Spring Semester 2009 closed

6 weeks (January 7 - February 12, 2009)

Sponsored by the Department of Political Science and the School of Criminal Justice in the College of Social Science in conjunction with the College of Arts and Letters

Arranged through the Office of Study Abroad (OSA)

What's this program about?

Australia. You’ll have ample time to travel independently after the program in Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands or Asia.

As a means of broadly exploring specific points of contrast, this study abroad program gives an overview of the contemporary government, political, and justice systems of Australia. It also examines traditional and emerging public policy in several areas of importance to contemporary Australia (i.e. the environment, immigration, aboriginal affairs, equal opportunity, multiculturalism, social welfare, health, and international relations). Where appropriate, study will also include comparisons to public policy in to the United States.

Top Reasons to Participate!

One of the best values in Australia

• Over 20 field trips to natural areas, parliaments, supreme courts, prisons, police academies, museums, the outback and much more
• One of the highest-rated programs at a much lower cost compared to others
• Lower cost means more money for other activities while you’re on the program, or for travel before or after

A complete introduction to Australia & its culture

• From city life in Sydney, to the beautiful beaches, to Canberra (nation’s capital), to the rugged Outback, to the experience of Aboriginal culture
• Earn a minimum of 8 credits with the possibility of earning up to 12

Make great connections

• Terrific potential for gaining recommendation letters from MSU faculty 
• Make lifetime friendships and professional contacts

Perfect timing

• Program runs for six weeks from early January to mid February
• Provides ample time for additional travel, internships or whatever you choose
• Avoid winter in Michigan – it’s summer in Australia!

Where does it take place?

Australia is a vast landmass about the size of the continental United States but with almost 20 million people.  Most people live in the coastal cities of the southeast.  This program is based in Sydney at the University of New South Wales for four weeks, and in Canberra, the nation’s capital, and at Jervis Bay, within the Boodaree rainforest along the South Pacific, for the remainder of time.

Sydney is Australia’s largest city (pop. over 4 million) and offers a pleasant environment bordered on one side by the ocean, famous for incredible turquoise water, white sandy beaches and a fantastic harbor.  In the other direction is the Bush - sparsely populated miles of mountains and great open plains filled with kangaroos, koala bears, and unique flora and fauna.  The city itself is a modern metropolis of skyscrapers, expansive parks and wonderful structures such as the Opera House.  Sydney has a climate similar to that of Los Angeles.  The University of New South Wales is located close to the city center, the harbor and the beaches.  There is access to the library and sports and recreational facilities.  The campus is similar in design to MSU with open areas and a mixture of old and new buildings.  The residence halls are also similar to those at MSU.  Train and bus transportation is located nearby most locations for easy individual travel within Australia. 

Canberra, the nation’s capital, is about a three-hour drive from Sydney and is situated inland among rolling hills.  Its modern government buildings, especially those on Parliament Hill, are engineering masterpieces.  Canberra was designed to be the capital city of the nation, just as Washington, D.C. was for the United States.  Lodging in Canberra will be at the Australian National University, within walking distance from the downtown area and government buildings.

Australia also has a significant indigenous population (the aborigines) whose treatment is a matter of great policy concern.  Furthermore, Australia attracts significant immigrant populations from both Europe and Asia.  It has tremendous natural resources over which developmental and environmental forces have clashed.  Its educational system is high quality and a blend of American and English models but also struggles with similar problems.  Its justice and legal systems blend the English and American models as well.  The country’s health care system is a blend of public and private initiative that must meet the needs of urban and very remote populations.

ADDITIONAL TRAVEL

If you wish, you may travel independently (before or after the program) throughout Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific Islands or other Asian countries.  Although MSU does organize a group flight arrangement for arrival, students are encouraged to explore other options that best fit their individual needs.  Arrangements may include stopovers in Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand, New Guinea or tropical areas of Australia.  Transpacific airfare costs will depend on the degree of advance booking and the day of the week that you travel.  Special fares are available to students of this program.  We usually arrange a group flight for those interested in such an option at a rate typically lower than found on the open market; students may either travel with the group, or make their own arrangements, as they wish.

What can I study?

