Thai Studies Program

PBIC Thammasat University’s BA Thai Studies is the ONLY English-language Bachelor of Arts-level Thai Studies Program in Thailand, giving students from all over the world the unique opportunity to examine the country at undergraduate-level, as well as learn Thai, within Thailand itself. The program leads students through Thailand’s sociolinguistics, geography, history, religious development, economic development, business landscape, politics, and into contemporary social issues and problems studied to a level that allows students a sophisticated, practical and real-world-applicable understanding of the Kingdom and its place in the regions of Southeast Asia, the Asia-Pacific and the world.

Curriculum 2023 - Thai Studies Program

Degree Structure

1.1 Compulsory subjects	1.2 *Choose 2 from 3 Courses	1.3 *Choose 1 Course
PD101 Introduction to Area Studies and Its Methodology PD102 Social Science in the 21st Century PD103 Humanities in the Age of Disruption PD104 The Path to Modernity and Globalization TU100 Civic Engagement TU101 Thailand, ASEAN, and the World TU103 Life and Sustainability	TU106 Creativity and Communication LAS101 Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing EL105 English Communication Skills	TU108 Self Development and Management EL295 Academic English and Study Skills 1

2.1 Compulsory Courses

2.1.1 Core course

PD201 Research Methods in Social Science
PD202 Introduction to the Global Economy
PD203 International Organizations and Geopolitics
PD204 Great Books; Human Intellectual Development through Key Texts

2.1.2 Thai Studies

THS100 Academic Reading and Writing
THS101 Power of the Land: Geography of Thailand
THS200 Thai History
THS201 Society and Culture of Thailand
THS202 Thai Sociolinguistics: Languages, Society and Meaning
THS203 Thai Politics
THS204 Buddhism in Thailand
THS300 Economic Development of Thailand
THS301 Thai Foreign Policy
THS400 Seminars in Thai Studies

2.2 Prescribed Elective Course

2.2.1 Elective Major (Choose 9 Courses)*

THS210 Thai Dance and Music
THS211 Thai Cuisine
THS212 Religions and Philosophies of Thailand: Origins and Contemporary Issues
THS213 Thai Traditional Medicine and Massage
THS310 Thai Literature
THS311 Art, Material Culture and Architecture of Thailand
THS312 Gender and Sexuality in Thailand
THS313 Anthropology of Thailand: Ethnicity, Margins, Inclusion
THS314 Doing Business in Thailand
THS401 Media and Entertainment in Thailand: Celebrities, Cinema and Censorship 3
THS402 Military, War, and Society in Thailand
THS410 Selected Topics in Thai Social and Cultural Issues
THS411 Selected Topics in Thai Language, Arts and Literature
THS412 Selected Topics in Thai Economy, Politics, and Society
THS413 Seminars in the International Relations of Thailand
THS414 Seminars in Business in Thailand

2.2.2 Internship / Research Project (Choose 1 course)*

THS403 Internship ( 270 Hours)
THS404 Research Projec

3.1 Southeast Asian Studies	3.2 Indian Studies	3.3 Thai Language (Interฯ Student Only)*
PSE325 Development of Southeast Asia PSE326 Socio-cultural Issues in ASEAN PSE327 Arts and Literature of Southeast Asia PSE328 Conflict and Security in Southeast Asia PSE329 Cultural Diversity, Ethnicity and Identity in Southeast Asia PSE335 Selected Topics in ASEAN Studies PSE336 The Economy of Southeast Asia PSE425 Student Seminars on Current Issues in Southeast Asia	IDS345 History of India IDS346 Societies and Cultures of India IDS347 The Economy of India IDS355 Hindi 1 IDS356 Hindi 2 IDS445 India’s International Relations IDS446 Doing Business in India IDS447 Indian Politics IDS448 Geography of India	PDL100 Elementary Thai PDL200 Lower Intermediate Thai PDL300 Upper Intermediate Thai PDL400 Advanced Thai PDL500 Introducing Thai Translation PDL600 Advanced Reading in Thai PDL700 Advanced Writing in Thai PDL800 Thai Through Popular Media

*3.3 : International students who do not speak Thai as first language and would like to study Thai as a minor must complete all subjects in this group for a total of 24 credits.

