• Description

  Are you interested in "green" issues and sustainable development? Are you hoping to work in some capacity that will benefit society and the environment through policy and innovation? Are you thinking about entering the field of environmental science or environmental education? Then this program is for you. The Sustainability and the Environment study abroad program in Perth, Australia offered at the CIEE Study Center at Murdoch University helps you to understand the complexities and opportunities regarding the many facets of sustainability. You'll learn about sustainability, conservation biology, and public policy through unique course offerings available through this program.

  Academic Program
  Established in 1991 as the first CIEE program in Australia, the CIEE Study Center at Murdoch University has hosted hundreds of students from universities across the U.S. The CIEE Study Center provides a supportive, yet challenging environment in which to study and gain firsthand knowledge of Australian life and culture.

  The Sustainability and the Environment program, which opened in 2009, provides focused programming to students interested in issues of sustainability through coursework in the following disciplines: sustainability studies, public policy, planning, legal studies, environmental science, and the biological sciences. The program aims to develop the student's knowledge and skills to meet the global needs of current and future generations. This is accomplished through integrated coursework in the environmental, sustainability, and biological sciences.

  Academic Culture
  All courses are taught by Murdoch faculty which, proportionately, holds the highest number of doctorates of all Australian universities. Murdoch University uses a point system and the normal full-time course load is 12 points each semester, which is equivalent to 15 U.S. semester credits. Most Murdoch subjects are designated as either three- or four-point classes. Students are eligible to enroll in any course for which they are qualified. The approach to teaching in Australian universities requires that students take a great deal of responsibility for their own learning. A typical subject consists of two hours of lectures and one to two hours of tutorials per week, with the addition of lab work in the sciences. Many science classes also involve fieldwork. While contact hours are not high, students are expected to undertake a significant amount of directed reading on their own time. Self-motivation and self-discipline are encouraged by the Australian system.

  The Murdoch University academic year lasts from early February through the end of November and is divided into two semesters. Semester I (early February to mid-June) corresponds to the spring semester at U.S. institutions and Semester II (late July to late November) corresponds to the U.S. fall semester. The program at Murdoch University is offered both semesters and consists of a one-week orientation, 12 weeks of classes, a two-week mid-semester break, a one-week study period, and a two-week final exam period. The academic year program consists of two consecutive semesters and may follow the U.S. academic year (Semester II and Semester I) or the Australian calendar year (Semester I followed by Semester II). Students who apply for the U.S. academic year program can take advantage of the three-month summer (Christmas) break to work or travel in the region.

• Highlights

  * Choose from innovative academic offerings in the areas of Sustainability, Environmental Science, and Life Sciences
  * Live in Western Australia, home to an astounding number of beautiful and diverse ecosystems with access to marine parks, the Golden Outback, and the largest collection of wildflowers on earth
  * Benefit from on-site, full-time support from CIEE staff with academic and work experience in the areas of environmental science and sustainability
  * Volunteer with a local conservation project and gain real-life experience

Culture
Cultural Activities and Field Trips
The program includes a variety of excursions and activities focusing on the environment and sustainable development, including trips to local sustainable housing units and protected habitats. In addition, excursions are available to learn about Australian culture, such as trips to see an Australian Rules football game, an Aboriginal Heritage Tour, bush walking, and visits to museums, theaters, and art galleries. CIEE makes the most of Western Australia's wonderful opportunities for outdoor recreation. Students take part in a surfing lesson, experiencing some of the world's best surf beaches. Many students also independently achieve scuba diving certification. In addition, there are opportunities for weekend homestays with rural families, and the chance to undertake community work in study-related areas. Students may also participate in additional trips arranged outside of the typical excursion program for an extra fee.

Northwest Excursion
The Northwest Excursion, included in the program fee, is a trip to the rugged northwest region of Western Australia to an area known as the Pilbara. The Pilbara covers close to 2,500 square miles and includes plains of wild flowers and mountainous outcrops - among the oldest on earth. It is also home to some of Australia's most hardy fauna and flora. Students may come across the shy rock wallaby, the perentie lizard, grey and red kangaroos, and many other unique animals.

Monkey Mia in Shark Bay is one of the highlights of the excursion. Monkey Mia is a World Heritage Site and attracts schools of dolphins to its shores daily. It is the closest students will get to a dolphin unless they work in a marine park. Along with the dolphins live other marine life such as the Dugongs (Manatees), called the "Mermaids of the Sea," and turtles. This area is also home to our oldest living ancestors, the Stromatalites, which have evolved over three to four billion years, as well as Shell Beach, an entire beach made of shells.

Students snorkel in the Ningaloo Reef, which is also a World Heritage Site. More accessible than the Great Barrier Reef and home to as many as 500 species of tropical fish and 200 species of coral, it is home to the migratory whale sharks, the "gentle giants" of the sea. Humpback whales also cruise just beyond the reef during the months of July, October, and November.

Another highlight of the excursion is Karijini National Park. Hidden among Western Australia's mining towns, this area is untouched and pristine in beauty. While enjoying the splendor of its gorges and flora and fauna, students swim in freshwater rock pools. The hikes and trails through the gorges are challenging, as well as breathtaking with their Aboriginal drawings and wildlife. Billions of years old, the rocky gorges are spectacular in formation. Students who do not participate on the Northwest Excursion will not be reimbursed.