This program offers an overview of the social, government, legal and criminal justice systems.  Like the United States and Canada, Australia has a federal system.  Australia’s legal, political and justice systems originated in England but have evolved over the last several decades to take on distinctly Australian features.  Some features of the American legal and political systems have been imported in the process.

More than twenty government and university experts will lecture on a number of policy issues such as aboriginal affairs, the environment, foreign policy, immigration, the economy, crime and the justice system, health care, social welfare, and equal employment opportunity.

CLASSES AND CREDIT

All students are required to enroll in a minimum of eight (8) semester credits (maximum of 12) from the following courses:

These courses are open to all majors with the approval of the faculty leaders for this program. 

Options for up to four additional credits are available depending on student preferences for a supplementary program of study.  The following two options may be taken individually or in combination for additional credit beyond the eight required credits.

1. Students may enroll for one to four additional semester credits from the list of courses above by proposing an acceptable course of supervised study on topics of interest.  All optional credits will be individually planned with, and supervised by, the course faculty.
2. Students who qualify for enrollment in an Australian university or in an internship following this study abroad program will be awarded additional credits in appropriate courses and appropriate amounts.   Students having an interest in either an internship or enrollment in an Australian university should confer with Professors Hudzik, Miller, or Sheehan as soon as possible because these options have prerequisites and limited space.

GRADING

MSU professors accompanying the program will grade students.  Grades will be based on performance in examinations, papers, class attendance and class participation.  Course credits and grades will be recorded on regular Michigan State University transcripts.

CLASSES AND FIELD TRIPS

Classes and field trips are normally held five days per week, leaving most weekends for individual travel and sightseeing.  Access to major university and research libraries is provided in both Sydney and Canberra.

Arrangements have been made for many guest lecturers, including members of parliament, highly placed ministerial officials, faculty members from Australian universities, and practitioners in the justice and public policy systems of Australia.

Field trips, some optional, are also planned to such places as the Blue Mountains, Jervis Bay, Lithgow Prison, the Royal Botanical Gardens, an aboriginal reserve, Corroboree, the National Museum, theatre at the Sydney Opera House, Harbor Cruise, parliaments, police academies, Taronga Zoo, Kuriong – Sheep Ranch, high courts and many others.

Course prerequisites may apply; see Course Descriptions (on the MSU Website) or program leader for details.

Students from all academic majors and from other colleges and universities are welcome to apply.

Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of acceptance.  Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission.

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?

Students will reside in residence halls (single rooms) at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and at the Australian National University in Canberra.

Who can tell me more about this program?

The MSU faculty associated with the program have over four decades of combined study abroad experience in Australia and elsewhere.  They have conducted research and taught courses on the political, legal, and criminal justice systems of Australia, Great Britain, Singapore, and the United States.

For more information, contact:

Program Web site 

Reggie Sheehan, Professor
Department of Political Science
336 S. Kedzie Hall
Phone:  (517) 355-6585  
 
Jane Miller, Administrative Associate
Office of the President and Board of Trustees
450 Administration Building
Phone (517) 432-0121

John Hudzik, Vice President for Global Engagement and Strategic Projects
Michigan State University
216 Administration Building
Phone:  (517) 432-1001
 
Sandy Tupper, Study Abroad Program Coordinator
Office of Study Abroad
109 International Center
Phone: (517) 432-4341

Do I need a passport or visa?

A valid passport and visa are required for this program.  The program leaders will help arrange visas for students in this program.

U.S. and non-U.S. citizens need a valid passport both to enter other countries and to return to the United States.  If you already have a passport, make sure it is valid until at least six months after your return date.  If you must apply for or renew a passport, APPLY EARLY, since a minimum of eight to ten weeks is usually required for processing.  During peak travel seasons, more processing time is required.  Passport forms are available at many federal and state courts, probate courts, some county/municipal offices and some post offices.  They can also be downloaded from the Web.

For more information about passports visit the web page.

A visa is official permission granted by the authorities of a country where you will study or travel that allows you to enter and remain in that country for a specific purpose.  The visa itself is frequently a stamp in your passport, not a separate document. You will need a passport before applying for a visa and the passport plus visa process may take several months, so start early.   It is your responsibility to inquire about visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad; this includes countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program.  If you are not a U.S. citizen, consult the embassy or consulate of the countries you will visit to learn their document requirements.

