A Fulfilling Option for Studying Abroad
Tuesday, March 1, 2011

TAU expands Masters programs in English for a growing American and international student body

Noting the enormous value Tel Aviv University adds to the city, Lonely Planet just named Tel Aviv as one of the Top Three Destination Cities in the world for 2011. And as Tel Aviv University's international stature continues to grow, there's been an explosion of interest in studying there from Americans and other nationals.

They'll have plenty to study. TAU is offering more and more English language courses on a wide variety of topics — from an MA in Environmental Studies to a degree in Security and Diplomacy — in the coming school year. More than 600 international students were enrolled in TAU's specialized English-language undergraduate and Master's level programs last year — and the numbers will grow for 2011–12.

The campus is bursting with new international energy, says Tal Eidelman of the TAU International Program. "International study has always been the hallmark of a sophisticated and rounded education," says Eidelman, "and TAU has a special appeal. Though some students want to connect to their Jewish roots, most seek out Tel Aviv University for its renown in business and high-tech, conflict management in the very complicated political setting of the Middle East, and attractive programs TAU offers in environmental education."

Five degrees worth mastering

Designed for students from around the globe, the Sofaer International MBA is an intensive one-year general MBA program that reflects the energy, creativity and pace of the world's start-up capital. Most Sofaer students begin their MBA studies after four years of work experience, and many speak more than one language and have worked in more than one country.

"If you look at the start-ups and inventions that come out of Israel, the statistics just jump out at you. It seems to me that as a learning experience, Israel is a place where I can learn more than anywhere else," says Nomo Khumalo, a 34-year-old South African investment banker enrolled in the Sofaer IMBA.

Conflict Resolution and Mediation is a one-year Masters degree program created in response to the ever-increasing recognition in the academic world of the importance of conflict resolution. This program equips students with the necessary academic and practical tools to assess, manage and resolve conflicts.

A graduate of the program, Mohammed Ismail, a 26-year-old Palestinian-American, says, "The academics here are top-notch, and I deeply appreciate the self-realization I have experienced as I study the psychology of how each side [of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict] views the other."

The Middle Eastern Studies MA is a program designed for students interested in working in the Middle East in journalism, diplomacy, government, policy research, and activism. Located in Tel Aviv University's prestigious Department of Middle Eastern and African History, the program boasts some of the most renowned Middle East experts and analysts in the world today.

TAU's MA in Security and Diplomacy provides advanced knowledge and analytical tools for the study of strategy, diplomacy, decision-making and the shaping of security and foreign policy. The outlook of the program is global, with a special focus on Israel and the Middle East.

And starting this year, the Porter School of Environmental Studies will offer an International MA Program in Environmental Studies. The one-year program is designed to provide students with an intensive multidisciplinary insight into environmental studies, emphasizing Israel's unique geographic and geopolitical setting.

These five Masters programs join dozens of undergraduate and graduate courses in English in the Tel Aviv University curriculum.

For more Tel Aviv University news, click here.

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