Earn
an American or British degree in the Land of Smiles, Thailand
by Scott
A. Hipsher,BS, MBA
Exactly
the same degree that could be earned in the USA or England
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| Choosing where to
go to college is one of the most important decisions in one’s life.
Costs, academics, location and social life all need to be taken into account.
If someone told you it is possible to earn a degree from an accredited
and respectable American or British University in a location where the
cost of living is only a fraction of that of the USA, that has beautiful
weather, that is filled with friendly people, that offers an opportunity
to gain international experience and that is know for its legendary nightlife,
would you be interested? It is possible, here in the Land of Smiles,
Thailand.
A number of people have contacted
me after reading my article about Graduate schools in Bangkok, "Back to
School in Bangkok," in Escape from America Magazine. Readers have
asked me a number of questions. One concern nearly everyone interested
in going to university in Thailand seems to have is whether or not a degree
from a Thai University would be recognized as legitimate degree in the
USA, Australia, NZ or Europe. This is a very legitimate concern,
especially for Americans.
Unfortunately we Americans have earned
our reputation of being extremely ethnocentric and many Americans lack
even the basic understanding of other nations and cultures. I suspect
that some Human Resource personnel who make the hiring decisions for US
companies don’t even know that Thailand and Taiwan are two different countries.
Many Americans will |
 Scott
A. Hipsher is an English teacher in Bankok Thailand. Scott is an Escape
from America Magazne contributor submitting articles on overseas education
and teaching abroad. He earned his BS degree from the University of Maryland
(Asian Division, Sasebo Japan) and his MBA from Bangkok University.
.
Additional
Resources
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Articles on Living Overseas
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on Overseas Education
Scott Hipsher's
Bangkok article
Contact Scott
Hipsher
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automatically assume that any degree
earned outside the USA, especially in a developing country, is inferior
to an American degree. But it is possible to eliminate that problem
and to earn an American
| or British degree abroad,
which is exactly the same degree that could be earned in the USA or England.
St. Theresa Inti College in Bankok
has introduced both an American Universities Program and a joint program
with Bradford University in the UK.
The American Universities Program
will, upon completion, issue degrees from Troy State University (Alabama).
If you don’t want to do the entire four years in Thailand you can also
directly transfer to 36 different colleges in the USA. See that list
on the right.
The AUP Program is currently offering
three majors, Information systems, Marketing, and International Business.
St. Theresa also has a program in
association with Bradford University. While I’m not very familiar
with the British educational system, I would have to assume that it would
be possible to use the credits earned in this program in other colleges
and universities throughout the UK.
While St. Theresa College has been
in Bangkok for quite some time, this joint project with Inti College of
Malaysia is a new program. The Campus is located just outside of
Bangkok, far enough away to avoid the traffic, pollution, and noise of
the
city, but close enough to enjoy everything the City of Angels has to offer
on a regular basis. Students can choose to live on campus, or if
they wish to live in Bangkok, the University provides transportation to
the campus.
Another option is to go to the St.
Louis-based Webster University’s Campus in Thailand. Webster has
a number of Master Degree programs. You can earn an MBA or MA, in International
Business, International Relations or Media Communication. Undergraduate
majors are BBS in Business Administration, BS in Information Technology
or a BA in Management, International Business, Psychology, Sociology, International
Relations, Media Communications, Advertising and MarketingCommunications
or Public Relations. Webster’s Thai campus is in Cha-am, just north
of the |
The American
Universities that will accept St Theresa INTI College with AUP
1. Ashland University, Ashland,
Ohio
2. California University of Pennsylvania,
Pennsylvania
3. College of St Catherine, St Paul,
Minnesota
4. Franklin University, Columbus,
Ohio
5. Gustavus Adolphus College, St
Peter, Minnesota
6. Hawaii Pacific University, Honolulu
7. Huron University USA in London,
United Kingdom
8. Illinois Institute of Technology,
Chicago, Illinois
9. McNeese State University, Lake
Charles, Louisiana
10. Michigan Technological University,
11. Mississippi State University,
Mississippi
12. Northwood University, Cedars
Hill, Texas
13. Oklahoma State University
14. Southwest State University,
Marshall, Minnesota
15. State University of New York
– Buffalo, New York
16. Towson University, Towson, Maryland
17. Troy State University, Alabama
18. University of Central Arkansas,
Conway, Arkansas
19. University of Central Oklahoma
20. University of Harford, West
Harford, Connecticut
21. University of Hawaii at Manoa,
Honolulu, Hawaii
22. University of Mississippi, Mississippi
23. University of Missouri, Rolla,
Missouri
24. University of Montana, Missoula,
Montana
25. University of Nebraska – Lincoln,
Nebraska
26. University of North Carolina
at Greensboro
27. University of Northern Iowa,
Cedar Falls, Iowa
28. University of Oklahoma, Norman,
Oklahoma
29. University of Toledo, Toledo,
Ohio
30. University of Virginia, Charlottesville,
Virginia
31. University of Wisconsin – Eau
Claire, Wisconsin
32. Upper Iowa University, Fayette,
Iowa
33. Utah State University, Logan,
Utah
34. Wartburg College, Waverley,
Iowa
35. West Virginia Institute of Technology
36. Wichita State University, Wichita,
Kansas |
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| beach resort town of Hua Hin, but
still only a few hours south of Bangkok.
Webster also has a number of other
campuses around the world, so if a person wanted to spent a year in Thailand,
a year in St. Louis and a couple of years in Europe while doing a four
year degree it would be possible.
There are a number of other international
programs where the degrees come from Thai Universities. Chulalongkorn,
Assumption and Bangkok Universities are especially well respected for their
international programs. Check out the Yahoo directory of Colleges
and Universities in Thailand. |
Professor Scott Hipsher and his
students
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Going to university overseas surely
is not for everyone, but it may be an option for the more adventurous individuals
who want to experience new ideas and cultures. Thailand is a politically
stable country that is fairly safe, much safer than most US cities.
Thailand is known for its exotic culture, friendly people (Land of Smiles),
delicious food and famous nightlife. If you choose to come to school
in Thailand you will undoubtedly experience things your average American
never has the chance to, and I seriously doubt you will ever regret the
decision.
More Resources
Webster University’s Campus
St. Theresa Inti College
Yahoo directory of Universities
in Thailand
Escapeartist.com Overseas Education
pages
Ask Scott Hipsher a question |
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