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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
  • Excursions to Siem Reap, the Angkor World Heritage Site, Khmer Rouge genocide memorial sites, and a rural Khmer village
  • Two-week homestay in Phnom Penh with the family of a Cambodian university student; classes with Cambodian students

Subject Areas

  • Cambodian Studies
  • Cultural Studies
  • Culture (host country)
  • 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 favorite destination of 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 construction, creating a unique atmosphere that combines the ancient and the modern.

Where You'll Study

Center for Khmer Studies

The Cambodian Studies summer program is hosted by the Center for Khmer Studies, a member of the Council of American Overseas Research Centers. The mission of the Center for Khmer Studies is to promote research, teaching, and public service in the social sciences, arts, and humanities as they relate to Cambodia. During a three-week visit to Phnom Penh, classes are held at Paññasastra University of Cambodia, the country’s premier English language university, which offers degrees in fields including business, economics, international relations, and law.

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, Resident Director, 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 in 2009. 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 for the CIEE summer program in Cambodia and frequently teaches in both programs.

Recommended Credit

summer: 6 semester/9 quarter hours

Eligibility Requirements

  • Overall GPA 2.75

Program Dates

Summer 20096/20/2009 - 8/7/2009
Summer 2010Available: 2/15/2010

Application Deadlines

Summer 20094/1/2009
Summer 20104/1/2010

Click here to check for deadline extensions.

Duration

Summer 20097 weeks
late June - early August
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 2009 $4,900
    The CIEE fee for 2009 includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, housing, orientation, full-time program leadership and support, cultural activities, local excursions, local registration fees, 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$500
    Educational Costs (direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students; including $300 non-refundable Participation Confirmation Fee)$4,326
    Total$4,900

    The CIEE fee for 2009 includes an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, housing, orientation, full-time program leadership and support, cultural activities, local excursions, local registration fees, 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)$1,600
    Visa Fees$33
    Total$2,683


  • Summer 2010 Available 12/15/2009

    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.

    Available 12/15/2009



    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.

    Available 12/15/2009


Scholarship Information

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