Destinations! New Zealand and Australia

Spring Semester

APPROXIMATE DATES
SPRING: February 1 - May 5

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point has sponsored extraordinary study/travel programs to the South Pacific since 1983. The Spring Semester in New Zealand offers you the opportunity to experience perhaps the most beautiful country in the world. You will see the equivalent of the Alps of Switzerland, fiords of Norway, coastline of northern California, thermal areas of Yellowstone, and pastoral scenery of Scotland. With a bent toward the sciences, classes emphasize the ecology, culture, and geography of the "land of the white cloud" in affiliation with the University of Canterbury in Christchurch on New Zealand's South Island.

Application Deadline: April 1, 2007 for guaranteed consideration; though late applications are sometimes taken. Please check with the International Programs Office for information on available positions. The program is limited to 20-25 students.

Go to the Applications page to find out how to get an application.


Eligibility

Sophomores, juniors, and seniors from all disciplines. Preference is given to upperclassmen. Academic fit, maturity, motivation, and preparation are important.


Costs

Cost Includes:

  • 15-week academic program.
  • Room and board in Christchurch with families.
  • UWSP fulltime undergraduate tuition for Wisconsin residents (Minnesota students who qualify for reciprocity pay approx. $325 surcharge, other out-of-staters pay $1000).
  • Airfare - roundtrip from a selected Midwest port to Australia/New Zealand with optional stops on return.
  • Study tour to Australia is standard! The first 10 days will be spent in/near Sydney, Australia studying ecology, culture, and history. In New Zealand, both a week long tour of the South Island at program's beginning and a week-long exit tour through the North Island will expand the boundaries of the typical classroom.
  • UW-System mandatory travel insurance

Plan your budget to cover passport, personal expenses during your break period.
*Cost based on 20 participants.

Click here for latest price estimates


Itinerary

Midwest and return; Australia (10 days), and New Zealand (approx. 15 weeks). Flight returns are possible with several stop options: Fiji, Cook Islands, and Los Angeles.


Classes

A variety of site related courses will be offered that can be used to fulfill General Degree Requirements. In addition, NRES 320 Natural Resources will be offered. Opportunities are available for independent studies.

Dr. Rick Wilke will accompany the program and teach natural resource related courses and supervise independent studies. He can be reached at rwilke@uwsp.edu or at (715) 346-4766. His office is located in the CNR Room 186.


Sample Core Class List

ANTHROPOLOGY 338 - Peoples of the Pacific
3 credits, GDR: SS1 (NW)

Ethnological survey; the cultural organization of Pacific societies and the significance of social change. This course is intended to introduce students to the peoples and cultures of the islands of the South Pacific. A particular focus of the course is on the way in which traditional societies are changing under the influence of migration, economic developments, foreign aid, military experimentation, and the demonstration effect of Western styles of life.


ENGLISH 383 ‑ Themes in the Contemporary Literature of New Zealand
3 credits, GDR: HU2

Works of several writers, demonstrating a theme or related themes. This course is an investigation into contemporary writing by focusing on issues, themes, and preoccupations such as identity, landscape, urban, and bucolic literature, mateship, feminism, indigenous peoples, and multiculturalism in New Zealand since 1900.


GEOGRAPHY 350 - Physical Geography of New Zealand
3 credits, GDR: NS

Examine basic physical environmental processes that form and drive the physical environment of New Zealand and resulting geographic environmental patterns. How human activities affect and are affected by natural systems. Develop geographic skills through lab and field work. May require field trips.


INTERNATIONAL STUDIES 300 - International Study Tour:
Australia and New Zealand

2 credits, Required

Analyze social, cultural, economic, and political conditions through on-site tours and lectures with appropriate study and writing. Lectures and field trips to introduce students to plants, animals, geology, marine ecology, culture, and history of Sydney, New South Wale, Australia/New Zealand. Australian segment of the program is coordinated by the Macquarie University in Sydney. New Zealand study tours include the North and South Islands. Letter grade based on attendance at all scheduled activities and oral/written assignments.


INTERNATIONAL STUDIES 381 - Culture and Civilization: New Zealand
3 credits, Required, GDR: HU4

Advanced survey within a specific country or region. Subtitle designates country or region. May repeat with different subtitle. Topics may include New Zealand's language, literature, art, recreation, mass communication, Maori culture, "Kiwiana," etc.


NATURAL RESOURCES 320 - Natural Resources and Public Relations
3 credits, GDR: WE

Prepare natural resource specialists for involvement with various publics, including governmental agencies, boards, and committees, professional associations, and environmental societies; identify public relation techniques and methods of evaluating public input that are used by resource professionals.


NATURAL RESOURCES 395 - Introduction to Environmental Study
3 credits, GDR: EL

Natural, social, and economic factors influencing the quality of our environment; ecological relationships and principles and their relation to population growth, pollution, resource allocation and depletion, conservation technology and urban and rural planning. College of Natural Resources majors/minors may enroll in this course as NRES 499 and will substitute for NRES 150.


POLITICAL SCIENCE 490 - Selected Problems in Political Science:
New Zealand and the Pacific Rim.

3 credits

Examine problems in political thought or political activities. Provides an introduction to New Zealand's history, constitution, monarchy, elections, parliament, Maoris, women's rights, international relations with the U.S. and other Pacific nations, as well as the politics and society of Polynesia.


WELLNESS 199 A/A - Independent Study
1 credits, GDR: WL A/A

Obtain standardized forms and requirement packets from the International Programs Office.


INDEPENDENT STUDY
Make sure we have appropriate documentation: a complete, carefully written outline of your project on our Independent Study form, signed by instructor and Department Chair by December 1; please, no delays. Detailed Independent Study forms are available in the International Programs Office. Independent Study credits are taken in addition to the 14-credit minimum.


*Please see the International Programs Office to confirm the current class offerings.

Withdrawal

Up to ten weeks before the start of the program, all fees except the initial $250 deposit will be refunded. After the time, tuition, airline, tour costs and housing charges are assessed. If the program would be cancelled, all fees will be refunded. Because exchange rates and airline prices fluctuate, International Programs reserves the right to cancel, surcharge, or to alter the program.

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