Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2026 - IS 355 D100

Refugees and Forced Migration (4)

Class Number: 3313

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 5 – Apr 10, 2026: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Vancouver

  • Prerequisites:

    45 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Examines ideas and practices that affect experiences of forced migration and responses to these situations. What does it mean to live as a refugee? And what needs to change to alleviate the hardships and suffering of so many displaced people? Students who have taken IS 329 with this topic may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

An unprecedented number of people have been forcibly displaced from their homes around the world. It is estimated that there are more than 42 million people[1] currently living as refugees, having crossed state borders to seek safety, as well as more than 72 million people who are internally displaced (that is, displaced within their home countries). This includes people who have recently fled their homes, as well as millions more who have been displaced for decades. Most refugees are being hosted in countries that are struggling economically and politically. The international community has had to reckon with how to respond to sudden displacements as well as how to shift from emergency relief responses to more enduring protection and support for long-term refugees. Meanwhile, refugees and internally displaced people, after fleeing for their lives to seek safety in other countries and regions, must adjust to their new lives, either in camps run by the UNHCR, or, for the majority, in cities, where they are often banned from legal employment and face challenges in accessing public services. What does it mean to live as a refugee? And what needs to change to alleviate the hardships of so many displaced people?

In this course, students will learn more about how different people have experienced their forced displacement and actively responded to influence the conditions of their lives in situations across all parts of the world. We will also critically examine the institutional structures, laws, and politics that shape degrees of protection and control, as well as policy ideas and on-the-ground practices that aim to protect, support, and/or control displaced people.

This course is open to students with little to extensive knowledge of forced displacement. All students will gain important foundational understandings as well as opportunities to explore their specific interests. The course material is interdisciplinary, drawing from political science, geography, anthropology, sociology, and history, and incorporating first-person accounts, artistic interpretations, and community-based initiatives.

[1] There are currently more refugees than people living in Canada. In 2025, Canada has a population of 41.7 million.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Through this course, students will:

  1. Understand the structural and political dimensions of forced displacement.
  2. Critically engage with legal, policy, and humanitarian frameworks.
  3. Recognize and interpret displaced people’s lived experiences and agency.
  4. Develop informed, critical perspectives concerning global responsibility and justice.

Grading

  • Issue tracking 35%
  • Research essay (approx. 2,000 words focused on topic of student's choice) 25%
  • City of Thorns essay (1,000 words) 10%
  • In-class writing (short exercises drawing from readings) 10%
  • Participation (diverse in-class activities, including small group exercises as well as full class discussions. Quality of participation is valued) 20%

NOTES:

Re: Issue tracking
Students will choose an issue to track over the term using diverse reporting sources and produce 2 brief written updates (max. 1 page each, can be bullet notes, posted to class Canvas discussion, worth 5% each), 1 in-class oral update (5 minutes, worth 5%), and one summative briefing note (approx. 1,500 words, 20% of grade).

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

Selected readings available online through SFU Library linked through our Canvas course page.

REQUIRED READING:

Rawlence, Ben. 2017. City of Thorns. Nine Lives in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp. (any version)

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.