Thailand: Culture and Communication

Overview 

Start the new year exploring exotic Thailand! This ten-day study-abroad program will include visits to both the rural mountains of Chiang Mai in the north and the bustling major city life of Bangkok.  Students will have the opportunity to learn about the culture and people of Thailand by spending a day taking care of elephants at a sanctuary, taking cooking lessons, visiting many beautiful Buddhist temples, exploring Thai traditional dance at Moradokmai Theatre, shopping at an open market, and enjoying a sunset river cruise in Ayutthaya, the capital of Thailand, then known as the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. In addition, students will have an opportunity to do community service by spending an afternoon teaching English to Thai students and do group painting graffiti.

Highlights and Excursions

• Volunteer at an Elephant sanctuary! Engage with locals and the elephants at the sanctuary while learning about elephant conservation
• Visit Wat Phra That Doi Suthep and see the seven headed serpent statues that line the stairs to the temple.
• Visit the historic city of Ayutthaya and tour the monasteries, then finish the evening with a boat ride. 
• Community service at Moradokmai Theatre Community & Homeschool 

Good to Know

• This program will include several walking tours
• Thailand is tropical and humid for most of the country during most of the year. Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illness to occur.

Living Arrangements

Students will stay in hotels with 2 students per room in Chiang Mai and Bangkok. Breakfast is included daily at the hotels.

Program Dates 

December 30, 2024 - January 9, 2025.

Note: Students will need to depart the US on December 28 or 29, 2024 to arrive in Chiang Mai for the start of program activities on December 30, 2024

Academics  

• COMS 1100C (counts towards Bricks Foundation: Intercultural Explorations AND Learning and Doing)
• or
• COMS 4100

Graduate students

• COMS 6930 

Cost  

The program fee for this program includes: Student accommodations, daily breakfast, some meals, excursions, airport transfers, in-country transportation, welcome and farewell dinner, and international medical health insurance. 

In addition to the program fee, students should plan for 3 credit hours of tuition*, administrative fee, and out-of-pocket costs. Below is the student budget worksheet for this program, which outlines these costs.  

Undergraduate Student Budget Worksheet

Graduate Student Budget Worksheet upon request

Items that are not related to the program (ie. additional entertainment, souvenirs, extra travel, contingency funds) are not included in the cost estimates provided and should be budgeted for separately.  

*Note: 

• If you are nominated to this program, you will be required to pay a deposit to confirm your participation. The deposit is a down payment on the total costs to be billed by OHIO and is determined by the total cost of the program. 
• For programs completed over winter-break and spring break, the credit-hours associated with the program are part of the spring semester. Students taking between 12 to 20 Athens campus hours, including those associated with the program, will not incur additional tuition costs for the spring semester. Students taking less than 12 or more than 20 Athens campus credits for the spring term will see their tuition charge adjusted accordingly.  

Funding Opportunities 

More information on financial aid and scholarships can be found on our funding pages.

Eligibility and Requirements 

This program is open to all Ohio University students (undergraduates and graduates) who are in good conduct standing.

Students who will be on probation at any point during the program for a conduct offense that took place less than a calendar year from the program start date may not study abroad. Read the entire conduct policy.

This program accepts NON-OHIO students. For more information about this process visit the Non-OHIO student page.   

Participants must have a at least a high school diploma or the equivalent (e.g. GED) by the start date of the program to be considered for eligibility.  Students enrolled in College Credit Plus (CC+) are not eligible for study away programs.

Entry and Exit Requirements 

U.S. citizens are required to have a valid U.S. passport when traveling outside of the United States. If you plan to study or travel abroad in the next year,  apply for your passport  now. Some countries also require a visa to legally enter or reside in the country. 

U.S. citizens  will not  need a visa or other special document to enter the country for the length of this program. Please also note that visa requirements may vary if you plan to stay in the country longer than the program dates or travel to other countries during or after the program. Please familiarize yourself with these recommendations and requirements prior to applying to this program. 

For more specific visa-related information, please visit OGO’s  Visa Information Page.

Information for  Non-U.S. citizens 

Resources 

• Health and Safety
• Additional Information on Country
• Accessibility Requests and Accommodations