Skip to content

Programs : Brochure

This page is the brochure for your selected program. You can view the provided information for this program on this page and click on the available buttons for additional options.

Frontiers Abroad: New Zealand Earth Systems (Outgoing Program)

Print  Save  Share

Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Min GPA: 2.8 Housing Options: Apartment (shared)
Academic Area: Earth Science
Program Description:
The New Zealand Earth Systems Program analyzes current environmental issues arising from the interface between nature and society. The five-week field camp takes advantage of sites on both the North Island and South Island of New Zealand. Students will explore the Bay of Plenty, Mt. Ruapehu,  Banks Peninsula, the Southern Alps, Kaikoura through a series of interconnected field modules. In addition, the fall program goes to Tonga to study marine ecology. During field camp, students learn the field techniques needed to solve the environmental issues. Following field camp, students transition to University of Canterbury or the University of Auckland (spring semester only), where they enroll in four courses, one of which is a research methods course based upon data collected in field camp.

Example Semester Field Camp

The 5-week field camp is divided into several interrelated modules. Focusing on field and research based education, students study how the geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and anthrosphere systems interact to form the entire New Zealand Earth System.

Example Field Camp Modules (subject to change):
  • Module 1: Volcanoes – giveth life and taketh away: Introduction to field observations through volcanology, hazards, and geothermal energy.
  • Module 2: Kaitiakitanga, Maori perspectives on natural hazards, resource management, and environmental restoration, Bay of Plenty.
  • Module 3: Tropical Marine Ecology and Community Fisheries, Kingdom of Tonga.
  • Module 4: New Zealand Marine and Coastal Ecology, Kaikoura Peninsula. 
The field camp experience will transition into a semester at the University of at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, NZ

What courses will I be taking?

Credits/Units: Five course credits transcripted by the Lafayette College. ***Lafayette Course Credits are equivalent of 4 Semester Credit Hours
University of Canterbury or University of Auckland
Required Courses:(1) Earth Systems Field Camp, (2) Field Focused Research Methods (3) three electives
  • EVSC 364 – Earth System Science Field Camp
  • EVSC 366 – Research Methods in Earth Systems Science **this course is offered as Geog 350 Research Methods in Physical Geography at the University of Cantebury. **this course will have a different code at the University of Auckland
  • Three courses of your choosing. For a complete Canterbury listing follow this link.
  • At the University of Auckland - One courses within the School of the Environment and two course of your choosing


Dates / Deadlines:
Dates / Deadlines:
Term Year App Deadline Decision Date Start Date End Date
Spring 2025 10/01/2024 ** Rolling Admission TBA TBA

** Indicates rolling admission application process. Applicants will be immediately notified of acceptance into this program and be able to complete post-decision materials prior to the term's application deadline.