Music Therapy in Thailand

The purpose of this program is to provide students immersion into another culture and examine various approaches and current trends in the field of music therapy from both an American and an international perspective. The program will take place at Mahidol University, one of the most prestigious universities in Thailand, which is internationally known and recognized for its high caliber research and teaching of its faculty. Mahidol University is located in Salaya, a suburb fifteen miles west of Bangkok. The Salaya campus is located on 520 acres of natural beauty, landscaped gardens and tropical foliage. Mahidol University has the largest medical school in Thailand and a thriving College of Music with an annual enrollment of more than 1,000 students. During the 2010-2011 academic year, the School of Music will launch the Master’s degree in Music Therapy.

During the program, participants will visit and participate in music therapy sessions at new clinical training sites. Facilities include, but are not limited to, Mahidol University hospitals, rehabilitation centers and local education facilities for young children and children with special needs. Additionally, there will be a lecture series on various topics pertaining to various philosophical and theoretical approaches in music therapy and music therapy in a world forum. Collaboration with students admitted to the Thai program will offer participants the opportunity for dialog and exchange regarding the field of music therapy.

Program Excursions

During the program students will visit three distinctive regions of Thailand, central, southern and northern Thailand. Participants will visit many significant cultural sites in these areas in order to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of Thailand and its rich culture.

Students will visit Bangkok, Salaya and Ayutthaya in Central Thailand. Bangkok is a thriving metropolis of more than 8 million people and is not only the administrative center of the county but also the nation’s cultural, commercial and educational center. In Bangkok, students will visit the spectacular Grand Palace, which was the home of the Thai King, Royal court and administrative seat of government for 150 years. The Grand Palace complex houses the Temple of the Emerald Buddha and over 100 brightly colored buildings and golden spires. Participants will also be able to explore the ancient city of Ayutthaya, the second Siamese capital from the 13-18th century that has been listed on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.

Students will visit Krabi, a beach town on the west coast of southern Thailand, along the Andaman Sea during a four day excursion. During the excursion, students will visit dazzling white sand beaches, islands and its stunning natural attractions. During another weekend excursion, students will also visit Chiang Mai, the largest and most culturally significant city in Northern Thailand and the second largest city in Thailand. Chiang Mai is a modern city with a historical past. It was a key city on an ancient trade route in Southeast Asia. Participants will enjoy its beautiful scenery and visit some of its many ancient Buddhist temples.

Academic Program

All Undergraduate Students take the following courses:

MEMT 598 Special Course: Survey of International Music Therapy Perspectives (2 credit hours)
MEMT 396 Clinical Practicum (1 credit hour)

All Graduate Students and Music Therapy Professionals take the following course:

MEMT 864 Philosophy and Theory of Music Therapy (3 credit hours)

Course Descriptions for MEMT 598 & 396

The purpose of these courses is to examine and evaluate the international perspective of music therapy in the clinical, theoretical and research practices from both a national (American) and international perspective. Additionally, this course provides an opportunity for the study of multiple clinical applications of music therapy as related to accepted music therapy principles and theory. Students will also examine cross-cultural differences as related to referral, service delivery and treatment outcomes of clients.

Course Description for MEMT 864

The purpose of the Philosophy and Theory course is to examine and evaluate the philosophical and theoretical foundations of music therapy. This experience will provide students with a clinical practicum component and acquaint them with the current philosophical and theoretical literature in music therapy. Students will also examine and evaluate current and past approaches to music therapy in a US model in order to compare and contrast that with an emerging Thai model of music therapy. These experiences will enable to students to examine relationships between philosophy and clinical practice and between philosophy and research.

Program Director

Dena Register, Associate Professor of Music Therapy and Music Education at the University of Kansas earned B.M., M.M., and Ph.D. degrees from Florida State University. Dr. Register teaches courses in principles of music therapy, research methods in music education and music therapy, philosophies of music therapy and psychology of music. Her primary research interests include music therapy in early intervention and literary skill development, as well as hospice care and children’s bereavement.

Accommodations

Students will be housed in centrally located hotels in each city.

Dates

Depart US: Friday, June 4, 2010
Arrive Bangkok: Saturday, June 5, 2010
Depart Bangkok: Saturday, July 10, 2010

Eligibility

Open to undergraduate or graduate music therapy students from AMTA approved accredited U.S. colleges and universities as well as music therapy professionals. Students must have previous practicum experience at home institution. Please submit with application a DVD that has personal resume listing previous practicum and professionally-related experiences and a short video that demonstrates recent singing and guitar abilities. Minimum 2.5 GPA required (exceptions considered after submission of a petition).

Cost: TBD (Summer 2009 costs are listed below)

Program Fee: Approximately $3,220 ($3,420 for non-KU students). The program fee includes accommodations, cultural activities, some group meals, transportation and accommodations during program excursions, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation services, KU orientation, and administrative costs.

Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and Fine Arts course fees for 3 credit hours (based on standard tuition rate): $675*

Tuition and Fees: Estimated tuition and Fine Arts course fees for 3 credit hours (based on graduate tuition rate): $821*

*Actual expenses for KU students will vary by the student’s individual tuition compact or graduate student rates. Non-KU undergraduate students will pay the standard tuition rate listed above. Non-KU graduate students will pay the KU graduate tuition rate.

Additional costs: Airfare, most meals, passport fees, books, and personal expenses.

Note

All dates, costs, and program information are subject to change as necessary due to fluctuations in the exchange rate or other reasons.

Financial Aid

KU students who qualify for summer financial aid in the form of Stafford and/or other loans, Pell or SEOG Grants, and scholarships may apply the aid to the cost of a Study Abroad Program.

Limited supplemental scholarships are available to KU undergraduates. Applications are available at the Office of Study Abroad. You can also download the scholarship application. The scholarship application deadline is March 1.

Non-KU students should check into the financial resources available to them at their home institutions.

Application Procedures

Application Deadline: March 1, 2010

Application forms are available from the KU Office of Study Abroad and from the Department of Spanish and Portuguese. You can also download the application. All application materials are to be returned to the Office of Study Abroad no later than March 1.

(Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to download an application. If your computer does not have Acrobat Reader you can download it for FREE.)

For more information contact:

Professor Dena Register
Program Director
The University of Kansas
Music Therapy Department
448 B Murphy
Lawrence, KS 66045
phone: (785) 864-9634
e-mail: register@ku.edu

The University of Kansas
Office of Study Abroad
Lippincott Hall
1410 Jayhawk Blvd. Room 108
Lawrence, KS 66045-7515
phone: 785-864-3742
fax: 785-864-5040
e-mail: osa@ku.edu