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International Summer Sports ProgramStudent-athletes attend classes, study, train, and compete with Australians for five weeks in Sydney. This program fosters international competition and cross-cultural understanding and is a perfect opportunity to study abroad without losing valuable training. Highlights | Program Structure | Location | Academic Component | Sports Program Component | Coach Profile | Requirements | Housing | Fees | Program Contacts | Frequently Asked Questions | Highlights from our unique Michigan State University Summer Sports Program 2010 Program Dates: June 23rd - July 28th 2010 Program Overview: .pdf Click here for Application Instructions. Highlights
Testimonials:"My experience on the Summer Sports Program Down Under was so incredible! Not only did we participate in a variety of sports and learn about Australian history, but we experience the history as well. We did so many incredible things! We were so fortunate to have MSU and Study Australia working together to make our experience with our sport such an amazing time. Once a week we practiced with Australian PGA Professional, Geoff Murtha, and twice a week we would go to a variety of absolutely beautiful golf courses - three of them right on the ocean! Whale watching between holes is definitely something I will never forget." Matthew A., Michigan State University "Coming into the Sports Program Down Under as a former high school athlete and never playing collegiate athletics...I had my doubts about this and being able to perform with Australian athletes. However, the program did an excellent job pairing me with other athletes that were at similar playing levels as I. My coaches were great! It's a different way of coaching over there than here, but that was what was so fun about the whole experience. We had time blocks for...scheduled activities and free time. And most sports only played 3-4 times per week, so on the off days you had free time as well. It was set up so you had times where it was just you going to your sport, you and all of your classmates, and you and whoever you wanted to explore the city with. I loved the schedule. Going into the program I thought of it as a trip/vacation type of experience. But it was so much more than that! I really was living in another country for 5 weeks. I was going...through the city on my own, taking public transportation and just living in that city. I've heard how amazing study abroad can be, but you don't understand until you've experienced it first hand. This program was the perfect program for me. Not only is Australia an amazing and beautiful country, but incorporating sports into a study experience was such a great way to learn more about the country and the interaction with its people. We studied Australian history, literature, art, etc., but incorporating sports into that study, which is such a huge part of their culture, allowed us to see all aspects of the people and how they live." Kayla W., Michigan State University "My study abroad experience to Austraila was the absolute best experience of my life! It was such an amazing experience and i can't wait until i get a chance to go back someday! My sport was golf. I did not play golf in high school or college, but I believe I will golf for the rest of my life and wanted to improve my skills a bit. I definitely did! Being out to golf twice a week at different courses as well as getting the chance to work with a world renowned golf pro was just amazing. Not only did I learn a ton but I was able to see more of Australia than anyone else on my trip! So, not only were the day to day experiences of exploring on our own awesome, but the fact that we got to do it on golf courses too was just an added bonus. I really grew as a person on my trip. I realized that I am able to be on my own, even in a different country. The staff was always available to talk to if we needed anything as well! I made so many new friends, from here in the USA as well as Australian friends that I still keep in touch with. I would urge anyone that has the opportunity to do this, to do it! You may not be able to when you get older so take advantage when you can! I even got to go skydiving, scuba diving, white water rafting and stay a night in the rainforest. It was an amazing experience and I wish I could go back right this minute!" The ProgramThis program is organized in conjunction with Michigan State University's Office of Study Abroad. The International Summer Sports Program offers a unique educational opportunity for college students who have sports commitments or who are sports enthusiasts. The program encourages student-athletes to compete and grow on every level: academically, athletically and culturally. In cooperation with the NCAA guidelines, student-athletes no longer have to sacrifice study abroad to keep pace with their athletic pursuits no matter the level of their competition. The program defines "college athlete" as anyone who currently participates on any sanctioned university intramural sports team, any varsity student-athlete (scholarship or non-scholarship) or any sports enthusiast who competed in sports at the high school level. Join the team! It’s time to prepare for the rest of your life! This year, the program offers training programs in the following sports:
*Other sports may be available upon request. Program LocationThe program is based on the east coast of Australia utilizing two main locations, Sydney and Cairns, with additional excursions to other areas of the country. During the first week, students will experience the atmosphere of the New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) with insights into elite athletic training. The NSWIS will deliver a series of lectures and hands-on activities that demonstrate how Australia prepares its best athletes. The first four weeks are in Sydney with courses being held in Olympic Park. Skills and physical training will take place in the afternoons two or three times per week after the students' academic classes. These sessions will be under the guidance of a head coach and may involve local Australian student-athletes. Students will also have ample time to undertake their own individual training or relax and explore the city. Students will be housed in downtown Sydney with all of the city's attractions at their doorstep. With a population of over four million people, Sydney is perfectly situated along the ocean and boasts some of the world's most famous beaches as well as the beautiful Sydney Harbour. Backed by the great open plains and sparsely populated mountainous terrain of the bush, Sydney is close to much of Australia's unique wildlife. They city itself is a modern metropolis of skyscrapers, expansive parks and iconic architectures such as the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harobour Bridge. With a climate similar to that of Los Angeles, Sydney typically enjoys warm weather with plenty of sunshine. A symphony at the world famous Opera House and a professional rugby game are two of the many cultural activities included in the program. Students