ciee - council on international educational exchange
apply now for a ciee study abroad program Login in My CIEE

Search this site:
are you an advisor?
  
ciee study center blogs
Find us on Facebook
CIEE Annual Conference
Sign up for our newsletter
featured programs

Study Abroad with CIEE in Australia Study in Australia
wollongong—arts + sciences

Study Abroad with CIEE in the Caribbean Study in Bonaire
bonaire—tropical marine ecology

Study Abroad with CIEE in China Study in China
shanghai—advanced chinese studies

Study Abroad with CIEE in China Study in China
shanghai—business, language, + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Germany Study in Germany
berlin—language + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Italy Study in Italy
naples—liberal arts

Study Abroad with CIEE in Italy Study in Italy
naples—classical studies

Study Abroad with CIEE in Peru Study in Peru
lima—business + society

Study Abroad with CIEE in Peru Study in Peru
lima—language + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Sweden Study in Sweden
uppsala—arts + sciences

Study Abroad with CIEE in Taiwan Study in Taiwan
taipei—chinese language + culture

Study Abroad with CIEE in Vietnam Study in Vietnam
ho chi minh—language + culture

Is this program right for you?

The seven-week summer program in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, Cambodia is designed for students to learn the history of Cambodia-from the ancient times to 1970s-and come to understand it as a case study for geopolitical issues such as nation-building, radicalism, corruption, democracy, and economic development.

Program Snapshot

  • Witness the ongoing Khmer Rouge tribunal and learn about justice and reconciliation in a post-conflict country
  • Explore the Angkor World Heritage Site, Khmer Rouge genocide memorial sites, and a rural Khmer village through guided excursions
  • Immerse yourself in the culture through a three-week homestay in Phnom Penh with the family of a Cambodian university student

Subject Areas

  • Cambodian Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • History
  • Khmer Language
  • Nation Building

About Siem Reap

Siem Reap, Cambodia’s third largest city with a population of 100,000, lies adjacent to the Angkor World Heritage Site, the ruins of a massive temple city that was the center of the ancient Khmer empire. Steeped in Cambodian history and Khmer culture, Siem Reap is a favored destination for both scholars and tourists. Cambodia’s capital city, Phnom Penh, lies on banks of the Mekong River. Phnom Penh’s grand French and Khmer architectural monuments, including the Royal Palace and National Museum, remain standing amid recent development, creating a unique atmosphere that combines the ancient and the modern.

Where You'll Study

Paññasastra University of Cambodia

All CIEE courses offered as part of the Cambodian Studies summer program are hosted by the prestigious Paññasastra University of Cambodia (PUC), the country’s premier higher education institution. By holding courses on campus at this English-language University, CIEE students participate in a cultural immersion experience studying alongside and joining activities with local students, and have access to campus facilities. The program begins with an initial ten days based at the PUC campus in Siem Reap, in which students explore the Angkor World Heritage Site and begin classes in history, language, and culture. The remainder of the program is hosted by the PUC campus in the capital, Phnom Penh, where students have opportunities to interact with local NGOs and explore topics in reconciliation and development.

Thoughts From Abroad

The tragic events of Cambodia’s past continue to haunt it today. Many Cambodians and international observers are eager to see leaders of the Khmer Rouge, a brutal regime responsible for the deaths of millions from 1975 to 1979, finally brought to justice in an ongoing UN and Cambodian tribunal. Although most agree this is a necessary step to help put this traumatic past behind them, the path to reconciliation is not an easy one, especially since only a handful of top Khmer Rouge leaders will stand trial.

At the same time, Cambodians are looking ahead to a bright future. Despite ongoing problems, Cambodia has a multiparty democracy, and its economy, not long ago ravaged by war and isolation, is growing at an astounding pace as the country integrates with the global community. Unfortunately, the country is still slow in developing the institutions needed to help handle the shocks of rapid transformation and growth. Globalization has brought the hope of prosperity, along with new threats, for Cambodia’s impoverished, mostly rural population.

Studying abroad in Cambodia will give you the chance to learn about life in a rapidly developing post-conflict country, explore a culture that is likely very different than your own, and also discover much about yourself in the process. On behalf of CIEE, I invite you to challenge yourself and join what will be an incredible learning and life experience.

— Brian Zottoli, Resident Director

Staff Bios

Dr. Brian Zottoli completed his M.A. in Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and completed his Ph.D. in history from the University of Michigan. Dr. Zottoli joined CIEE after serving as a director for another study abroad organization in Vietnam. He speaks fluent Vietnamese and has been living and working in Southeast Asia since 2000. He has worked with UNESCO in Hanoi and Bangkok, where he served as program officer for cultural heritage conservation programs, including the preservation of Vietnam’s World Heritage Sites. Dr. Zottoli is also the Resident Director of the CIEE Study Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Ms. Kim Sokny has served as the coordinator of International Study Programs and secretary of the Peace and Conflicts Studies Institute at Paññasastra University of Cambodia, where she also received her B.A. in Business Administration and is currently working on an M.B.A.

Recommended Credit

summer: 6 semester/9 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 2.75

Application Deadlines

Summer 20104/1/2010

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Summer 20107 weeks
late June - early August

CIEE Costs

CIEE program fees, inclusions, and estimated additional costs, are outlined below. Please note that CIEE reserves the right to adjust its fees in the event of significant change in exchange rates or other factors beyond its control. The actual cost of the programs may vary slightly for students from different institutions.

For comprehensive fee breakdowns and estimated additional costs, click the costs below:

  • Summer 2010 $5,000
    The CIEE fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, housing, orientation, full-time program leadership and support, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.

    Program Fees

    This breakdown has been prepared from the program budget for the purpose of calculating eligibility for financial aid. During the course of program operations, actual figures may vary. It should not, therefore, be used as a basis for calculation of refunds. CIEE reserves the right to adjust fees at any time.

    Students required to study on CIEE programs through a School of Record will be charged a $340 administrative fee in addition to the Program Fees listed below.

    Medical Insurance$74
    Housing$550
    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$4,376
    Total$5,000

    The CIEE fee includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, housing, orientation, full-time program leadership and support, cultural activities, local excursions, field trips, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.



    Estimated Additional Costs

    The estimated additional costs indicated below are intended to assist students and parents in budgeting for those additional living and discretionary expenses not included in the program fee. Actual expenses will vary according to student interests and spending habits.

    Local Transportation$100
    Books and Supplies$50
    Meals$500
    Personal Expenses$400
    Transportation (round-trip based on U.S. West Coast departure)$1,650
    Visa Fees (onsite)$33
    Total$2,733


Scholarship Information

For a complete list of scholarships available, please vist our Scholarships section.