3.4 Chinese Studies

3.4.1 Courses Taught in Chinese

CHI276 Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature
CHI308 Principles of Translation
CHI309 Modern Chinese Expressions in Chinese Series
CHI405 Modern Chinese Grammar
CHI406 Upper Advanced Chinese (HSK6)
CHI407 Practical Business Chinese
CHI408 Translation and Interpretation
CHI409 Critical Readings in Contemporary China
CHI415 Chinese Reading in Science and Technology
CHI475 The Strange, the Uncanny and the Funny in Classical Chinese Literature
CHI488 Seminar in Chinese Studies

3.4.2 Courses Taught in English

CHI326 Overseas Chinese Family Businesses in Countries in Southeast Asia
CHI327 Foundations of Chinese Thought
CHI368 Political Elite in Contemporary China
CHI369 Chinese Public Diplomacy and Soft Power
CHI375 Media and Entertainment in China
CHI376 Chinese Arts and Architecture
CHI445 Development of Modern Science and Technology in China
CHI465 China in the Global Political Economy

3.4.3 Language Courses

CHI105 Elementary Chinese 1
CHI106 Elementary Listening and Speaking 1
CHI107 Elementary Reading and Writing 1
CHI108 Elementary Chinese 2
CHI109 Elementary Listening and Speaking 2
CHI115 Elementary Reading and Writing 2
CHI116 Elementary Chinese 3 (Equivalent to HSK4)
CHI117 Elementary Listening and Speaking 3 (Equivalent to HSK4)

*3.4.1 : Students can study courses in this group only as elective courses, not as a minor courses.

*3.4.3 : 1) Students who take entrance examination without HSK4 scores results must study all courses in this group as electives and free electives.
2) Students who take the entrance examination using HSK4 scores can’t study subjects in this group.

Courses offered by International Programs at TU or School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (SOAS)

Study 4 Years at TU

Semester 1	Semester 2
PD102 Social Science in the 21st Century TU100 Civic Engagement TU101 Thailand, ASEAN, and the World TU103 Life and Sustainability EL105 / LAS101 / TU106 EL105 / LAS101 / TU106 THS100 Academic Reading and Writing	PD101 Intro to Area Studies and Its Methodology PD103 Humanities in the Age of Disruption PD104 The Path to Modernity and Globalization TU108 / EL295 THS101 Power of the Land
* EL105 English Communication Skills LAS101 Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing TU106 Creativity and Communication	** TU108 Self Development and Management EL295 Academic English and Study Skills 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
PD201 Research Methods in Social Science PD204 Great Books THS200 Thai History THS201 Society and Culture of Thailand THSxxx Elective Major THSxxx Elective Major	PD202 Introduction to the Global Economy PD203 International Org. and Geopolitics THS202 Thai Sociolinguistics THS203 Thai Politics THS204 Buddhism in Thailand THSxxx Elective Major

Semester 1	Semester 2
THS300 Economic Development of Thailand THSxxx Elective Major THSxxx Elective Major THSxxx Elective Major THSxxx Elective Major Elective/Minor	THS301 Thai Foreign Policy THSxxx Elective Major Elective/Minor Elective/Minor Elective/Minor Free Elective

Semester 1	Semester 2
THS400 Seminars in Thai Studies THSxxx Elective Major Elective/Minor Elective/Minor Free Elective	THSxxx Internship / ResearchProject

Study 2 Years at TU & 2 Years at SOAS

Semester 1	Semester 2
PD102 Social Science in the 21st Century TU100 Civic Engagement TU101 Thailand, ASEAN, and the World TU103 Life and Sustainability EL105 / LAS101 / TU106 EL105 / LAS101 / TU106 THS100 Academic Reading and Writing	PD101 Intro to Area Studies and Its Methodology PD103 Humanities in the Age of Disruption PD104 The Path to Modernity and Globalization TU108 / EL295 THS101 Power of the Land
* EL105 English Communication Skills LAS101 Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing TU106 Creativity and Communication	** TU108 Self Development and Management EL295 Academic English and Study Skills 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
PD201 Research Methods in Social Science PD204 Great Books THS200 Thai History THS201 Society and Culture of Thailand THSxxx Elective Major THSxxx Elective Major	PD202 Introduction to the Global Economy PD203 International Org. and Geopolitics THS202 Thai Sociolinguistics THS203 Thai Politics THS204 Buddhism in Thailand THSxxx Elective Major

Semester 1	Semester 2
Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS	Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS

Semester 1	Semester 2
Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS Course of SOAS	Course of SOAS Course of SOAS