This program provides students with the opportunity to discover veterinary medicine, conservation, and animal welfare through the lens of the culture of Thailand.
For one week, their field classroom is an elephant sanctuary where they can learn about elephant medicine and conservation from a number of angles, including anatomy and physiology, diet and nutrition, welfare and enrichment, cultural perception of elephants, drivers of successful conservation projects in the developing world, and animal behavior and communication.
For another week, their field classroom will be a companion animal shelter and clinic, where students will learn the importance of culture in shelter medicine and its ethical impacts while covering topics such as handling and restraint, anatomy, diseases and pathology, diagnosis and treatment and an introduction to sterilization surgeries and practical skills such as suture techniques, blood draws and venipuncture, blood smears, microscope use, fecal exams, and necropsies.
We provide free time activities in order to help students explore the food, culture, and outdoor environments of their host country in a safe and positive way. Example possibilities include a beach day with snorkeling, a city tour, a meditation and Buddhism lesson, a Thai tropical fruit tasting, and a Thai language lesson.
Optional Bonus Week: Students will have the option to add a one-week Marine Conservation Bonus week for an additional cost. During this week, students will travel to Koh Tao, “Turtle Island” in the South of Thailand where they will learn about marine conservation in both a course and hands-on setting and get into the ocean each day for snorkel adventures around the island. Students may see tropical fish, sea turtles, sharks, octopi, sea urchins and get a chance to participate in conservation projects such as helping to re-grow coral through the creation of artificial reefs. This program is a LOT of in-water time and includes a major SCUBA component as well.
Information
Program Dates: June 28 – July 12, 2025
Courses: ANS 395: Thailand: Global Animal Management Issues, Concerns and Solutions (3 credit hours)
Deadlines
Application Deadline: February 7, 2025
Scholarships Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
Contact
Dr. Kimberly Ange-van Heugten
Email: kdange@ncsu.edu
