Climate Change and Indigeneity in Sāmoa
Language Requirement: None
Academic Standing by Program Start: Sophomore or above
Location: Oceania
GPA: 2.5
Program Overview
Spend four weeks in Sāmoa exploring the impacts of climate change on the people, environment, and culture of Sāmoa and other Pacific nations. This program combines western, Indigenous, and Samoan perspectives to provide a holistic understanding of Indigeneity, climate science, policy, social justice and community resilience. Through immersive coursework, collaboration with local communities, and guided excursions, students will engage directly with Indigenous leaders, policy-makers, activists and artists, contributing to projects that support Samoan communities in adapting to and mitigating climate threats.
Program Highlights:
- Collaborate with Indigenous leaders, policy-makers, and community activists on climate resilience projects.
- Participate in cultural excursions and activities, including homestays and visits to significant local sites.
- Develop and execute a community-based project focused on climate adaptation.
The program is divided into two main sections:
Section 1: In Sāmoa
Spend four weeks living in Sāmoa, where you will stay with host families and engage in a variety of activities including guest lectures, excursions, and collaborative projects with local students and or organizations. This experience will allow you to learn firsthand how climate change is affecting the communities and how they are responding to these challenges.
Section 2: Remote Project Work
After the in-country experience, you will have a one-week break, followed by a remote project phase. During this final stage, you will work on completing your projects, finalizing deliverables, and preparing comprehensive reports for submission to community partners.
This program offers a unique opportunity to understand and contribute to the fight against climate change from a deeply rooted Indigenous perspective, striving to make a tangible impact on the communities in Samoa.
Program Scholarship: Applicants to this program have the option to apply for a program-specific scholarship. Award recipients are chosen based on academic merit, financial need, and overall quality of their essay. Individual awards range from $500 - $1,000. To be considered, the Scholarship Essay must be completed by February 15th. Please refer to the Scholarship Essay instructions in the program application or speak with your GEO advisor for more details.
Dates and Deadlines
| Term | Year | Deadline | Arrival Date | Departure Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 2025 | 3/15/25 | 6/23/25 | 7/18/25 |
Academic Details
ES 488/588: Climate Change and Indigeneity in Sāmoa (8 UO Quarter Credits)
This program offers a single course worth 8 credits, which counts as upper-division Ethnic Studies credits. It has also been approved to fulfill upper-division credit requirements in Native American and Indigenous Studies and Environmental Studies.
This program is ideal for students interested in pursuing careers in environmental policy analysis, climate change consulting, international development, sustainability coordination, Indigenous rights advocacy, non-profit work, NGO management, or global environmental governance.
Course Equivalencies
UO students: please refer to the UO Course Equivalency Process and the UO Office of the Registrar Course Equivalency Database.
Non-UO students: Actual credit awarded is determined by the relevant department at your university in consultation with the study abroad office. Check with your study abroad advisor for more information.
Application process
This program has a rolling admission application process: GEO staff (and the program faculty leader, if applicable) will complete a review of the application materials of complete applications in the order that they are submitted (“first come, first serve”). Decisions about acceptance will be made shortly after you submit a complete application. There are some programs that fill fast, some even before the deadline. Students are encouraged to complete applications and commit to programs early.
Acceptance is based on a holistic review of your application. This includes a review of your GPA, transcripts (including courses taken and in-progress), any additional requirements or prerequisites (see section "Additional Requirements"), and the short statement. Some programs require a letter of recommendation from a faculty that is not the program's faculty leader. If a letter of recommendation is required, you will find more information in your GEO application portal.
Faculty and Staff
Dr. Lana Lopesi, Assistant Professor of Indigenous, Race, and Ethnic Studies at the University of Oregon. Dr. Lopesi holds a Ph.D. in Visual Art from Auckland University of Technology and has a background in contemporary Pacific art. Her research focuses on Samoan diaspora, diasporic subjectivity, Indigenous feminism and Pacific material culture. Dr. Lopesi has published 2 books and 3 edited volumes, and she has been recognized with numerous awards, including becoming a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit.
Dr. Ronald B. Mitchell, Professor of Political Science and Environmental Studies at the University of Oregon. Dr. Mitchell is an academic expert in international environmental politics and international relations. He conducts research and teaches courses that examine the ability of treaties to get states to reduce climate change and other pollutants. He has investigated the influence of environmental science on international policy and the ability of norms to foster cooperation among countries to solve shared problems. He co-directed a program from 2003-2014 that helped new PhDs working on climate change hone their interdisciplinary skills so that they could better understand the complexities of the natural science and social science of climate change and communicate it effectively to the public. He has published four books and over 40 articles and book chapters and serves on the editorial boards of several top academic journals.
Housing Description
You will be placed in homestays, where you will live with local families and experience the culture firsthand. Additional details about the homestays and locations will be provided as they become available.