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The Thailand Study Tour will take place for 3 weeks from May16 to June 4, 2027, and will be led by SMCM professors John Schroeder and Bradley Park. Click the tabs at the top of the page to view the syllabus, program costs, and tentative itinerary for the trip to Thailand.
The Thailand Study Tour will be listed as 4 upper-division philosophy credits, and will be cross listed with Asian Studies, WGSX, and ENST. The study tour also counts toward the 44 upper-division (300- or 400-level) credits that are required of all St. Mary’s students, regardless of major.
You can learn more about the study tour in person and ask any questions during any of the information meetings that will be held during Fall semester 2027 (the 1st information meeting is Tuesday October 6, 11:30am in MH 101). If f you have a question that needs an immediate answer or just want to talk with me more about the program, don't hesitate to set up a meeting with Professor Schroeder (jwschroeder@smcm.edu) or Professor Park (bdpark@smcm.edu).
Theme of the Study Tour
The overall theme of the course is to give students a first-hand, experiential understanding of a Buddhist tradition that is renown for following the path and lifestyle laid out by the Buddha 2500 years ago. In particular, we will meet and learn from those who are called "Engaged Buddhists" and who seek to apply traditional Buddhist teachings to deal with modern problems throughout SE Asia and the world, including problems of rapid deforestation and its impact on local communities, the displacement of minority groups and indigenous populations due to regional and ethnic conflicts, economic disparities and poverty, and the status and treatment of women. Thailand exemplifies this unique combination of an ancient tradition grappling with modern problems, and is something we'll get to learn about directly. But the study tour is much more than this, and over the many years that Professors Schroeder and Park have taken students to Thailand (12 trips combined), the study tour has broadened into an immersion of many aspects of Thai culture. Along with the Buddhist monks and professors who will teach us about the connections between Buddhist spirituality and social activism, we'll travel throughout a large part of the country exploring the everyday life of Thai people--in the cities, the farming villages, and in the mountains. We'll have an opportunity to spend a day bathing and feeding elephants at an elephant sanctuary in Northern Thailand, explore the open-air night markets in Chiang Mai, and literally taste the differences in Thai food depending on the regions we visit. We will camp out in the mountains of Chiang Dao and learn about forestry and conservation from the locals, and take a boat trip up the Mekhong river to the point where Thailand intersects with Laos and Myanmar (the "Golden Triangle"). We'll also learn about Thailand's famous "sex industry" by visiting the red-light districts in Bangkok and Pattaya, and meet with different sex workers (women, men, and transgender) and learn about their lives and experiences. The trip ends with us taking a boat to the Island of Ko Samet--a small, undeveloped island with thatched huts on white sandy beaches, and with an outdoor nightspot called the "Naga" where we'll likely dance the night away and share stories about our adventures in Thailand. We're also firm believers that the best way to experience Thai culture and meet Thais is apart from the group, and so we make sure you have enough free time to explore on your own, take naps, or just hang out.
Lodging, Meals, and Personal Spending
We'll be staying in various types of accommodations during our time in Thailand--from nice hotels and guest houses with pools to monastery dorms, overnight trains, and thatched huts on the beach. While the comfort level may vary, all of the accommodations are clean and you don't need to bring anything for sleeping other than, perhaps, your favorite pillow.
Most meals are provided as part of the tour. Breakfast is included in all of the hotels and guest houses where we'll be staying, and, believe it or not, some of the best meals we'll have will be provided by the Buddhist monks we'll stay with, collected during their morning alms rounds through the village--and with our help. Most dinners will be as a group, giving us time to share our experiences and chat about Thai food and Thai culture. As for meals you will need to purchase on your own, I'll be able to give clearer estimates once the itinerary is set, but a sound estimate for personal meals would be (maybe) 2-3 dinners and 7-8 lunches paid from your personal expenses. Luckily, eating in Thailand is cheap compared to the US--a plate of Pad Thai and vegetables or chicken fried rice is about $3, and dinner at a good restaurant about $10. You will also need to purchase your own drinking water and other snacks for your room or when we're traveling, and so a conservative estimate for food and drink during your time in Thailand is roughly $200.
You will also likely want to purchase clothing or souvenirs to take back to your family and friends, and we'll be going to one of the biggest night markets in Northern Thailand where people come from all over Thailand to sell their arts, crafts, and clothing. From previous tours, students spend on average about $200 buying gifts to take back home.
So you should budget about $500 for your personal expenses, and the rest is paid for through the tour expenses. (See the page on costs for more details).
Next Steps
To apply, visit the Office of International Education's application platform, Via TRM and apply to the Thailand Study Tour Program by February 1st at https://smcm.via-trm.com (make sure you're applying to the Study Tour and not the semester program).
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