SFS CAMBODIA: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND MEKONG ECOLOGIES(SEMESTER)
PROGRAM DETAILS
- Terms: Fall, Spring
- Credits: 18 semester-hour credits
- Prerequisites: One semester of college-level ecology, biology, or environmental studies/science; 2.7 GPA, 18 years of age
- Application Deadline: Fall: May 1st. Spring: November 1st. . Early applications encouraged
- Financial Aid: All accepted students can apply for need-based scholarships, grants, and loans
OVERVIEW
In Cambodia, the struggle to conserve ecosystems and to ensure livelihoods are deeply entwined. From the ancient temples of Angkor to the jungle highlands, from the urban center of Siem Reap to the shores of the Great Lake, you will see firsthand how people are dealing with threats to their ecosystems and livelihoods. Dive into the themes of community livelihoods, natural resource access and management, and the ethics of conservation and development while exploring diverse perspectives on environmental management issues, learning to conduct community-based data collection, and understanding the complexities of human-wildlife conflicts. Traveling extensively, you will spend time in the elephant-inhabited forests of Mondulkiri, along the banks of the mighty Mekong River, and the vibrant capital city of Phnom Penh.
In the final weeks of the semester, you’ll spend your time out in the field conducting an extensive research project.
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:
- Spend the night in a floating village on the Tonle Sap Lake and speak with villagers about climate-related livelihood challenges and adaptation strategies.
- Visit the Mondulkiri highlands to study elephant conservation and learn about the changes and challenges to the indigenous Bunong peoples’ traditional lifestyles.
- Explore the jungle temples of the ancient city of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument in the world and UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Learn about Khmer history and arts at the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s vibrant and booming capital.
- Conduct a comprehensive field research project: Develop a research question, collect and analyze data, write a paper, and present your findings.
SFS students live and study at the Center for Environmental Justice and Mekong Ecologies – our most urban Center – which lies on the outskirts of Siem Reap, near the famed temples of Angkor. The Center is a breezy, modern campus nestled in a quiet neighborhood minutes away from the bustling downtown area where you will find restaurants, shops, and markets with unique Cambodian flair.
RESEARCH THEMES
- Livelihood struggles
- Elephant ecology and conservation
- Community conservation strategies
- Indigenous rights and challenges
- Protected areas and threatened ecosystems
- Rural development
- Environmental ethics and justice
- Natural resource governance
CORE SKILLS
- Biodiversity and water assessments
- Species identification and population monitoring
- Animal behavior observation
- Tourism impact assessments
- Forest survey methods
- Tag/recapture techniques
- Camera trapping
- Interview methods
- Citizen science protocols
- Conservation grant writing
- Ethics and reasoning
- Basic Khmer language
- Research design and implementation
- Data collection and analysis
- Research presentation
CONNECT WITH SFS
Visit the
SFS website
Call the Admissions Hotline at 800.989.4418
Email
admissions@fieldstudies.org
Read updates from the field on the
SFS Blog
Follow SFS on
Instagram and
Facebook
Watch student videos on
YouTube and
Vimeo
![]()
![]()
