflicts and its creative WHAT STUDENTS WILL GAIN excess luggage and weight.
Enrolled at
problem-solving practices focused on community and • Exposure to international social work through understanding social
problems and social problem-solving in a different culture What is the money situation? Orange County Academic Center
client empowerment and social change. The local currency is the Israeli new shekel (ILS). You can exchange
• A comparative perspective on similar social issues approached your money at banks and exchange bureaus. You can also use credit San Diego Academic Center
The Social Conflict, Empowerment and Creative differently in the United States and Israel cards and ATM cards.
Skirball Academic Center
Practice in Israel program provides students the • A historical, cultural and social perspective of the factors that shape Where do I get more information?
University Park Campus
opportunity to explore Israel in an intensive two-week Israeli society Please contact Clinical Associate Professor
Michal Sela-Amit at 213.821.4402 or mselaami@usc.edu. Virtual Academic Center
immersion visit that will span various regions, • Knowledge of empowerment theory and its application to clients in
sub-cultures and communities including urban different social work settings
and rural, Jewish and Arabic, and immigrants. • Theoretical foundation and evidence-based practice knowledge Full-time Part-time
Students will observe practice with a variety of client of expressive therapies utilizing performing arts, visual arts and
groups and in different social settings including music with individuals, groups and communities
schools, immigrant-absorption centers, prisons and • A repertoire of expressive practice skills and EMERGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION
community centers. They will engage in an open techniques that can be utilized in working with
various clients and communities Name ________________________________________________________
dialogue with Israeli social workers, multi-professional
team members, community representatives and • A broader understanding of
Relationship _____________________________________________
_____
challenges and opportunities
clients. In addition, they will be immersed in the social embedded in working within
and cultural life of Israel through interaction with interdisciplinary teams for Address ____________________________________________________
__
faculty and students at Tel Aviv University, as well as the benefit of communities
and clients Phone ______________________________________________________ _
_
community groups in the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality.
USC’s MSW Students
in Israel in 2008