Known for the incomparable ruins of Angkor Wat, Cambodia evokes images of overgrown jungle temples, bright orange-robed monks, and lush rice fields. Examine issues of human rights and international development: witness Cambodian youth's optimism, unpack the legacy of the Khmer Rouge, and gain insight into Theravada Buddhism firsthand.

Our summer abroad course begins in the overgrown temples of the Angkor civilization, which hold the secrets to the ecological and architectural wonders of a culture that ruled much of Southeast Asia for nearly a thousand years. Continuing past the floating villages of Lake Tonle Sap, we gain insight into the effects of dams on the ecology of Cambodia’s largest body of freshwater and discuss environmental issues critical to food security. 

We continue to Battambang, where we meet with dedicated NGO representatives who work on education, child rights, and anti-orphanage tourism initiatives. In Phnom Penh, we confront the atrocities of the Khmer Rouge genocide, build empathy with the Cambodian people, and gain context around Cambodia’s present-day political landscape. We end in the coastal village of Kampot.

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