Center for Rainforest Studies

Rainforests of Australia

Australia
Summer Session 1
4 Weeks
4 Credits
Summer 2026
Jun 1 - Jun 30
Open
Program Costs
  • Tuition$5,850
  • Room & Board$2,850
  • Total$8,430
Application Deadlines
Summer 2026
April 1, 2026
Summer Session 1 Program

Rainforests of Australia

Tropical North Queensland,
Australia

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. 

  • 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.

Academics

This academically rigorous program follows a six-day/week schedule. Each program combines theory learned during classroom sessions with field-based applications. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of environmental, social, and economic issues in the Wet Tropics of Australia.

Major academic themes include:

  • Rainforest and tropical biome ecology
  • Conservation and biogeography of Australian flora and fauna
  • Ecosystem restoration, fragmentation, and resilience
  • Climate change and anthropogenic impact

Courses

On the Rainforests of Australia program, you will take one 4-credit course. This course is participatory in nature and is designed to foster inquiry and active learning combining lectures, field exercises, assignments, and tests. This course is taught in English.

Click on the
to view a description and download the syllabus.
Rainforests of Australia
4 credits

Core Skills

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: GIS use and applications, species identification and population monitoring, forest survey methods, and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.

Field Sites

You will gain practical skills in the field such as: GIS use and applications, species identification and population monitoring, forest survey methods, and quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis.


Other Australia Programs

Semester

Rainforest to Reef

14 Weeks
16 Credits
Fall 2025
Sep 1 - Dec 5
In the Field
Spring 2026
Jan 26 - Apr 30
Filling Fast
Fall 2026
Aug 31 - Dec 3
Open

More Information

Program Costs
  • Tuition$23,850
  • Room & Board$5,750
  • Total$29,600
Summer Session 1

Rainforests of Australia

4 Weeks
4 Credits
Summer 2026
Jun 1 - Jun 30
Open

More Information

Program Costs
  • Tuition$5,850
  • Room & Board$2,850
  • Total$8,430
Summer Session 2

Marsupials of Australia

4 Weeks
4 Credits
Summer 2026
Jul 6 - Aug 4
Open

More Information

Program Costs
  • Tuition$5,850
  • Room & Board$2,580
  • Total$8,430

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