Global Change, Community & Families in Thailand

This interdisciplinary course uses social justice and human ecological lenses to examine global change that is occurring at the intersections among Thailand’s natural environment, communities, families, and culture. Topics include globalization, human trafficking, education, religion, environmental issues, and cultural integration/identity formation, particularly among indigenous populations in northern Thailand. Students interact with key community leaders, village leaders, elders, and students who serve as teachers; this leads to critical understanding of Thai culture and the contemporary issues faced by Thailand’s families and communities. Through journaling, digital stories, blogging, and discussions, students will synthesize, integrate, apply, and communicate what they’ve learned. 

Students will stay in local hotels throughout the stay in Thailand. Some meals are provided.

Tuesday, March 1st, 2022

This is a Spring embedded course that includes additional meetings on campus and a local overnight retreat.

Pre-Departure Orientation: During a class period within the semester 

Spring Semester on-campus class dates: 

• March 16th - in person
• April 1-2 (overnight retreat) - 5PM to noon the next day
• April 13 - online
• April 20 - online
• April 27 - in person
• May 4 - online

Travel Dates: Saturday, May 14th, 2022 - Sunday, May 29th, 2022

Earn 3 credits for: FSoS 4158

This interdisciplinary course uses human ecology and social justice lenses to examine how the forces of migration and global change are influencing communities, families, and culture in northern Thailand.

This is a Spring embedded course that goes abroad in May. There will be five 90 minute classes beginning March 16 during which you’ll learn from cultural insiders about Minnesota’s South East Asian families, communities, and cultures (Hmong, Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese, Cambodian). This will begin to prepare you for immersion in Thai culture; you will begin to understand the deep connections among local and global South East Asian families and communities. We will also retreat overnight at a local Buddhist temple to learn to cook Thai food, practice Thai music and dance, engage in mindfulness meditation with the monks in-residence, and complete a small service project.

This course is designed to meet the Liberal Education Global Perspectives theme at the University of Minnesota. This theme focuses on "assuring U of M graduates have at least one significant academic exposure to the world beyond the U.S. borders and the opportunity to consider the implications of this knowledge for the international community and their own lives". Moreover, this course will meet two student learning outcomes: to understand diverse philosophies and cultures within and across societies, and communicate effectively.

Catherine Solheim has a doctorate in Family Science, and conducts research on refugee family resettlement, family economic well-being, and the influence of culture on various aspects of family life. She has lived and worked in Thailand, speaks fluent Thai, and is deeply connected with the local Minnesota-Thai community.

Chiang Rai and Chiang Khong

Learn about the Hill Tribes peoples (Hmong, Karen, Lahu, Lisu, etc.) from HADF, a local NGO; visit local markets; visit the White Temple and the Hill Tribes Museum; spend time with Chiang Rai Rajabhat University students to learn about their lives; observe the ways of life of people living in Hill Tribes villages; interact with village elders, leaders, and families’ engage in projects arranged by HADF rural villages; learn about the centrality of the Mekong River to family well-being and how climate change and politics are affecting the river’s health; visit a local school to learn how they infuse the late King’s “sufficiency economy” philosophy in their curriculum; learn about a local NGO that fights human trafficking and visit a village to learn how a local women’s group is developing leadership skills.

For more information, contact Marina Aleixo

May 2022 Cost of Participation Forthcoming 

The program fee generally includes tuition and registration fees, orientation and international health insurance. It may also include airfare, housing, excursions and some or all meals. Students will need to budget for their passport and visa fees, meals that are not included, and personal spending money.