will train at a variety of venues including some of the facilities utilized for the 2000 Summer Olympics. Students also have access to a local health club for individualized training, which is conveniently located near their housing. Students will undertake two short excursions out of the city while in Sydney, one to the Hunter Valley and the other to the Blue Mountains. The Blue Mountains excursion will allow students to visit this World Heritage-listed Australian wilderness. Large sandstone cliffs border majestic valleys filled with gum trees and waterfalls. Hiking and sightseeing along with some lectures will allow students to truly experience the national park. The final days of the program will be in the tropical north in Cairns, a bustling city made famous by its proximity to the Great Barrier Reef and ancient rainforests. Students will spend one day on an outing via high-speed boat to the Great Barrier Reef. Snorkeling and diving instruction will be provided as well as a glass-bottom boat ride to view the thousands of tropical fish and corals. Academic ComponentThe academic portion of the program will run from weeks two through five. Students will be required to enroll in two courses for a minimum of six (6) credits and complete a range of assessment tasks and a final examination in each class. Students must take the “core course” and then may choose one additional elective course. Field trips related to each course will also be offered. Transcripts will be issued by Michigan State University and classes will be taught by professors from both Michigan State University and visiting Australia academics. Required Core Course: SSC 490 Australian Perspectives (Australian History) - 3 credits Elective Course Offerings
Sports Program ComponentThe sports component can be as intensive or relaxed as desired by the student. All students have the opportunity to work with local coaches and trainers on a weekly basis and design their own personal training schedule or facilitate prescribed training from your home institution. In the first week of the program training programs will be established for all students and then group skills sessions (two or three per week) will be held throughout the remainder of the program. Students will have access to training facilities and advice throughout the program. The NSWIS will address the following topics during week one:
Another aspect of the program is the ACE (Athlete Career and Education) program which was developed by the Australian Institute of Sports to assist athletes to more effectively achieve both their educational and vocational aspirations. The program helps college athletes develop a career plan that incorporates all aspects of their life. This program is not intended to radically alter the training programs athletes already have, but rather to complement existing approaches and to introduce them to the Australian Institute of Sports ACE program. Introductions to ACE will occur during the first week. The International Sports Program was an "opportunity to get to play soccer in a different country and go somewhere amazing. The program incorporated a great mix of education and sports while still giving students the opportunity to experience Australia." Jessica J., Michigan State University Coach ProfileThe coaching staff may change from year to year, but each coach selected to participate in the International Sports Program is experienced, knowledgeable and able to meet your needs as a student-athlete regardless of the level at which you compete. Coaching Profiles Each sport offered on the program has a Head Coach/Sports Coordinator position. These professionals provide individualized attention and coaching, cultural insights into the sport and are at the core of the sports experience for the student. They are connected at the highest levels of their sport and have a multitude of various international and Olympic experiences to share. Below is a sample list of coaches from the 2009 program.
Program RequirementsAll academic majors from domestic colleges and universities are welcome to apply by the program deadline of March 31. Students must be in good academic standing, with a grade point average of at least 2.5 at the time of acceptance. Meeting this minimum grade point average does not, however, guarantee admission. Students must be college athletes or sports enthusiasts with a background in one of the sports being offered. Students must also provide a personal statement that addresses their goals for the program and their relevant sports experience, as well as provide two letters of reference – one academic and one from a coach. Non-MSU students must submit a complete set of their most recent transcripts with their application. Applicants' participation may be denied or their participation approval may be revoked if their conduct before departure raises doubts as to their suitability for program participation. HousingIn Sydney, students will share a room in apartments located in the center of the city. The apartments are three-bedroom units with full kitchens, bathrooms and internal laundry facilities. Building amenities include pool, exercise room, and 24-hour concierge. Extensive shopping, public transportation and city attractions are within walking distance from the front door. During the last week of the program in Cairns, students will be housed in a downtown hotel. The hotel property has a pool, beach volleyball court, restaurant and nightclub. Many other restaurants and nightlife venue options are within walking distance. Program FeesVarsity athletes should check with their athletic departments as their athletic grants-in-aid may cover tuition, fees and accommodations. For Summer 2010, Michigan State University is offering twenty (20) academic scholarships worth up to $1,000 to help offset the tuition portion of the program for those students who attend institutions outside the Big Ten Conference. The program fee for 2010 is $4,266. The program fee includes the following:
Items not included in the program fee for which participants will need to budget include:
Approximately two months before the program’s departure date, students will receive an e-bill from the MSU Student Accounts Office for the study abroad program fee. Students will also be e-billed for tuition and fees, based on the number of credits taken, once they have enrolled in courses. (Both amounts may be billed at the same time.) *Click here for current tuition, fees and taxes. MSU students pay the same amount they would pay to study at MSU; non-MSU students pay the out of state Lifelong Education rate, unless attending a CIC University, in which case they would pay the same as an MSU student. Tuition for Summer 2010 is $3,724-$4,345, depending on the student's home institution and the number of credits in which the student is enrolled. In 2010 there are twenty $854-$997.50 tuition scholarships available for non-CIC university member students. Program fees, dates, and arrangements may be subject to change due to unexpected circumstances. Program ContactsRyan Friesen
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