• Program Description

• Eligibility

• Academics

• Housing & Meals

• Academic Excursions

• Program Director Biography

• Dates

• Cost & Financial Aid

• Program Contacts 

• Application Process

   Program Description

Loyola University Chicago's semester program in Vietnam provides students with the opportunity to experience and learn about the social, cultural, political and economic dynamics shaping contemporary Vietnam.  Students participating in this program will immerse themselves in Ho Chi Minh City through a service or internship placement while also having an opportunity to see much of the rest of Vietnam and Cambodia as well during academic excursions. 

Click here to see recent pictures of Ho Chi Minh City!

 Read the blogs of two students currently studying at the Vietnam this semester!

        Read Mara Zuckerman's Blog 

        Read Carolyn Binder's Blog

        To view the program brochure, click here. 

Watch student videos from the Summer 2009 Vietnam summer program to see what it's like to study abroad in Vietnam!  Click here to watch Linda Ho's video.  Click here to watch Wendy Tran's video.

   Eligibility

Students must have a cummulative GPA of 2.75 and be of a sophomore standing at the time of attendance.

   Academics

Total coursework is 12-18 credit hours. All courses are 3-credit-hours unless otherwise noted and are offered during both the Fall and Spring semester. UNIV 292 is the only required course.

• UNIV 292 The Culture and Politics of Development in Contemporary Vietnam (Required)
  This course allows students to explore the concept of development and its impact on average Vietnamese through a service-placement in the local community or an unpaid internship with a local business. See the list of possible service sites.  Customized internships are available in a wide range of businesses and industries.  Fulfills the CORE Promoting Civic Engagement Values Area. Cross-listed with ANTH 361, ASIA 297, INTS 278.

Choose from the following courses for the remainder of your credit hours.

• VIET 101 Elementary Vietnamese
  Beginning students will develop basic conversation, reading and writing skills.
• VIET 111 Intensive Elementary Vietnamese (6 credit hours)
  This language-intensive course for beginning students covers twice the course material and fulfills the CAS foreign language requirement.
• VIET 103 Vietnamese for Native Speakers 
  Native speakers will focus on developing advanced Vietnamese reading and writing skills. 
• HIST 300E Modern Vietnamese History
  Course lectures will be supplemented with class visits to historic sights, museums and memorials. This course also discusses social justice and the lingering impact of what the Vietnamese refer to as the "American War."  On the Vietnam Program, this course fulfills the CORE Historical Knowledge Area. Cross-listed with ASIA 397 & INTS 398. 
• THEO 199 Religions of Asia
  Study Vietnam and Southeast Asia's major religious institutions, traditions and practices. Fulfills the CORE Theological and Religious Studies Knowledge Area
• LITR 280 Modern Vietnamese Literature
  Read and analyze Vietnamese literary masterpieces translated into English. Fulfills the CORE Literary Knowledge Area
• SOCL 280 Women and Gender in Contemporary Vietnam
  A review of cross-cultural approaches to gender theory and feminism serves as the foundation for a look at contemporary issues facing Vietnamese women. Fulfills the CORE Societal & Cultural Knowledge Area. Cross-listed with WSGS 297, ANTH 205, ASIA 297 & INTS 292.
• FINC 340 Emerging Financial Markets
  Examine the impact of financial institutions on Vietnam’s economic growth and development.
• ECON 225 The Vietnamese Economy: Past and Present
  This course familiarizes students with the economic periods in Vietnam, from the colonial era to present day, and also compares and contrasts socialist and capitalist economic principles. Fulfills the CORE Societal & Cultural Knowledge Area. Cross-listed with ASIA 225 & INTS 279.
• BIOL 395/ESP 398 Humans and the Environment in Contemporary Vietnam
  Learn about environmental degradation in Vietnam as well as current sustainability efforts, especially those pertaining to forest conservation and biodiversity. Fulfills the CORE Societal & Cultural Knowledge Area. Cross-listed with ANTH 303, SOCL 272, ASIA 397 & INTS 398.                               

Housing & Meals

Students will live at a guesthouse centrally located in Ho Chi Minh City in double occupancy rooms that are comfortable and clean. Each furnished room includes a private bathroom, small refrigerator, television and phone. The rooms are serviced daily, including basic cleaning and laundry picked up (for those students using the inexpensive laundry service). Rooms are air conditioned by wall units, typically run only when people are in the room.  Students will have the option to live with a Vietnamese roommate from Loyola’s partner institution in Ho Chi Minh City, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH).  See photos of the program housing.

Although students on the program will not have a traditional meal plan, there are many options with regards to food.  Located within close proximity to the dormitories are dozens of student-oriented "canteens" and family-run restaurants, both of which serve reasonably-priced and delicious meals for groups or individuals.

Academic Excursions   

Students will experience Southeast Asia's geographical beauty and cultural diversity on the following academically-oriented excursions.

Cu Chi

• Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels and learn how many Vietnamese in this area experienced the war with the United States.
• Tour the Wild Life at Risk animal rescue station and learn how an NGO is helping protect rare species. 

Mekong Delta

• Spend the day learning about sustainable farming, conservation and biodiversity from ecologists at an agricultural research center.
• Visit a temple and hear from leaders of Cao Dai, a religion created in Vietnam.
• Spend an evening eating food and listening to folk music unique to the Mekong Delta.

Central & Northern Region

• Visit temples and tombs from the ancient Cham society at My Son.
• Learn about Vietnam's last imperial dynasty on a tour of the former capital of Hue.
• Experience Vietnamese nationalism at Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum in Ha Noi.
• Enjoy a variety of other sites and experiences in these two dynamic regions of Vietnam. 

Cambodia

• Compare Vietnam with its neighbor to the west during this 4-day excursion.
• Visit two of Cambodia's national treasures: the Royal Palace and Angkor Archeological Park.

Dates   

Fall 2012 Application Deadline- The deadline for this program has been extended to April 13th, 2012 but we will be accepting applications until the program is filled.

Spring 2013 Application Deadline- The deadline for this program is October 31st, 2012

Spring 2012 Program Dates: January 13 - April 29  See Semester Calendar

Fall 2012 Program Dates: August 24- December 9 See Semester Calendar

Cost & Financial Aid   

Semester Program Cost for Fall 2012/Spring 2013:  $16,840

Tuition is $15,865 and includes:

• 12 to 18 credit hours
• 4 Academic Excursions

Program fee is $975 and includes:

• Furnished housing in double rooms
• Weekly group outings in Ho Chi Minh City
• On-site program support

Loyola (OIP) Fee: $100

Not included: Meals (approx. $10/day or $1,100 in total), round-trip airfare (approx. $1,000-$1,400), required international health insurance (approx. $30/month), required consular & visa fees (approx. $120) and other personal and incidental expenses. 

Financial Aid:

ALL federal (non-work study), state and Loyola aid can be used towards the cost of the program. Eligible students are also encouraged to apply for the Freeman-ASIA scholarship.

Program Contacts   

For more information, contact Kelly Heath in the Office for International Programs at kheath2@luc.edu or 773-508-3307.

Application Process    

The priority application deadline for the Fall 2012 semester is April 4th, 2012. Applications will be considered after this date based on available program space. To apply, click here.