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The School for Field Studies (SFS) Cambodia - Environmental Justice and Mekong Ecologies (Directory Program)

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  • Locations: Siem Reap, Cambodia
  • Program Terms: Fall, Spring
  • Homepage: Click to visit
  • Program Sponsor: The School for Field Studies (SFS) 
Fact Sheet:
Fact Sheet:
Click here for a definition of this term Language of Instruction: English Click here for a definition of this term Class Status: 1-first year, 2-sophomore, 3-junior, 4-senior, 5-grad student, 6-other
Housing Options: Dormitory Click here for a definition of this term Areas of Study: Anthropology, Asian Studies, Biology, Botany, Earth Science, Ecology, Economics, Environmental Studies, Foresty, Geography, International Studies, Religion/Theology, Sciences, Sociology, Tourism, Zoology
Program Type: field study, study abroad Minimum GPA: 2.7
Program Description:

SFS CAMBODIA: ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE
AND MEKONG ECOLOGIES
(SEMESTER)

Cambodia


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.


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OVERVIEW

In Cambodia, ecosystems and the communities they sustain are deeply intertwined. From the ancient temples of Angkor to the highlands of Mondulkiri, and from the floating villages on the Tonle Sap to the banks of the Mekong River, you’ll explore how conservation unfolds in daily life. Examine how forests, rivers, and farmland are changing—and how communities adapt. Investigate land rights, small-scale farming, forest management, and the impacts of hydropower on ecosystems and livelihoods. Through immersive fieldwork, you’ll gain hands-on experience with biodiversity surveys, forest inventories, and drone-based GIS mapping. Engage with farmers, Indigenous leaders, scientists, and activists—each offering grounded insights into conservation in a rapidly evolving landscape. Stay in jungle huts near elephants and gibbons, conduct research in remote villages, and spend time in Cambodia’s capital, Phnom Penh. Through it all, you’ll build field skills, cultural insight, and a deeper understanding of how conservation and environmental justice intersect.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

→ Live and learn in a floating village on Tonle Sap Lake, speaking with local families about how climate change is reshaping livelihoods across Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater ecosystem.

→ Trek through the Mondulkiri highlands to study elephant conservation and see how development is transforming the land and culture of the indigenous Bunong people.

→ Camp in sacred Kulen National Park, the ancient Khmer capital, where traditional medicine, biodiversity, and spiritual heritage converge in a living cultural landscape.

→ Stay overnight with indigenous Kuy communities and Mekong island farmers, exploring how environmental justice connects to water rights, food systems, and rural resilience.

→ Explore the jungle temples of Angkor, including Angkor Wat, uncovering how religion, empire, and ecology shaped one of the world’s most iconic heritage sites.

→ Conduct Directed Research: frame a stakeholder-driven question, collect and analyze field data with faculty guidance, and present actionable findings to local partners.

LOCATION

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 and 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
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LEARN MORE

REQUEST INFORMATION

APPLY NOW

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CONNECT WITH SFS

• Visit our website: fieldstudies.org

• Email: admissions@fieldstudies.org

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