Semesters at ISDSI go from the end of August to mid December for the Fall, and January to May for the Spring. Internships are usually for one month in January (four weeks), and for the summer go from mid May through July (8 weeks). Block courses are four weeks long, with the first week in Chiang Mai and the following three weeks in the field. Typically the courses leave for the field on Sunday or Monday of the second week, and return and finish by Thursday of the fourth week.
Fall Semester 2010
Students arrive: August 20
Fall Semester ends: December 17 (Students can depart Chiang Mai on December 18)
Fall/January Internship ends: January 28 (Students can depart Chiang Mai on January 29.)
| Week | Dates | Course/Activity |
| 1 | Aug. 21 – Aug. 27 | Orientation |
| 2-5 | Aug. 30 – Sep 24 | BLOCK 1: Foundations |
| 6-9 | Sep. 27 – Oct. 21 | BLOCK 2: Agroecology |
| 10-13 | Oct. 25 – Nov. 18 | BLOCK 3: Forests |
| 14-17 | Nov. 22 – Dec. 16 | BLOCK 4: Oceans |
| 18-22 | Jan. 3 – Jan. 28 | BLOCK 5: Internship (4 weeks) |
Spring Semester 2011
Students arrive: January 7 (orientation starts on the 8th)
Spring Semester Program ends: May 13 (Students can depart Chiang Mai on May 14)
Spring/Summer Internship ends: July 15 (Students can depart Chiang Mai on July 16)
| Week | Dates | Course/Activity |
| 1 | Jan. 8 – 14 | Orientation |
| 2-5 | Jan. 17 – Feb. 11 | BLOCK 1: Foundations |
| 6-9 | Feb. 14 – Mar. 10 | BLOCK 2: Rivers |
| 10-13 | Mar. 14 – Apr. 7 | BLOCK 3: Forests |
| 14 | Apr. 11 – 15 | Songkran Break |
| 15-18 | Apr. 18 – May. 12 | BLOCK 4: Oceans |
| 19-27 | May. 23 – July. 15 | BLOCK 5: Internship (8 weeks) |