Campus Map | A-Z Index | Staff | Contacts

Short Courses

ARTS 201: Regional Australian Society and Environment: A Field Study

*Expressions of Interests Closing 30th October for January 2010 Program!

The University of Wollongong offers Summer and Winter Short Courses in the faculties of Arts and Science: These short courses provide an opportunity to explore the Australian landscape, cultural and social issues through field based intensive three week study.

Program Details

ARTS 201 Regional Australian Society and Environment

Credit Points: 8 

Length: Three weeks

Week 1: Orientation and first week of lectures hosted at the University of Wollongong 

Week 2: Lectures are conducted in the field  

Week 3: Return to the University of Wollongong Campus for final lectures and wrap up assignments, etc.

Program Overview: 

ARTS 201 Regional Australian Society and Environment introduces students to a range of environmental and social issues relevant to understanding contemporary regional Australian society. It covers the natural and the social issues and examines both wider Australian and indigenous aspects of environment and society.

Field Study Locations

Field Studies in the New South Wales South Coast, as part of the Winter (January) program: 

2010	ARTS 201 South Coast Schedule	Location
3 January	Arrival in Wollongong	University of Wollongong
4 - 8 January	Compulsory Orientation Introductory lectures	University of Wollongong
9 - 17 January	Field studies	NSW South Coast
18 - 22 January	Presentations and review at UOW; Program finishes	University of Wollongong

Field Studies in the New South Wales South Coast, as part of the Summer (June/July) program: 

Details regarding the Summer (June/July) program to the NSW South Coast will be released shortly.

 

Program Outline

The initial orientation will be held at the University of Wollongong and will consist of lectures, presentations, seminars, films and workshops. The orientation is designed to build the broad context for the case studies, introduce the studies to be undertaken and the locations and procedures for the fieldwork. The fieldwork will be conducted over ten days. Debriefing, analysis, writing and presentation will occupy the last part of the program.

The orientation provides students with an overview of the history and environment of the region seen in the context of changing human occupation. The specific Australian ecologies and the relations between Indigenous people and European settlement are the main focus of the subject. During the orientation period, students will identify and begin preliminary research for a project that will be augmented by work in the field. Students will work together in small teams and make a team presentation of their research as part of the overall assessment. They will also keep a reflective journal on issues raised by the subject.

The issues covered will include some of: joint managed national parks; Aboriginal and eco-tourism; changing demography; rural restructuring; community governance; competing uses of land and natural resources; mining; endangered species; fire management.

The specific case studies are dependent on available expertise and will be advised prior to the start of the program.  The review period draws together the orientation and the field study, pursuing questions and issues raised, and having student research teams present their work to date. Coordinating staff will be available throughout to provide support.

Students will gain skills in field observations, research, cross-cultural approaches and critical thinking.

Assessment requirements

Students will be required to submit assignments, a reflective diary, a research presentation and a written research submission prior to the completion of the program.  Attendance at orientation, all classes and fieldwork is compulsory.

Credit Awarded

Students who successfully complete ARTS 201 Regional Australian Society and Environment will be awarded 8 credit points by the University of Wollongong. An official UOW academic transcript will be issued to the student's home university.

Accommodation

Accommodation will be provided in the UOW Residences during the Orientation program. For the field studies, students will be accommodated in either university-managed accommodation or dorm/hostel style accommodation.

Fees

The 2010 program fee is 

January 2010: $4,200.00
June/July 2010: TBC

The fee includes tuition, all accommodation and most meals; all program ground travel within Australia; an orientation program; pre-departure materials and airport shuttle services. The fee does not include airfares to or from Australia. Australian students are required to pay HECS, all associated travel costs, accommodation and subsistence costs.

Admission and Application Procedures

Applicants should be currently enrolled in a recognised university or other approved higher education institution. Successful applicants will normally have completed at least one year of study with a Cumulative Grade Point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher. All students whose first language is not English are required to provide evidence of satisfying the University English language requirements.

Whilst there are no formal pre-requisites for ARTS 201, the program would suit students who will be in their Junior year or the final semester of their Sophomore year with a background in an area related to Anthropology, Human Ecology, Environmental Studies, Geography, Indigenous Studies or Sociology.

The maximum number of students for the January 2010 program is 19; UOW reserves the right to cancel the program if the numbers are insufficient.

Interested?

Please email your Expression of Interest to studyabroad@uow.edu.au and you will be contacted in due course with application information.

Contact Us

Contact the UOW Study Abroad Office for further information on the ARTS201 program:

Study Abroad & Exchange Office
Student Central , Building 17
University of Wollongong
Northfields Avenue
Wollongong
NSW 2522
Australia

Tel: + 61 2 42 21 3170
Fax: + 61 2 42 21 3499

Email: studyabroad@uow.edu.au