AUSTRALIA
Murdoch University Perth, Australia
Clark's new year-long or semester program in Perth, Australia, is administered by the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE). The program is designed to provide students with a critical appreciation of both Australia and its regional setting, while they pursue their own academic interests at one of Australia's foremost research and teaching universities. Students gain an understanding of Australian society and its connections with Asia, while pursuing an exceptional range of academic and recreational opportunities. Integration with Australian students and other opportunities to become immersed in local society enable students to go beyond mere observation and become full participants in the host culture.
Australia's seasons are reversed from those of the U.S., and the academic year is reversed as well. Students can attend Murdoch University either the fall or the spring semester. If students want to go for an entire year, we recommend going in Clark's spring semester first, followed by the fall semester, completing the entire academic year at Murdoch University.
Location
Murdoch is situated in the suburbs of Perth, and students usually divide their social time between the city centers of Perth and Fremantle, both easily accessible by public transportation. It is also one of Australia's most beautiful campuses, with its stunning natural gardens, harmonious buildings, and on-campus accommodation. Students at CIEE-Murdoch University have exclusive access to a dedicated CIEE Study Center, including a small lounge and computer laboratory.
Located on the southwestern coast of Australia, Perth is the state capital of Western Australia. With a population of 1.3 million people, its many contrasts range from skyscrapers and nightlife to over 30 miles of white sandy beaches. It is ranked Australia's cleanest and most environmentally attractive city, has more hours of sunshine than any other Australian city, and was ranked in a 2002 international survey as one of the world's top three lifestyle destinations. The local population enjoys a cosmopolitan outdoor lifestyle, first class cultural, social, and recreational amenities, and excellent proximity to the major cities of Asia. Because of its location on the Indian Ocean rim and just a few hours flight from major destinations in Asia, Perth is a vibrant multicultural city with an outward-looking persona. The CIEE Study Center at Murdoch University reflects this and appeals strongly to students with an interest in cross-cultural studies, including interest in Australia's indigenous population and culture. It is also recommended for science students, particularly those in the fields of biological science, marine biology, ecology, and the environment.
Academic Program
Clark students enroll in a full-time academic program alongside Australian students. All courses are taught by Murdoch faculty, with Murdoch staff enjoying one of the highest proportions of doctorates of all Australian universities. Murdoch University uses a point system, and CIEE Program students are required to take 12 Murdoch points per semester, which is equivalent to 15 U.S. semester/22.5 quarter credits. Each semester consists of a one-week orientation, 13 weeks of classes, two weeks of mid-semester break, a one-week study period, and a two-week final exam period.
To facilitate academic understanding of Australia's history, culture, and society, Clark students are required to enroll in an Australian Studies course. Many students choose from Murdoch's strong offerings in Aboriginal and Islander Studies. Options include Australia and its Asian Context, Australian Environmental History, Australian Foreign Policy, Aboriginal Cultures, Aboriginal Issues, Aboriginal History, Aboriginal Writing Today, Australian Literature and Film, Australia in the Twentieth Century, Black Indigenous Music, Australian Economic History, Australian Environmental Issues, and Australian Cinema. Students can also take the opportunity to study the local Nyungar language. (Clark does not give credit for this language course!)
The approach to learning and teaching in Australian universities requires that students take a great deal of responsibility for their own learning. A typical subject consists of two hours of lectures and one to two hours of tutorials or lab work per week. While contact hours are not high, students are expected to undertake a significant amount of directed reading on their own time. Self-motivation and self-discipline are encouraged by the Australian system, which is based on a combination of lectures, tutorials, and seminars and, in the sciences, laboratory work. Many science classes involve fieldwork.