{"id":3219,"date":"2026-09-21T13:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T13:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/?page_id=3219"},"modified":"2026-09-30T13:56:39","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T13:56:39","slug":"thailand-study-tour","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/study-tours\/thailand-study-tour\/","title":{"rendered":"Thailand Study Tour"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pl-3219\"  class=\"panel-layout\" ><div id=\"pg-3219-0\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-3219-0-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3219-0-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-title panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"0\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-title so-widget-smcm-title-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h2 class=\"smcm-section-title navy\" style=\"\"><strong>Thailand<\/strong> Program<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-3219-1\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-3219-1-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3219-1-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"1\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-c67d20f9f743-3219\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/01\/thailand.jpg\" width=\"840\" height=\"560\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/01\/thailand.jpg 840w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/01\/thailand-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/01\/thailand-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/01\/thailand-272x182.jpg 272w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px\" alt=\"Row of gold Buddha statues draped in orange cloth, seated along a corridor with red ceiling and white columns in a temple.\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-3219-1-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3219-1-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"2\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Pre-Requisites<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<ul>\n<li>Minimum GPA: 2.0<\/li>\n<li>Judicial Check<\/li>\n<li>Academic Conduct Review<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-3219-1-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"3\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p><strong>The Program Fee Includes:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Round trip airfare<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Lodging<\/li>\n<li>All ground &amp; sea transportation<\/li>\n<li>Admission fees<\/li>\n<li>Travel &amp; Health Insurance<\/li>\n<li>Group Meals<\/li>\n<li>Stipends\/honoraria for lectures &amp; workshops<\/li>\n<li>Gratuities for drivers &amp; guides<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-3219-1-2\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3219-1-2-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-first-child\" data-index=\"4\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Dates and Important Links<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<ul>\n<li>Summer 2027: May 16-June 4, 2027<\/li>\n<li>UPDATED DEADLINE: Apply on <a href=\"http:\/\/smcm.via-trm.com\/program_brochure\/5966\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Via TRM!\u00a0 by JANUARY 1, 2027<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/sites.google.com\/smcm.edu\/thailandstudytour2027\/home\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Thailand Study Tour Leaders\u2019 Webpage<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Explore Bangkok, Nakhom Pathom, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and Ko Samet<\/li>\n<li>Meet the first fully ordained woman monastic in Thai Buddhism<\/li>\n<li>Meet with Burmese monks, visit refugee camps, and go on an elephant trek in Chiang Mai<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-3219-1-2-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"5\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h3 class=\"widget-title\">Costs<\/h3>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<ul>\n<li>($1660 for in-state\/DC students and for out-of-state, $2,180.)<\/li>\n<li>program fee range:\u00a0$6,400-$6,600<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cost is subject to change.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-3219-2\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-no-style\" ><div id=\"pgc-3219-2-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3219-2-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-gold-buttons panel-first-child panel-last-child\" data-index=\"6\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-gold-buttons so-widget-smcm-gold-buttons-default-d75171398898-3219\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><nav class=\"smcm-gold-buttons\"><ul><li><div class=\"smcm-gb-item\"><a href=\"#about\"><div class=\"smcm-gb-label-wrapper\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-circle-info\"><\/i>About The Program<\/div><div class=\"smcm-gb-icon-wrapper\"><i class=\"fa-solid fa-angles-down smcm-gb-linktype\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div><\/a><\/div><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pg-3219-3\"  class=\"panel-grid panel-has-style\" ><div id=\"about\" class=\"panel-row-style panel-row-style-for-3219-3\" ><div id=\"pgc-3219-3-0\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3219-3-0-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_smcm-title panel-first-child\" data-index=\"7\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-smcm-title so-widget-smcm-title-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t><h2 class=\"smcm-section-title navy\" style=\"\">About the <strong>Program<\/strong><\/h2><\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-3219-3-0-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"8\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>This course satisfies the cultural literacy requirement. This is an upper division Philosophy course, which is cross-listed with Asian Studies, WGSX,\u00a0 and ENST.