Thailand

The course examines social science research, and introduces the nature of research as an orderly process of inquiry. Topics include identification of a research problem, review of literature, research designs, hypothesis formation and testing, sampling methods, research instruments and data collection, data analysis by appropriate descriptive or inferential statistics, and preparation of a research report. Text: A. Bryman, SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODS.

This course offers a study of the foreign policies of Southeast Asian countries, their conduct of foreign policies toward each other, and their means of confronting international problems. The course is issue-oriented with the understanding that virtually all issues are interrelated. The focus is on how Southeast Asian nations address the various issues as problem-solving in a given context and as creatively thinking and proposing action about the basic nature of the issues and problems.

The course examines the study and practice of writing short creative pieces, both fiction and nonfiction. It provides a study of the fundamental principles of writing fiction, documentary, and memoir autobiography. Emphasis is placed on creativity, seeing and imagining a scene or story from a unique perspective or point of view, and using language effectively.

This course provides advanced development of the Thai language, particularly through analyses of texts from Thai literature, magazines, and newspapers, as well as audio-visual materials on subjects related to Thai culture and society. It offers improvement of language skills for practical work and academic usages. The course covers a variety of formal and informal topics relating to daily routines and social interactions, such as home, school, work, activities, traveling, etc., as well as current events and matters of individual interest and social concerns. At the end of the course, students should have a high level of proficiency in the four language skills of Thai (listening, speaking, reading, and writing) in a wide range of Thai contexts; use Thai efficiently in settings; and increase their awareness and concerns of the relationship between Thai language and Thai culture.

This is active and problem based learning course regarding contemporary issues of ASEAN, especially those of Cambodia, the Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The course examines various topics including the economy, trade, investment, development, labor, environment, industrialization, marketing, and public policy in ASEAN nations. Students learn from lectures (by invited professors and experts on each topic) in the classroom and field trips visiting public and/or private organization(s) in Thailand and another ASEAN member country. Field trips are a mandatory part of the course requirements. Students are required to participate in all field trips and must travel according to the itineraries provided. Assessment: class participation and attendance (10%), individual assignments (20%), group project and assignments (40%), final exam (30%).

This course explores sociocultural issues in Southeast Asia, with a focus on contemporary developments of ASEAN and the cooperation of ASEAN in response to the sociocultural issues in the region. Topics include colonialism and the Cold War; decolonization and nation-building; industrialization and globalization; development challenges; the ASEAN identity; human rights and security; natural disasters and epidemics; environmental issues and sustainable development; poverty; and gender issues.

The course provides a study of the Thai language from a sociological perspective. It looks at how sociological factors, both within and outside Thailand, affect the Thai language. The course also examines sociological aspects of the sounds, vocabulary, expressions, sentence structures, and discourse structures of the Thai language.

This course is designed for students wishing to clarify and advance their career goals through a 16-week internship in Thailand. It provides a structured learning environment to help students make the most of their internship experience. While there are no regularly scheduled class meetings, internships are conducted under the close academic supervision of the Social Policy & Development department at Thammasat University. An assigned internship coordinator provides oversight and guidance for the duration of the internship. The course requires a minimum of 128 total work hours. To facilitate the completion of the internship and maximize skill acquisition, students are required to work at least one full day per week at their internships. Assessment: attendance, weekly journal, supervisor evaluation, final internship report. Graded Pass/No pass only.