For more information about visas visit the web page.

If you will be staying in Europe for longer than 90 days, you will need to contact the consulate(s) of your host country(ies) for advice on visas.

Are there special health issues?

As part of your acceptance you will complete a Student Health/Emergency Treatment Authorization. It is your responsibility to ensure that your routine immunizations are up-to-date; inquire whether there are recommended and/or required immunizations or medications for the country/countries you will visit (including any countries you will visit that are not part of the study abroad program’s itinerary); and review educational issues relevant to your personal health and safety.

For further health information and recommendations visit the "Health Issues" section of the Student Handbook.

How much does it cost?

The program fee is $3,795 and includes the following:

• study abroad application fee ($100) which is applied to the program fee
• program deposit ($200) which is applied to the program fee
• pre-departure orientation
• private residence hall rooms
• most meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
• all required textbooks
• program-related ground transportation in Australia
• fees paid to Australian institutions
• accident and sickness insurance
• all costs for numerous field trips

Amounts not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget are:

• MSU tuition and fees*
• airfare
• passport application fee
• visa application fees (if applicable)
• pre-departure doctor visits (if applicable)
• pre-departure immunizations (if applicable)
• personal spending money

Excluding tuition and fees*, these additional costs are estimated at $3,043.  Students may request a cost sheet which lists both the program fee and an estimate of additional expenses by contacting the Office of Study Abroad at (517) 353-8920.

Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee.  Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses.  (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.)

How can I get help to pay for it?

Financial assistance is available to students who make appropriate arrangements with the Office of Study Abroad (OSA) and MSU’s Office of Financial Aid. 

If you are an MSU student and indicate on your application that you plan to use financial aid to pay for your study abroad experience, OSA will forward an estimated cost sheet to the MSU Office of Financial Aid for processing.  This form will include all anticipated costs associated with the program, including airfare.

If you are a non-MSU student, please request financial aid from your home university.  If your university is unable to award you financial aid, contact the MSU Office of Study Abroad to apply for loans only and you will be provided with instructions on how to proceed.

For further information about financial aid, visit the Web page.

Additionally, MSU students applying to any credit-bearing study abroad program are eligible for OSA Scholarships.   Some scholarships are based exclusively on academic performance; others are based on a combination of academic performance and financial need.  Requirements are listed in the scholarship application.  The deadline to apply for these scholarships is October 15th for spring semester programs.  

A generous endowment from the MSU Federal Credit Union, as well as additional resources provided through the Forest Akers Endowment, MSU Alumni Association, the Australia-Pacific Council, Eleanor and Charles Greenleaf Sr., Brigitte and Thomas Huff, the Georges Jules Joyaux Memorial Fund, the Kellogg Foundation, Charles and Marjorie Gliozzo, and contributors to the Overseas Study Endowment provide funding for these OSA scholarships.

For even more MSU scholarship opportunities through individual colleges or external scholarship possibilities (including funding for Multicultural students) visit the web page.

How do I apply?

You can apply online or download an application form.

Applications must be received in the Office of Study Abroad by October 15th for spring semester programs.  We strongly recommend that you apply early as this program may fill to capacity prior to this deadline.

Selection of applicants is done on a rolling admission basis - that is, applications are accepted and students are evaluated and considered for admission throughout the academic year.  Please remember that applying early and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee admission.

A $100 application fee is required.  Students will receive an e-bill for the application fee that is applied to the cost of the program and is non-refundable once a student has accepted admission into the program.  Students who have accepted admission may also be billed for a non-refundable and non-transferable $200 deposit, also applied to the cost of the program.

Students who wish to withdraw their application are required to notify the Office of Study Abroad, in writing, that they no longer intend to participate.

Acceptance to all programs is based, minimally, on a faculty review of your transcript and a review of the Judicial Affairs Office records (MSU students) or Dean of Students Reference (non-MSU students).

Details about the admissions process, pre-departure information, what to know while you’re abroad, and information about returning home can be found in the Study Abroad Student Handbook that will be sent to you with your acceptance letter.