Academic Rigor:

We designed our interdisciplinary curriculum to help students actively discover and understand the complexities of local environmental, social, and economic problems. SFS students confront and conquer academic challenges that they are rarely exposed to at their home school. Our interdisciplinary, experiential approach to education is designed to train students to learn by doing.

Supportive Admissions Process:

Our Admissions team will help guide your students from the earliest stages of interest all the way to the moment they land-in country—advising them on the best program fit, answering questions about the experience and how to prepare, and ensuring that they arrive in-country ready for the program. Meet our Admissions team

Robust Safety Systems:

The safety of our students is our constant priority, and proactive risk management is integral to everything we do. SFS manages the entire timeline of each student’s experience. Through diligent medical screening, setting clear expectations regarding living and health preparations, and educating about environmental and cultural awareness, personal responsibility, and conduct, we provide students with the tools to succeed. Click here to learn more.
 

Research: Community-Focused, Faculty-Directed:

Our strategic research plans are generated through a collaborative process involving SFS faculty, local stakeholders and clients, and external advisors. SFS research is designed to answer key questions to critical social and environmental problems and to provide our hosts with detailed and accurate information for decision-making and action. Research outputs include scholarly and popular articles, public service announcements, and presentations to community members. Click here to read more about our research.

Quality Assurance:

From the earliest stages of program development, SFS exercises a series of quality-control measures to ensure we are consistently delivering study abroad programs of the highest quality. Our School of Record, the University of Minnesota, helps provide academic oversight and reviews program curricula and quality. As an indicator of our quality, many of our partner institutions have been sending their students on SFS programs since our founding in 1980. Click here to learn more.