\u00a0 This course also counts toward the 44 upper division (300 or 400) credits that are required for graduation requirements.<\/p>\n<p>The Thailand Summer Study Tour (INTL360) will be led by Professors John Schroeder and Bradley Park from the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, and includes 5 pre-departure course meetings on Buddhist philosophy, Thai culture, Thai language, and social norms in Thailand. A detailed itinerary will be distributed to students during our pre-departure meetings in March, but here\u2019s a prelude of our adventures:<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll begin in Bangkok, spending two days exploring and learning about the vibrant hub\u00a0 of SE Asia. We will then travel to Nakhom Pathom to visit with the first fully ordained woman monastic in Thai Buddhism (Dhammananda) and participate in a series of seminars and workshops on women and gender in Buddhism. After our brief monastic experience, we will travel by train to Northern Thailand and spend time in Chiang Mai meeting with Burmese monks, visiting refugee camps, meeting with professors and students from Chiang Mai University, participating in a day-long retreat, and going on an elephant trek. After our time in Chiang Mai, we will travel South to Pattaya\u2013a town renowned for its sex tourism\u2013to meet with organizations that work with sex-workers, HIV, and LGBTI life in Thailand.<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019ll spend the final days of our time in Thailand on the beautiful island of Ko Samet\u2013an ideal place for reflection and critical discussion as we play in the Gulf of Siam.<\/p>\n<p>The class will explore traditional and contemporary Buddhist views on the relationships between Buddhist wisdom and social justice. An important goal of the course is to connect the intellectual and scholarly knowledge that you will learn about Buddhism with the concrete experience of being in a Buddhist culture, meeting important Buddhist leaders, and learning first-hand what Engaged Buddhism and Thailand is all about. Thus, you will not only learn about the philosophical and historical roots of Buddhism\u2013as you would in any academic course on Buddhism\u2013but you will have the opportunity to step outside the classroom and see how Buddhism is actually lived and incorporated into the everyday lives of people throughout Thailand.<\/p>\n<p>Learning about Engaged Buddhism in Thailand is invaluable because we\u2019ll learn from people who apply Buddhist teachings in their efforts to solve pressing issues relating to poverty, environmental destruction, prostitution, war, and violence on local and global scales. We will have the opportunity to meet with a number of leaders of the Engaged Buddhist movement in Thailand and learn first-hand how they apply traditional Buddhist principles to contemporary problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"pgc-3219-3-1\"  class=\"panel-grid-cell\" ><div id=\"panel-3219-3-1-0\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-image panel-first-child\" data-index=\"9\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-image so-widget-sow-image-default-113ccd71f3e6-3219\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"sow-image-container\">\n\t\t<img \n\tsrc=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/03\/MARTIN-POTEET-Adventure.jpg\" width=\"1529\" height=\"2048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/03\/MARTIN-POTEET-Adventure.jpg 1529w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/03\/MARTIN-POTEET-Adventure-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/03\/MARTIN-POTEET-Adventure-765x1024.jpg 765w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/03\/MARTIN-POTEET-Adventure-768x1029.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/app\/uploads\/sites\/167\/2026\/03\/MARTIN-POTEET-Adventure-1147x1536.jpg 1147w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1529px) 100vw, 1529px\" alt=\"A golden stupa surrounded by dense green forest with mountains in the background under a bright sky.\" \t\tclass=\"so-widget-image\"\/>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/div><div id=\"panel-3219-3-1-1\" class=\"so-panel widget widget_sow-editor panel-last-child\" data-index=\"10\" ><div\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tclass=\"so-widget-sow-editor so-widget-sow-editor-base\"\n\t\t\t\n\t\t>\n<div class=\"siteorigin-widget-tinymce textwidget\">\n\t<p>Learning about Engaged Buddhism in Thailand is invaluable because we\u2019ll learn from people who apply Buddhist teachings in their efforts to solve pressing issues relating to poverty, environmental destruction, prostitution, war, and violence on local and global scales. We will have the opportunity to meet with a number of leaders of the Engaged Buddhist movement in Thailand and learn first-hand how they apply traditional Buddhist principles to contemporary problems.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Minimum GPA: 2.0 Judicial Check Academic Conduct Review The Program Fee Includes: Round trip airfare Lodging All ground &amp; sea transportation Admission fees Travel &amp; Health Insurance Group Meals Stipends\/honoraria for lectures &amp; workshops Gratuities for drivers &amp; guides Summer 2027: May 16-June 4, 2027 UPDATED DEADLINE: Apply on Via TRM!\u00a0 by JANUARY 1, 2027 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":258,"featured_media":0,"parent":2092,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"full-width-content","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3219","page","type-page","status-publish","entry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3219","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/258"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3219"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3219\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3252,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3219\/revisions\/3252"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.smcm.edu\/international-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3219"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}