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SOSC 4051 3.00 – The Business of Fair Trade

In order to enroll in Las Nubes courses, you need to complete several requirements. Please review the Las Nubes Course Registration Information and fill out the Las Nubes Study Abroad 2025 Eligibility Form.

Please note that while this is an LA&PS course, it takes place at York’s Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica, and as such the program is organized by the Las Nubes team. Students interested in participating in this course will be subject to the Las Nubes application, payment, pre-departure, and in-country rules, deadlines, and procedures. Please visit the ADMS 4971 page on the Las Nubes website for all relevant course and program information, and contact lasnubes@yorku.ca if you require more information. You should also attend one of the Las Nubes Info Sessions to learn more.

During the study abroad component at the Las Nubes EcoCampus in Costa Rica, students engage with farmers who belong to producer cooperatives to study the economic, sociolegal, ecological and political impacts of fair trade. This course offers an experiential education opportunity for students to see firsthand how an alternative trading regime works to promote sustainable development and trade justice. Students engage with the history and practice of fair trade through literature review. Students then travel to Costa Rica to study local farming cooperatives and the effects of fair trade on communities and surrounding ecosystems. Special attention is paid to the challenges that small scale farmers face in accessing global markets, especially the markets of the Global North, and explore the ways in which NGOs such as Fairtrade International aim to overcome such barriers through alternative governance practices. Students critically examine the ways in which UN Social Development Goals can be promoted within this alternative form of development, and compare and contrast voluntary self-governance with the institutionally mandated compliance required for fair trade certification.

Las Nubes Info Sessions

Date	Time	Location
November 28, 2024	1:30 p.m.	Zoom registration
January 7, 2025	11L00 a.m.	Zoom registration

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Prerequisites: Open to: 4th year students or at least 87 credits for students majoring in any SOSC, HREQ, SOCI, POLS, GEOG and ENVS programs.

Course Credit Exclusion: SOSC 4048 3.0 – The Business of Fair Trade

Location: Las Nubes EcoCampus, Santa Elena, Pérez Zeledón, Costa Rica

Course Dates:
June 22 – July 1, 2025

Course Director:

Prof. Sonya Scott, Associate Professor, Department of Social Science.

Enrolment: Min. 20 students, max. 25 students

Course Details

Lectures, guest speakers, hikes, visits to sites and communities, conversations with local stakeholders, and hands-on projects with local organizations.

Accommodations are a combination of homestays and hotels depending on the course. Local Costa Rican food will be provided taking into account dietary restrictions and/or preferences.

York University does not make flight or travel insurance arrangements for students. For each course, you will be given specific information as to when to arrive and where will you be picked up and dropped off. Any activities or plans made outside our course program are the student’s responsibility.

Canadian citizens do not require a visa to enter Costa Rica. Refer to Costa Rica’s Embassy in Canada for requirements for citizens of other countries. If you are travelling to Costa Rica via a third country, make sure to verify whether you need a ‘transit visa’ or not.

Program Costs

Cost		Details
Estimated Program Fee	$1,500	Included in program fee: all in-country transportation, room and board, as well as park entrance fees that are part of course programs. Accommodations include a mix of homestays with local families, lodges and hotels.
Additional Costs
Flights to/from San José, Costa Rica	$900	Estimate. Depends on departure location and date of purchase.
Guard.me Travel Insurance	$50	Estimate. Students are required to purchase Guard.me insurance.
Spending money	$400	Variable. All students should budget additional funds for meals, transportation, gifts, personal travel, etc.
York University Tuition (Domestic)	$724.59	Approximate based on Summer 2024 LA&PS tuition fees for 3.0 credits. Subject to change.
York University Tuition (International)	$3,723.84	Approximate based on Summer 2024 LA&PS tuition fees for 3.0 credits. Subject to change.
Approximate Total Program Costs (subject to change)
Domestic Students		$3,574.59
International Students		$6,573.84

Las Nubes Study Abroad Fund

Name	Description	Eligibility Criteria	Amount (CAD)	Application
Las Nubes EcoCampus
Las Nubes Study Abroad Fund (LNSAF)	This is a fee subsidy provided to students who participate in the courses offered by Las Nubes at the Las Nubes EcoCampus.	All York University students participating in the Las Nubes Study Abroad programs are eligible to receive the LNSAF. The amount of LNSAF funding is based on: 1. Financial need (students with financial needs will be given higher consideration) 2. Good academic standing (B+ or higher) 3. Number of courses registered for at Las Nubes 4. External funding or other awards applied for/received	There are two categories: Category 1: Full one-course subsidy ($1,500 each, 4 per year) Category 2: Offered to support students enrolled in one or more courses [$250 for 1 course; $500 for 2 courses), $750 for 3 courses; $1,000 for 4 courses; $1,250 for 5 courses]	N/A Keep your Financial Aid, Awards and Scholarships application (FAAS App) updated