Kent State Offers New Study in Israel Trip

Comparative Religious Thought, a standard philosophy course offered by Kent State University, will be offered for the first time as a study abroad course in Israel, allowing students to study in Israel during the summer. The study abroad program occurs May 24 to June 4 during the summer intersession. Students will study Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Baha’i, Zoroastrianism and the ancient religious traditions of the ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Babylonians. 

This three-credit hour course will be taught by Dr. David Odell-Scott, chair of Kent State’s Department of Philosophy, and will count as a Humanities CORE and Global Diversity course. Chaya Kessler, director of Jewish Studies at Kent State and a native of Israel, is accompanying Odell-Scott as an instructor of record and translator.

As part of the study trip, the group will visit historic and religious sites, including Tiberias, Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, archeological expedition sites, the City of David, the Dead Sea, the Jordan River, Masada, Yad V’Shem, Capernaum, Tabgha (loaves and fishes site), Elijah’s Mount Carmel site and Beit-Lechem.

The trip is open to current Kent State students and anyone else from the area who wishes to participate. Non-Kent State students will be expected to participate in the readings for the course. The trip will cost $3,500 for students and $4,000 for non-students. The fees include flight, accommodations, entrance fees, most meals and administrative fees.

An interest meeting will be held March 1 at 4 p.m. in room 124 in Bowman Hall, and the application deadline is March 15, which must include a $1,000 deposit. For more information, contact Dr. David Odell-Scott at dodellsc@kent.edu.

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Media Contacts:
David Odell-Scott, dodellsc@kent.edu, 330-672-2315
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595