California State University reinstates Israel study-abroad program

After a nine-year suspension, the only program approved in Israel is at the University of Haifa

The University of Haifa announced Tuesday that California State University students, who had been banned from studying in Israel, would now be able to attend its classes.

The American university had suspended all study-abroad programs in Israel in 2002 due to security concerns. Despite efforts to have them reinstated, so far only Haifa has been successful in repealing the ban.

The reinstatement was not made lightly. Haifa’s academic credentials were examined, and representatives of both universities’ campus security staff met to discuss relevant protocols before the decision could be reached.

As of Tuesday’s announcement, study abroad in Haifa is available to the entire student body of the Cal State system, which comprises 23 campuses and over 400,000 enrolled students. The University of Haifa is eager to enlarge its current program, which hosts 800 students a year from 40 different countries.

The new cooperation comes at an opportune moment for students interested in pursuing a master’s degree in Israel: The University of Haifa has recently launched several MA programs taught in English, including Peace and Conflict Management; Business Administration and Patent Law; Holocaust and Genocide Studies; Creative Arts Therapies; and Maritime Civilizations.