Oman: Political Culture and Economic Development in the Gulf

“Studying abroad with SIT in Oman enhanced my Arabic language skills and cultural understanding and helped me become a stronger, more independent person. Today I am the assistant director of the English department at a school in Nablus and a board member of the nonprofit organization, Teach for Palestine.”

-- Kelly Jones, University of Texas at Austin

Explore social and economic development, political reform, regional politics, and religious traditions in the Persian Gulf.

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The program is based in Oman’s capital city of Muscat, a meeting point of Arab, Asian, and African traditions, languages, and cultures. Intensive Arabic language instruction and homestays with Omani families further immerse students in Omani society.

Choice between two themes
Students choose to focus on political culture OR economic development and energy.
In each case, students are taught by local academics, employees from the government and private sectors, and other Omani professionals.

Resources and program partners typically include:

The Omani Center for Investment Promotion and Export Development
Faculty from Sultan Qaboos University
Government officials and employees from the Majlis Al-Shurah, the Central Bank of Oman, the Council for Scientific Research, among others.

Frequently, students also have the opportunity to learn from high-ranking experts from the private sector including law firms, oil companies, and consulting companies.

Experience the diversity of Oman and other Gulf States
The program incorporates several excursions outside Muscat.
Students travel to the Omani interior, the Sharqiyya, and Dhofar, as well as to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, conditions permitting. Students discover that the Gulf is home to differing cultural identities, standards of living, and lifestyles.

World Learning Oman Center
SIT students on this program can take advantage of the many resources available through the World Learning Oman Center. In addition to providing a library, offices, and classrooms, the Center hosts special events, including guest lectures, which SIT students are encouraged to attend. A recent highlight was a lecture on Islam by Sheikh Khalfan Al-Esry, one of the most public imams in Oman.

The Center aims to bring together emerging young leaders (Americans, Omanis, others from the Gulf, and beyond) to engage in joint learning, cultural exchange, and deeper understanding. It is the only US-based program that brings undergraduate and graduate students to Oman for educational programs.

The World Learning Oman Center is directed by Dr. J. Larry Brown. Dr. Brown previously served as Peace Corps country director in Uganda and as executive director of Harvard University's Center on Hunger and Poverty.

Browse this program's Independent Study Projects/Undergraduate Research