Overall Rating Gold
Overall Score 78.11
Liaison Kristin Larson
Submission Date Oct. 23, 2023

STARS v2.2

San Diego State University
AC-5: Immersive Experience

Status Score Responsible Party
Complete 2.00 / 2.00 Molly Weber
AASHE STARS Student Intern
Office of Energy & Sustainability
"---" indicates that no data was submitted for this field

Does the institution offer at least one immersive, sustainability-focused educational study program that is one week or more in length?:
Yes

A brief description of the sustainability-focused immersive program(s) offered by the institution:
Program Overview
SIT Study Abroad Australia: Sustainability and Environmental Action

Surrounded by the inspiring beauty of Australia’s World Heritage areas, investigate sustainable ways of protecting the environment and promoting equality.

WHY STUDY SUSTAINABILITY IN AUSTRALIA?

With poor soils, unique organisms, and a climate governed largely by El Niño, Australia has keenly felt the effects of climate change. From your base two blocks from the beach in the small coastal town of Byron Bay, you’ll explore Australia’s burgeoning permaculture and sustainable farming initiatives. During excursions and workshops, including ten days in Tasmania, a sustainable urban design workshop in Melbourne, and a five-day camping trip with Aboriginal elders, you’ll meet environmental activists, see examples of successful campaigns, and get tools to apply sustainability efforts at home.

You’ll spend much of the program in the field. In each destination, you will learn about climate, geology, geomorphology, soils, and flora and fauna as well as the area’s human history and culture, in order to instill a sense of place and to help understand its unique management issues. During three interactive workshops, you’ll learn about environmental psychology, discover how Aboriginal peoples view and relate to their environments, and get practical tools to take effective action toward environmental social change.

Optional Fields 

Website URL where information about the institution’s immersive education programs is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
More information about International Experiences for Sustainability Majors:

https://sustainability.sdsu.edu/program-information/international-experience

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