Media, Tourism, Environment and Cultural Issues in Australia
Not running in Summer 2008
Summer: 6 weeks (mid May to late June)
NOTE: This program runs in odd-numbered years only; next offering will be in 2009
Sponsored by the School of Journalism in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences and the Department of Community, Agriculture, Recreation and Resource Studies in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources
In cooperation with Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia
Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)
What's this program about?
Conducted in conjunction with Macquarie University in Sydney, with both Michigan State University and Macquarie University academic staff serving as program faculty, this eight-credit program will run in the summer of 2009 from mid May through late June. It will provide an overview of Australia’s media and examine its role in reporting public affairs, natural resources, cultural issues and the environment; explore Australia’s natural and cultural resources, their management and role in heritage and ecotourism; and assess various modes of interpretive communications. It is aimed at majors in journalism, media, natural resources management, tourism, communications, environmental sciences, social sciences and liberal arts.
There will also be an optional post-program internship in Sydney for additional credit.
Where does it take place?
The program begins in Sydney, Australia’s largest and most sophisticated city and site of the 2000 Olympics. Included are sessions with experts in news and the media, zoo and aquarium management, tourism, public relations and cultural affairs in Sydney, as well as field trips. While based in Sydney, participants also will visit Canberra, Australia’s capital and seat of government, and the Blue Mountains. Instruction and field visits in Canberra will include Parliament House, the War Memorial and discussions with media and environmental experts. The Blue Mountains segment will include a visit to a national park and discussions with wildlife and natural resource experts. Students will take part in a professional placement experience during their time in Sydney.
Next, the program visits the desert region of central Australia—the city of Alice Springs and Uluru (Ayers Rock), the world’s largest monolith and a site sacred to Aboriginal peoples for tens of thousands of years. The continent’s Red Centre provides incomparable beauty and Aboriginal culture, illustrating life and natural resources in arid environments.
The final portion of the program takes place in Townsville and Cairns near the Great Barrier Reef and Queensland’s tropical rainforest. Field activities will include a visit by boat to the Great Barrier Reef and visits to a cultural village, natural resource environments and outdoor recreation sites.
Students wishing to stay longer in Australia will have the option of registering for additional credits for a career-related internship in Sydney. See the program leaders for details.
What can I study?
Topics and discussions will include:
Additionally, MSU and Macquarie faculty will provide instruction on reporting, writing, photography, publishing, interpretive program development and tourism-experience enhancement via various modes of interpretive communications, and Web design.
Evaluation will be in the form of completed written and Web production assignments. These assignments may involve both individual and group projects. When completed, all approved projects will be included in the Web portfolio that has been created for the program at: http://australia.jrn.msu.edu.
All participants in the program will be required to bring along a camera, preferably digital, for documentary record-taking.
Undergraduates must enroll in a minimum of eight (8) semester credits at the 400 level in Journalism (4 credits) and CARRS (and related departments) (4-5 credits). Graduate students have the option of enrolling in 2-4 credits of PRR 891 credits in place of the CARRS 400-level credits (4-5 credits) and JRN 890 (4 credits) in place of JRN 400-level credits.
What are the requirements?
This program is designed for upper-level undergraduate and graduate students. MSU students from all majors are welcome to apply, as well as students from other colleges and universities. Preference in admission will be given to students in Journalism/College of Communication Arts and Sciences, CARRS/College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the RISE program.
Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of application. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.
An essay on “Why I want to go to Australia” is required as part of the application process. The essay should be about 250 words and should describe how participating in the program will enhance your education, both generally and relative to your degree program. Please include some indication of your primary interests (e.g., environmental journalism, resource-based tourism, natural and cultural resource management, interpretive communications, etc.).
Applicants’ participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation.
Where will I live?
While in Sydney, students will stay in housing provided by Macquarie University. During travel elsewhere in Australia, accommodations will include hotels, hostels, dormitories and campsites.
Some meals will be included at some locations, but students will need to budget for other meals.
Who can tell me more about this program?
Eric Freedman
School of Journalism
345 Communication Arts and Sciences Building
Phone: (517) 355-4729
Gail A. Vander Stoep
Dept. of Community, Agriculture, Recreation & Resource Studies
131 Natural Resources Building
Phone: (517) 432-0266
You can also visit the program’s Web site.