One week in New Zealand

• Learn about Maori culture and visit Maori cultural sites
• View films and read novels from New Zealand
• Encounter the diversity of New Zealand wildlife
• Go “Black Water Rafting” in the Waitomo Glow-Worm Caves
• Tour Rotorua geothermal sites

Two weeks in Queensland, Australia

• Learn about the Aboriginal culture
• View films and read novels from Australia
• Four day guided tours of the diversity of wildlife in the rain forest (Tablelands)
• Snorkel the Great Barrier Reef.
• Tour the rainforests of Daintree and Cape Tribulation

City FACTS

New Zealand: We will begin and end in Auckland, which is New Zealand’s largest city.  It is known as the City of Sails and is located on an isthmus between Manukau and Waitemata harbors.  Auckland has a wonderful mixture of cultures including European, South Pacific, and Asian, along with Maori. 

Australia: In Queensland, we will have a base in Cairns. The city was named after a governor of Queensland, William Wellington Cairns. The city is a nexus for tourism because of its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and the tropical rainforests in Daintree National Park and Cape Tribulation.  The city is also home to the northern branch of James Cook University and there are also several theme parks for tourists.

Eligibility Requirements

This program is open to all undergraduate and graduate students who are matriculated towards a degree at a U.S. university or college and who has taken at least twenty-four course units at a college or university.

Academic Program

The program has two components, Ecology/Conservation and Culture, which may be taken together or students may elect to take only one component. 
There are three alternatives for the Ecology/Conservation component; students may take 3 units of: BIO 110 (area R upper division) or BIOL 180 (Individual Studies) or, for graduate students, BIOL 280 (Individual Studies). In the undergraduate courses on Biodiversity and Biopolitics, students will be expected to make presentations and develop writings directed toward conservation issues for one or both of the countries.  For the graduate Biology course, students will be expected to lead discussions and develop a conservation plan.
There are two alternatives to the Culture component; students may take 3 units of:  ENGL 117 (Film, Literature and Cultures, GE Area V) or ENGL 123C (South Pacific Literature). In the Film and Literature class, for example, will read novels and watch films related to each country, with special emphasis on Maori and Aboriginal topics; whenever possible, these works will have specific connections to the flora and fauna, the localities, and the cultures we will encounter. Having read the fiction and seen the films, students will be asked to discuss them in classroom settings, and to write about them in essays. 

To earn SJSU Studies (upper-division GE) credit in BIOL 110 or ENGL 117, students must have passed the WST exam prior to going down under.

Program Overview

The purpose of these courses is to introduce students to the rich culture and biodiversity of New Zealand and northeastern Australia.  Even though the two countries are separated by a relatively narrow body of water, they are distinct and have unique heritages.  The Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, while the Aboriginal people are indigenous to Australia.  However, both countries have been heavily influenced by other nations, and their populations today are also comprised of Europeans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and others.  The two countries also have very different plants and animals.  By offering the courses together and visiting the same sites with all the students, we hope to provide a wonderful introduction to the diverse human and natural worlds of these two amazing places.

Accommodation, Safety, and Visas

Throughout our stay, our accommodations will be in secure, air-conditioned and comfortable hotels or lodges.  Rooms will be shared by students. Most meals will be provided but there will be times for students to explore on their own and, during those times, students will be expected to pay for any expenses they incur.
To enter New Zealand and Australia , you will need a valid passport.  Information on obtaining a USA passport can be found at http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/first/first_830.html.  As it can take several months to obtain a passport, you should apply as early as possible. You will not need a visa to travel to New Zealand but, to travel to Australia, you will need to apply for a ETA Short Stay Visa (http://www.visabureau.com/australia/tourist-visa.aspx) a few weeks in advance of your visit.

No special immunizations are required for travel to New Zealand or Australia.  The Center for Disease Control (http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationAustralia.aspx) recommends routine vaccinations (i.e. Influenza, measles, mumps, rubella and a current vaccination for Tetanus-Diphtheria

Program Leaders

Program Dates

June 1- June 22

Application Form

Applications due Feb 20 to either Dr. D. Mesher or Dr. S. Bros-Seemann (see below for contact information)

Estimated Costs

Estimated Costs for 3 units. (Final pricing will be set after the application deadline, depending on exchange rates and the number of participants. The following is a close approximation.)

Information Meeting:
Feb 10, Tuesday, 4:30-5:30 pm in CL 100H
Feb 11, Wednesday, 5:30-6:30 pm in CL 100H

Contact us at the Study Abroad Office, Clark Hall, Room 543 Tel  (408) 924-5931 Fax (408) 924-5976
or send us an email