FOUNDATIONS: Thai Language, Society and Development. This intensive two part course focuses on the acquisition of the Thai language and understanding of Thai society and key issues in development. In addition to small intensive language classes, students study the urban geography of Chiang Mai city and selected topics in Thai culture and society.

RIVERS: Human rights and the environment. The Rivers course works with two communities--one group in the Northeast displaced by the building of the Pak Mun Dam, and a group in the North fighting to keep the Yom river from being dammed. Living with displaced villagers and paddling the Yom with village elders is a unique opportunity to understand the link between human rights and the environment.

FORESTS: Ethnic people and natural resources. Working with Karen villagers in the remote northern mountains of Mae Hong Son, students will study how the Karen are working to preserve their forest and traditional way of life. Students will spend time backpacking between villages, working in the fields and forests, and learning about the culture and local ecosystems of the Karen.

COASTS : Islands, reefs and mangroves. The Coastal course starts out sea kayaking, skin-diving and studying the reefs and mangrove forests of Trang, Southern Thailand, and wraps up with students living in a small fishing village which is working to conserve its threatened mangroves and sea grasses upon which their livelihoods depend.

Students earn 16 credits of coursework each semester, with the option of a 4 credit-hour internship.

INTERNSHIP: Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Development. A service-learning internship is a chance for students to work with a local organization focused on sustainable development issues and apply what they have learned during their field expedition courses to a specific project and problem. (Optional for summer)

Application deadline for Spring, 2009: October 10, 2008. Due to the high demand for this program and limited space, students are encouraged to apply early.

Spring Semester starts: February 6

Spring Semester Program ends: June 12 (Students can depart Chiang Mai on June 13)

Spring/Summer Internship ends: July 10 (Students can depart Chiang Mai on July 11)

Week	Dates	Course/Activity
1	Feb. 9 - 13	Orientation
2-5	Feb. 16 - Mar. 13	BLOCK 1: Foundations
6-9	Mar. 16 - Apr. 10	BLOCK 2: Rivers / Forests
10	Apr. 13-17	Songkran Break
11-14	Apr. 20 - May 15	BLOCK 3: Rivers / Coasts
15-18	May 18 - Jun. 12	BLOCK 4: Forests / Coasts
19-23	Jun. 15 - Jul. 10	BLOCK 5: Internship

ISDSI charges a "comprehensive fee" so that students may apply financial aid to tuition as well as cost-of-living in Thailand. Comprehensive fees include tuition, all food while on the program, all housing while on the program, and all program related travel. The only things the comprehensive fee does not include are airfare to Thailand, equipment rental (if any), and spending money. While on the program, students receive a living stipend as well as all program related books and readers.

Comprehensive fee for Spring, 2009:

• Semester: $15,225
• Semester plus Summer Internship: $19,000

Scholarships

Scholarships are available, usually from $500 to $3,500 per semester. Depending on the policy of your home institution, other financial aid may apply.

Another source of information on scholarships is at http://www.iie.org/programs/gilman/resources.html.

The program is open to undergraduate students in all majors in good academic standing (minimum 2.7 GPA) and enrolled in accredited US colleges and universities. While not required, students are strongly urged to have taken some classes dealing with sustainable development, ecology and ecosystems, development studies, and related fields before the program starts.

To learn more, please read the Course pages, as well as the information on applying, and our FAQ and other pages online.