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
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 |
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Learn More
For more information, students can connect with LA&PS Study Abroad Coordinator (studyabr@yorku.ca).