For the second year in a row, the Fall 2019 themed semester focuses on a region of the world rather than on a single country.
The Oceania Semester brings the history and culture of 14 independent countries – Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, and Nauru – to the Missouri Southern State University campus throughout the semester.
Oceania also includes numerous territories affiliated with other nations, such as New Caledonia (France), the Cook Islands (New Zealand), the Pitcairn Islands (the U,K.), French Polynesia (France), American Samoa (the U.S.), the Northern Mariana Islands (the U.S.), Tokelau (New Zealand), and the Coral Sea Islands (Australia). Even Hawaii is considered part of the region.
The population of the entire region roughly equals that of California (about 40 million), with an estimated 25 million living in Australia – the world’s sixth-largest country by total area.
Several academic departments at MSSU are making major contributions to the Oceania Semester. The Social Sciences Department is even planning a trip to Australia, from Dec. 27, 2019, through Jan. 9, 2020.
Check out the full schedule for more information, and stay tuned for the Caribbean Semester in Fall 2020!
