Overview

This course takes you to Western Australia which is adored for its brilliant blue skies, warm sunny climate, and white sandy beaches. It is a land blessed with some of the world's most precious natural phenomena including the dolphins of Monkey Mia, the 350-million-year-old Bungle Bungle range, and the towering karri forests of the Southwest. Perth, the capital city of the State, is home to 1.38 million people and enjoys more hours of sunshine than any other capital city in Australia.

Sophisticated yet uncomplicated, the lifestyle in Western Australia is a relaxed one. While on this program, you will have the opportunity to go on field trips to places of cultural significance during one of the most important of the Nyungar culture's six seasons when the rains signal the cleansing of the land, river and ocean. Along the way you will engage in comparisons of colonial and indigenous discourse, perspectives, and reflection.

Location

You will be based at Murdoch University for the duration of your program undertaking your courses with faculty at the campus as well as experiencing field trips in the surrounding regions. The University is located approximately 20 minutes by bus (15 kilometers) from Perth’s city center and 10 minutes by bus (eight kilometers) from the port city of Fremantle.

Murdoch University is consistently rated as one of the top teaching universities in government student surveys and was recently rated the top teaching campus in Western Australia. Murdoch University is committed to the pursuit of excellence and has achieved an international reputation for the quality of its teaching and research. With a student population of 12,000, Murdoch supports excellent staff student relations, and provides state-of-the-art facilities, excellent student services, and a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Examples of field trip locations:

Balardong Boodjah (Maarli Mia/Kings Park)
Walyuap (Freemantle)
Wadjemup (Rottnest Island)
Wardandi (Yallingup)

Academic Focus and Course Description

The broad aims of this program are to:
• Introduce students to a range of knowledge about Nyungar and their place within past and contemporary Australia;
• Understand the relationship between social and cultural theory and practice;
• Understand how Aborigines, in this case the Nyungar people, have influenced/continue to influence Australian culture; and
• Enable students to understand Nyungar worldviews.


On successful completion of the program, students should be able to:
• Research and write an essay and present a group workshop on Nyungar culture;
• Understand the difference between stereotype and knowledge;
• Comprehend Nyungar worldviews; and
• Develop rudimentary writing, reading and speaking skills in Nyungar, and thereby understanding the importance of narrative in Nyungar society.

Course Structure and Assessment

Course Leaders:
Elders, academics, and other Australian indigenous community members will participate in the teaching program:

• Glen Stasiuk: Director of the Kulbardi Centre, WASA Award winning director of the documentary "The Forgotten".

• Len Collard, Senior Lecturer with Australian Indigenous Studies, is considered a leader in Australian Indigenous Studies, particularly Nyungar culture and language.

• Marie Taylor teaches Nyungar Cultural Studies at Murdoch University and Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre and ensures that Nyungar culture, traditions, and language can be maintained.


Lectures:
Lectures will cover a range of topics including but not limited to:

• Cosmology “The Story of Nyungar Creation”
• Nyungar the People: Nyungar Cultural Identity – A Theoretical Framework
• First Contact – Dutch & Portuguese History
• Nyungar & Wedjela Interactions
• Contemporary Issues
• Nyungar Cartograpy
• Trade and Tourism Reflection


Daily Academic outline:

Each on-campus day of classes will incorporate a mix of lecture, seminar, small group tutorial (yarning) discussions, and practical work.


Assessment:

• Journal - sketches, images, descriptions, and reflections on readings
• Language - oral language tests (four tests at 5 percent each)
• Paper - 1,000–1,500 words comparative analysis
• Group presentation
• Individual participation


Credit:

Six credits will be issued on a Murdoch University transcript. This credit equates to two subjects in a standard U.S./Canada subject load. Prior credit approval should be gained from your home university.

Program Highlights

•Immerse yourself in Australia’s fascinating Aboriginal culture by learning about the Nyungar people and culture

•Learn from three of Australia’s leading experts on Aboriginal studies

•Study in Perth, Western Australia – one Australia’s best-kept secrets and most beautiful coastal cities

•A $500 scholarship is available


Who It’s For

Open to students of all majors and at least sophomore standing. May be pf particular interest to those studying sociology, history, cultural studies, anthropology, or related fields.

Fees

Program Fees

$4,990.00

Fee Includes

Tuition, campus services fee, field trips (not all meals included), and accommodation. Students will be responsible for their own travel to Perth and daily to campus, meals, living expenses, etc. Students will stay in a apartments located in the CBD of Perth – a 20 minutes bus ride to the campus.

Fee Semester

The above fee is the estimated fee for Summer 2008. Fees are subject to change for future terms.

Facts

Location: Perth, Western Australia
Overseas Students: 0
Staff: 0
Total Enrolment: 0

Entry Requirements

Applicants must have the required GPA and have completed at least the equivalent of one year of full-time study at the university/college level. Open to all majors, but of particular interest to liberal arts, anthropology, psychology, and history majors.

Required GPA: 2.50

University Specific Scholarships

Murdoch University is sponsoring one $500 AUD scholarship for the 2009 program. A scholarship application will be available once accepted to the program.