FASS Field Schools

Open to both undergraduate and graduate students, field schools are generally offered in the Summer term and are an off-campus delivery of SFU courses for a small cohort of students.

Facilitated by the Study Abroad office, most field schools are full term programs directed by an SFU instructor, consisting of 3 to 12 units of selected courses. On a field school you will undertake a combination of coursework, assignments, and field studies intended to integrate learning with the location. Generally, programs begin at an SFU campus and then continue overseas. You will pay a program fee which covers most of the in-country costs of the program.

NATO Field School and Simulation Program

Rome, Italy | Brussels, Belgium | The Hague, Netherlands | Riga, Latvia

Open to students from all NATO nations. The NATO Field School and Simulation Program gives students the to opportunity to observe professionals and experts in their working environment and be immersed in the decisions that political, diplomatic, and military personnel face. This includes visits across Europe, including NATO HQ, SHAPE, the European External Action Services, the NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, and many more.

Students will also have the opportunity to develop and test their skills through negotiation and decision-making simulations with mentorship from senior officials and diplomats. Like a dynamic practicum or apprenticeship, the NATO Field School prepares you for entry-level employment in foreign affairs, defence policy and various national and international security sectors, as well as international NGO sectors.

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International Perspectives on Cybercrime

Glasgow, Scotland

There probably isn鈥檛 another crime as international as cybercrime, potentially touching many jurisdictions in the process. This program explores those international issues along with law enforcement and judicial responses. We focus on case studies from Canada, the UK and the USA.

The program takes place in Glasgow, Scotland. It is international in nature, bringing together students from Scotland's University of Strathclyde, other local institutions, and Germany, alongside professors and guest speakers. This way, the class can explore issues from completely different perspectives. The course is compressed into a week of intensive classes.

Students of all academic programs are welcome, though a background in social science or criminology and an interest in cybercrime are beneficial.

Comparative Urban Sustainability

Helsinki, Finland

How different do sustainable cities look and feel, on the ground in the Nordic region? What secrets can be learned from the local contexts, cultures, sites, designs, structures and stories that have shaped urban sustainability practices and outcomes in Helsinki, Finland?

This program will offer preliminary sessions in the Vancouver region and a two-week field travel program in the Helsinki region in Finland. We will learn on our feet how Helsinki has achieved results in urban policy and planning areas from affordable housing to sustainable transportation, Indigenous reconciliation, public spaces, community gardens, cultural institutions, emergency planning, and more, and learn to apply a comparative lens with patterns, trends, and innovations in Vancouver.

All SFU students with an interest in social science and in questions of urban sustainability are welcome to apply.

Field School in Developmental Psychology

Vanuatu

Students live and conduct their research in Lounikawek village on Tanna island, Vanuatu at the host village of Dr. Tanya Broesch's culture and development long-term field laboratory. Students spend this time integrating into the community, discussing and revising their research project within the community, implementing their research project, obtaining feedback from the community, and communicating their research back to the community and to the Vanuatu supporting organizations.

This field school equips undergraduate students in psychology or related fields with the practical skills and theoretical knowledge to approach scientific endeavours through a community-engaged, multimethod, and globally responsible lens. Coursework focuses on the development, implementation, and evaluation of social science research involving children and families.

Students will work to develop and implement their research project focused on understanding how children learn from others. The project centers on how children learn about and engage with nature.

African Politics, Climate Change, and Development

Dar es Salaam and Arusha, Tanzania

May 11 - June 6, 2026

This unique four-week field school, offered by the School for International Studies, gives you firsthand insight into development, climate change, and social movements in East Africa. In Dar es Salaam, you will connect with local women鈥檚 cooperatives, visit grassroots worker associations, and meet development officials to gain broader perspectives on the challenges surrounding economic and social development. In Arusha, you will learn about the real effects of climate change on communities, examine resource conflicts, and engage directly with local communities, NGOs, and government officials through a series of site visits and excursions.

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尤物视频

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences