Education Abroad Opportunities
International Tourism Field Studies (ITFS)
RPTM 497A North Queensland, Australia (4 credits)
RPTM 497B South Island, New Zealand (4 credits)
These courses are available to all qualified Penn State students.
About the ITFS program
These courses are Spring courses with embedded 3.5-week components abroad during May and June. ITFS courses will meet weekly during the Spring semester in preparation for the abroad component in the South Pacific. Students with full-time status in the Spring semester do not have to pay any additional tuition for this 4-credit course; however, there is a course fee to cover the elevated degree of instruction provided abroad.
The courses examine the socio-cultural and political forces influencing environmental conservation and use in North Queensland, Australia and South Island, New Zealand. ITFS courses focus on topics related to sustainable development through educational travel, field trips, active participation, lecture presentations and seminars, and coursework exercises. The goal of these courses is to use regions in the South Pacific as cases to integrate the different perspectives of diverse natural, biological, and social science disciplines to improve understanding of relationships between human societies and the natural environment and the role of tourism in those interactions.
Students will receive 4 credits for either of these courses. Grades will count toward students' Penn State cumulative GPA. The courses may meet requirements in some majors and/or minors; therefore, you are encouraged to discuss your intention to take this course with your advisor and with RPTM's student advisor.
ITFS Australia (RPTM 497A)
Courses begin with a week on campus on the coast of North Queensland and ends with two days back on campus to complete the program. In between, we will have a 2.5 week field trip where we will snorkel (scuba diving is optional) to explore the marine biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef; learn about Aboriginal culture and history through interactions with indigenous communities in the Outback; and study the diverse wildlife and flora as well as natural resource management and ecotourism practices in the tropical rainforest of the Daintree World Heritage Area.
ITFS New Zealand (RPTM 497B)
After an initial week of study with lectures from expert faculty in Christchurch, we embark on a 2.5 week field trip to national parks, reserves, and coastal areas of New Zealand's magnificent South Island. This is one of the most environmentally diverse countries on the planet and many of its plants and animals are found nowhere else in the world. The natural context provides a unique opportunity to learn about issues such as ecotourism, sustainable development, global warming, conservation, and indigenous Maori cultures.
Registration
You must register for the class as a Spring semester course. Contact Lindsay Usher (leu105@psu.edu) for more information.
RPTM 497A (Australia) begins on May 12 (departs on May 10) and ends on June 4
RPTM 497B (New Zealand) begins on May 19 (departs May 17) and ends on June 11
Requirements
- 2.5 minimum GPA
- Evidence of maturity, stability, adaptability, self-discipline, and strong academic motivation
Prerequisites
Education Abroad (EA) and the Department of Recreation, Park and Tourism Management do not require the completion of specific courses prior to enrollment or departure. ITFS are experiential, interdisciplinary courses, and as a result they are appropriate for students in all majors with any semester standing.
Courses or areas of study
This program examines how indigenous communities, government agencies, industry, and tourists impact, protect and interact with the natural environment. Course instructors strive to integrate the individual expertise of students from different academic disciplines, to build shared understandings of human, society, environment interactions in the South Pacific and globally.
Housing and meals
You will be housed in dormitories while on campus, and in a variety of accommodation styles when traveling, including shared room in budget-style establishments, eco-resorts and national park lodges, serviced apartments and camping. There will be some group meals and breakfast is provided for a majority of the trip but you will be responsible for approximately two thirds of your meals.
Financial aid
Standard forms of financial assistance are available through the Office of Student Aid. Since Penn State students on Education Abroad-sponsored programs continue to be registered at Penn State, most awards remain in effect while students are abroad. More information about financial aid and scholarship options for education abroad is available on the Education Abroad website.
Estimated costs and billing
The course fee will be approximately $4,250 including all accommodations, in-country transportation, some meals, and all excursions and activities. Students enrolled full time in the Spring semester do not have to pay additional tuition. Additional costs include international airfare (approximately $1,200 round-trip from Los Angeles, with optional group airfare available) and other miscellaneous expenses (approximately $600).
Health insurance
All students participating in Penn State-sponsored education abroad programs—regardless of any existing insurance plans they may already have through any other source—will be automatically enrolled in a comprehensive health insurance plan designed for students studying abroad.
Find out more about these courses on Facebook.
Watch Course Videos on YouTube!
Australia:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rVBEM54fE0
New Zealand:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4g377HzGfIo
The RPTM Department also sponsors the following summer programs abroad Business, culture and language in Brazil - Penn State Outreach, Summer Abroad summerabroad
Expedition Fiji - University of Utah Summer Programs mail to: debk@psu.edu
Social Sciences and Management - University of Brighton Summer School iss
Business Tourism and Globalization - CIEE Palma de Mallorca, Spain programOverview
Contacts and information
If you are interested in one of these courses you may direct questions to:
Lindsay Usher, ITFS, Course Assistant (leu105@psu.edu)
Dr. Duarte B. Morais, ITFS Course Director (dmorais@psu.edu)
Additional Information
Why should I invest time and money in this course?
Study abroad experiences have become an integral component to a quality college education. Upon graduation, most students will be immersed in global work environments both in the U.S. and abroad. ITFS courses help students become conscientious, competent and engaged Global Citizens, by involving them in hands-on problem solving challenges in unfamiliar environments and cultures. ITFS students meet once weekly on campus during the Spring semester (check Schedule of Courses to verify class times and classroom location). This pre-trip component thoroughly prepares students to negotiate the challenges of a demanding travel schedule abroad and to cope with culture shock inherent to interacting with a foreign society. The pre-trip component also primes students to make the most academically from their experience abroad; readings, movies and discussions during the Spring classes will introduce environmental, social and political topics to be experienced in detail while abroad in May and June.
What are the risks associated with these courses?
Australia and New Zealand are Anglophone countries with a well-known record of social and political stability. Penn State course instructors will accompany students during instruction and will be closely available when students have periods of free/study time. During the Spring pre-trip classes on campus, students will learn how to stay safe while traveling abroad.
Sharing the experience!
Participating in ITFS courses is quite an adventure - flying across the world, traveling through exotic environments, co-living with a diverse group of peers, interacting daily with course instructors and local experts, completing hands-on academic assignments on the road, and participating in outdoor activities. ITFS students will be sharing these experiences through social web sites, blogs, phone calls and other means - so if you know an ITFS student or if you are interested in enrolling in an ITFS course next year, please stay in touch. To start, you can become a member of the ITFS group in Facebook group for updates, photos, socials, etc.