Overview
The SIT Tunisia: Politics and Religious Integration in the Mediterranean program studies the interplay of politics, mass migration, and religion at the crossroads of the Mediterranean in Tunisia and Italy.
Students choosing to study French must have completed at least 2 semesters of French, or the equivalent, prior to departure, as it is only offered at the Intermediate and Advanced levels. For students who choose to study Arabic, there is no language requirement, as it is offered at the Beginner to Advanced levels. Students who choose either Arabic or French will be able to practice at their homestay in Tunis.
Academics
You will take courses that focus on the following themes, Immigration, Politics, and Religion in the Euro-Mediterranean Space, Politics, Civil Society, and Migration in Tunisia, Language Study — French or Arabic (at all levels), Research Methods and Ethics, Research Methods and Ethics, and Independent Study Project (ISP).
The ISP gives you the unique opportunity to apply your learning from earlier in the semester to an independent field-based research project supervised by a local adviser.
Program Features
In Tunis, the country’s capital, less than 100 miles south of Europe and the birthplace of the Arab Spring, you will examine Tunisia’s peaceful transition to democracy. During a three-week excursion to Sicily, a port of call for immigrants, explore migration to Europe and meet with members of the North African immigrant community to discuss the impact of religious practice and the formation of social identity.
SIT believes that you learn from experience, and you also participate in several excursions throughout the semester, which could include visits to Palermo, Kairouan, and Djerba.
Because of the highly mobile nature of the trip, you live in a combination of homestays and hostels, hotels, or private homes.
Eligibility
Review eligibility to ensure that you meet all Columbia requirements to study abroad.
Review the external program webpage to understand any additional program prerequisites.
Application Instructions
To apply, you must complete the two steps below. Deadlines vary, and some applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Therefore, you should complete the steps below simultaneously:
- To apply for Columbia clearance (approval) to study abroad, click on "Start Your Application" on this webpage. Clearance applications are approved on a rolling basis until the application deadline listed on this webpage.
- To apply for program admission, complete an external application directly on the program webpage. Note that this deadline may be in advance of the Columbia clearance deadline.