At ISDSI we offer a number of opportunities and programs for undergraduate students, graduate students, and faculty.
All of them are based on our deep experience in Thailand’s communities and ecosystems, and over 25 years of collaboration with local communities and organizations.
SEMESTER — Direct enroll program for undergraduates
The Culture, Ecology and Community (CEC) study abroad semester at ISDSI is an academically challenging program studying Thai cultures and ecosystems. The focus of the program is on experiential learning, including language study and interdisciplinary field research that integrates both the natural and social sciences. The program is based in Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand. Courses take place in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son provinces in Northern Thailand, as well as Trang and Satun provinces in Southern Thailand. Courses include:
- Thai Language and Society – Foreign Language – 6 credits
- Sustainable Food Systems: Social and Biological Factors in Sustainable Agriculture – Biology / Sociology – 4 credits
- Political Ecology of Forests: Upland People and Natural Resources – Anthropology / Ecology – 4 credits
- Culture and Ecology of the Andaman: Islands, Reefs and Mangroves – Ecology / Geography – 4 credits
SUMMER — Direct enroll program for undergraduates and graduate students
Chiang Mai, Thailand, is emerging as a global center for specialty coffee, artisanal chocolate, and medicinal cannabis. This 6 week program is a hands-on study of these three important crops, learning directly from farmers and local producers. We will be spending extended time in the villages and mountains surrounding Chiang Mai, visiting farms and learning about shade grown coffee, cacao production, medicinal cannabis production, as well as time exploring the ancient city of Chiang Mai.
- 2 weeks of seminars focused on understanding small scale tropical agriculture and the cash crops of coffee, cacao, and cannabis production
- 4 week internship with an organization / farm / community focused on coffee, cacao, or cannabis
3rd PARTY SEMESTER PROGRAMS
We host several semester programs for colleges and universities from the United States. If you are considering creating a semester long program based in Thailand and Southeast Asia, contact us. Current programs include:
- University of Minnesota MSID Thailand
- Kalamazoo College Thailand
- Lewis and Clark College SE Asia Regional Area Study
FACULTY LED SHORT PROGRAMS
We host a number of short-term programs from 3-6 weeks led by faculty from the United States and elsewhere. We work directly with faculty and their universities to create academically compelling and customized programs. We work with the faculty leader to help achieve their academic goals, while we manage the logistics, risk management, and finances, freeing the faculty to focus on their teaching and their students.
INTERNSHIPS
We host internships throughout the year, both as part of some of our semester programs, as well as directly. Internships are typically from 6-8 weeks, but can be longer. All internships take into account the needs and capacity of local organizations and local communities, and are customized to the goals of the participants. Internships include environmental organizations, public health, agriculture, small businesses, and more.
FIELD STUDY/RESEARCH/SABBATICALS
We regularly host field visits from faculty and others working on developing their own courses, conducting research in Thailand, or more extended research and sabbatical opportunities. We are able to help with logistics, housing, translation, and field work throughout the time in Thailand.
Interested?
Students can email [email protected] for enrollment information.
Faculty can email [email protected] to learn about opportunities with ISDSI.