Thailand: Community and Environmental Health in Chiang Mai
Travel to Chiang Mai, Thailand, to learn about the country’s health infrastructure in addition to social, environmental and cultural factors affecting care.
This two-week course has a special emphasis on the climate-driven health issues facing rural, migrant and refugee populations in Thailand. The course is offered in partnership with Chiang Mai University.
Through lectures, site visits and interactions with Thai community leaders, this course aims to enable students to think critically about the interaction of various determinants of health and their impact on community members and wellbeing.
This course will be offered in 2027 during January term. Sign up for our interest list to receive updates on the course.
Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Housing
Hotel
Meals
Some meals arranged by CMU partners
Eligibility
UMN graduate students
UMN faculty
UMN staff
UMN alumni
International learners with a UMN affiliation
Members of the general public
Term
January Term 2027 (specific dates TBD)
Topics
Public health infrastructure in Thailand; Rural, migrant, and refugee health; Environmental determinants of health, alternative medicine, and AI in healthcare
Exploring Interdisciplinary, Scalable Approaches to Health
“I gained a deep understanding of how agriculture, climate, and health intersect in Northern Thailand. From PM2.5 pollution caused by agricultural burning to antibiotic use in mandarin orchards to cross-border mining contamination, there are a myriad of environmental health issues facing communities in Northern Thailand.
"Meeting researchers and entrepreneurs developing local solutions demonstrated that effective interventions require multi-sector, scalable approaches.”
– Student who took part in CGHSR's pilot course in Thailand in January 2026
Site Visits
- Doi Suthep & Wat Pa Dara Phirom temples
- Health Center for Minority Ethnic Groups and Migrant Workers
- Lampang Cancer Hospital
- Nai Suan
- Ontai Community Farm
- Energy Research and Development Institute
- Mae Kha Canal
- Participatory One Health Disease Detection Center
Note: Site visits are subject to change
Discover How to Apply
This is a 2-credit course that takes place during January term. The course is available for academic credit or non-credit enrollment, open to University of Minnesota graduate and professional students as well as UMN alumni, faculty, staff, and non-UMN community learners. Sign up for our interest list to receive updates on this course.
Eligibility
Eligibility
This course is open to:
- University of Minnesota graduate and professional students (post-baccalaureate)
- University of Minnesota faculty, staff, and alumni
- General public / community learners with interest and/or experience in health-related careers
All participants must apply, and have instructor approval, before they will be able to register.
Proficiency in the Thai language is not required for this course.
Credits and Requirements
Credits and Requirements
UMN Students: Academic credit is available to UMN graduate students (2 credits) for the course. It is up to the student to confer with their academic unit to determine if it meets their specific program requirements. Students may be allowed to apply this program to other academic requirements per approval by their unit. UMN students are also able to take the course without receiving academic credit.
Non-UMN Students: Faculty, staff, alumni and community learners may participate for non-credit enrollment.
All participants (credit and non-credit) are expected to complete the following assignments:
- Personal reflection and group debrief activities
- In-class discussion and participation
- Group presentation
- Professional poster creation
Program Fee
Program Fee
Program fees and exact course dates will be provided in May of 2026.
Dates and Location
Dates and Location
This course will take place during the January term in 2027.
Application
Application
Applications are not yet open for this course. Applications will open Aug. 15, 2026.
Scholarships
Scholarships
CGHSR offers scholarships up to $2,500 for this course. To apply for a CGHSR Student Scholarship, complete the "Statement of need" section in your course application. Additional scholarships may also be available from students' departments or colleges.
Partner Organization
This course is offered in partnership with Chiang Mai University, a local public research university with an emphasis on science, agriculture, and medicine.