Khon Kaen Specialty Courses – 2025 Summer – Internship
Khon Kaen Summer Health Internship & Research Assistantship Program
Click the course title below to view course details and descriptions. Courses require a minimum 5 students to run.
Program Structure
7 credits is required of all participants
Weeks 1-2:
The first two weeks of the program introduce students to the Thai language, culture, and healthcare system. You will begin the following two courses during this time as preparation for your internship or research assistantship:
- Summer – InternshipThai 100-level 1 credit Taught in Thai
This is a course for students who have not taken any Thai language courses previously. Its purpose is to provide the students with basic lexical, grammatical, and functional resources to manage in daily situations while studying in Thailand.
- Summer – InternshipCommunity Health Sciences 300-level 3 credits Taught in English
This course focuses on the structure and functions of the Thai healthcare system, including the primary healthcare system, community health clinics and pharmacies, and systems of traditional healthcare as well as the roles of healthcare providers including physicians, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, and village health volunteers in health promotion and prevention, self-care, and oral health. Special attention will be paid to the use of evidence-based criteria to evaluate the risks and benefits of traditional healthcare: cultural perspectives of herbal medicine, the botanical/chemical basis of ethnomedicines.
Classroom study is complemented by visits to local and rural health-care facilities, meetings with Thai language partners, and group activities with Thai students who are also studying health sciences.
Weeks 3-8:
Students participate in either a community health internship or a lab-based research assistantship for 3 or 6 credits (135 or 270 contact hours including a 15-hour seminar.) Placements are determined in advance through a comprehensive interview process as part of the program application.
- Summer – InternshipCommunity Health Sciences Health Ecology Internships Nursing 300-level 3-6 credits Taught in English
Shadowing-based placements (3 credits only, 300-level)
Students participate in a rotating observation of different health providers in action, including a medical doctor, nurse, dentist, physical therapist, community health officer, and a traditional Thai medicine doctor. Students will complete individual and group projects as part of their shadowing placement.
These placements are a good option for pre-med, pre-nursing, pre-pharmacy and public health students who have a more broad-based academic background. They’re also great for students who aren’t sure which medical field they want to go into, as it provides exposure to all.
Eligibility Requirements for Shadowing Placements:
Sophomore standing or higher at time of application
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Successful completion of university-level biology course with lab is required; introductory course in public health or other health science field is highly desirable
Public health organization or health clinic placements (3 or 6 credits, 400/600-level)
Advanced undergraduates and graduate students with the appropriate academic background may intern with a local public health facility or medical department at Khon Kaen University. Interns are assigned to an internship supervisor who oversees their work on special projects within the clinic or organization.
These placements are excellent options for pre-health majors with a strong academic background in community health or science. They also provide great experience for recent grads and students who want to go on to graduate school. Sample placement locations
Eligibility Requirements for Public Health or Clinic Placements:
Junior standing or higher at time of application. (Open to recent graduates and graduate students
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Completion of one or more courses at the 400-level in biology/chemistry for clinical placements or one or more health-related courses at the 300-level for public health placements.
Prior lab experience and a course in statistical methods are required.
Applicants are expected to be knowledgeable of the U.S. healthcare system structure
- Summer – InternshipInternships 400-level 3-6 credits Taught in English
Lab-based research assistantships are available to advanced undergraduate and graduate students with a strong academic foundation in the desired area of research. Recent graduates may also apply. Prior laboratory experience is required.
Areas of research available at Khon Kaen University include community health; tropical medicine; exercise science; and medical research. Although students may have a pre-determined research project in mind, this isn’t required. Most students will be placed in labs where they will gain research experience by assisting faculty and researchers with pre-existing projects.
Eligibility requirements for research assistantships:
Junior standing or higher at time of application. (Open to recent graduates and graduate students)
Minimum GPA of 3.0
Completion of three or more upper-division courses in science or health that provide a relevant foundation for the research project.
Lab experience beyond an introductory level and a course in statistical methods are required.
To request a course syllabus: syllabus@usac.edu
For more information about placement options, see the Khon Kaen internship page.