SFS AUSTRALIA: RAINFORESTS OF AUSTRALIA
(SUMMER I)
PROGRAM DETAILS
Term | Summer Session I
Credits | 4 semester-hour credits (8 credits if taken with Session I)
Prerequisites | No course prerequisites, 2.5 GPA, 18 years of age
Application Deadline | April 1st. Early applications encouraged
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OVERVIEW
Venture into the lush rainforests, wild savannas, and vibrant reef systems of tropical northern Australia and discover what makes these ecosystems some of the most unique on Earth. Explore the Wet Tropics up close while learning how climate, fire, and human history have shaped this biodiversity hotspot.
Hike through ancient forests, collect ecological data in the field, and snorkel on an island on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef. Along the way, you’ll gain field research skills, view some of Australia’s extraordinary wildlife, and dive into big questions of conservation and climate resilience.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
→ Hike through the World Heritage Wet Tropics, home to ancient rainforest species, endangered marsupials, and evolutionary lineages stretching back to Gondwana.
→ Snorkel near the Great Barrier Reef and explore the relationships between land, sea, and the species that depend on both.
→ Use scientific tools to identify species, track biodiversity using citizen science platforms, and analyze habitat fragmentation.
→ Explore diverse habitats to compare ecosystem structure, disturbance, and recovery across landscapes.
LOCATION
Students live and study at the SFS Center for Rainforest Studies. Our Center lies at the end of a narrow, winding road, in the middle of a lush rainforest. The 153-acre property is surrounded by protected World Heritage forests, and you can see incredible wildlife from the front steps of your cabin. Nearby Yungaburra and Cairns provide the occasional return to civilization.
SUMMER COMBINED
Take back-to-back summer sessions and get the hands-on learning and skill-building experiences of an internship while also going off the beaten path and exploring the world. Each summer session focuses on a different topic, and you’ll have time to travel independently between sessions.
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CONNECT WITH SFS
SPECIAL CSU INSURANCE NOTE
CSU students attending School for Field Studies programs will be automatically enrolled in additional travel health insurance. This very affordable insurance supplements the gaps, which U.S. insurance plans typical do not cover abroad (including evacuation coverage, out-of-network deductibles/co-pays, etc.). This insurance fee will be included in your CSU RamWeb charges approximately 10 days prior to the term start at CSU. For more information about the insurance benefits and costs, please reference the
CSU Education Abroad insurance website.
