HSS Study Abroad 2022
May 30 – June 21 (tentative)
Program Dates
May 30 – June 21 (tentative)
Program Application
A link to the application will be available soon. Meanwhile, if you are interested, please email Jaycee Cover at jcover@fullerton.edu to be added to the interest list.
Program Summary
Vietnam and Cambodia have long lived in our popular imagination, often represented visually as spaces of “traditional” Asian culture disrupted by war. Of course, neither country can be characterized solely by historical rupture, spectacular scenery, film, and photography, or even contemporary representations—a bustling urban metropolis (e.g. Ho Chi Minh City), a quaint mix of modern and traditional (e.g. Siem Reap), or a biodiverse climate change hotspot (e.g. Mekong Delta). This study abroad program delves into a deliberately big question: what are contemporary Vietnam and Cambodia and who are the people who make these countries what they are? Join us as we explore Vietnamese cityscapes in Ho Chi Minh City, the implications of climate change and agricultural development in the Mekong Delta, the tensions around development and tourism in Siem Reap, the thriving arts scene in Battambang.
Program Highlights
- PROGRAM IS OPEN TO ALL MAJORS
- Explore the life and society of Vietnam and Cambodia
- Earn 6 units (two classes) and complete GE Categories C4, D4 and Z
- Classes: Cross-Cultural Social Thought (LBST322)
- Life and Culture in Vietnam (HUM350)
- Course topics include: Social Justice in South East Asia; Community Development and Sustainability; Buddhism and Community Engagement; and Conflict Resolution and Reconciliation
- Gain service-learning experience working with local communities
- Excursions to rice, cacao and fruit farms in the Mekong Delta
- Museum visits and cultural exchanges with Vietnamese university students
- Taste phở, cà phê sữa đá, bánh mì and street food with community members and families
- Guest lectures from local experts on agricultural development, tourism and hospitality, entrepreneurship, and Vietnamese culture
- Excursions to the ancient temple ruins of Angkor Wat
- Museum visits and cultural exchange with Cambodian students
- Cooking classes, contemporary arts in Siem Reap and Battambang, the Cambodian Circus and more!
Why I Studied Abroad
"Only one percent of college students study abroad, and I'm so glad that I chose to be one of them. Studying abroad was a dream come true, and being able to support my expectations with some firsthand experience was both a challenge and a reward. If you're truly prepared to immerse yourself in another culture and ingest what it has to offer, it will change you - for the better. I highly recommend that you take the plunge!"
- Kirsten O'Brien, 2016
Photos from Abroad
Instagram Photos by Alumni
Program Courses
LBST 322 Cross-Cultural Social Thought (3 units) GE D4 and Z (D5 for catalog years before fall 2018)
This course explores topics in social justice from both Western and Cambodian perspectives. We will consider questions such as: How can a society that has lived through genocide achieve both justice for the victims and national reconciliation? What is “engaged Buddhism” and how does Buddhism view social responsibility and community service? How can developing countries like Cambodia pursue economic growth while protecting their culture and environment? We will explore such questions through a combination of seminars, service-learning in community organizations, and discussions with local activists, community leaders, and religious teachers.
HSS 350 Contemporary Vietnam: Culture, Commodities, Change (3 units) GE C4 and Z (C3 for catalog years before fall 2018)
This course and study abroad program represent an effort to convey some of the richness and complexity of Vietnam through hands-on experiences and an exploration of daily life. To best understand the complexities of Vietnam, students will make a substantial effort to engage with diverse Vietnamese communities of students, agricultural workers, and entrepreneurs. Students will also explore how Vietnamese experience and understand modernity in the context of culture, commodities, and change. Emphasis will be placed on the anxiety and hope surrounding education, development projects, and questions of environmental sustainability.
Faculty
Dr. Saul Tobias
Liberal Studies
stobias@fullerton.edu
Dr. Sarah Grant
Anthropology
sagrant@fullerton.edu
Program Fee
$900 (tentative)
The student fee includes the following items:
- Housing
- All program fieldtrips, excursions and community engagement projects
- Ground transportation
- One-way flight from Vietnam to Cambodia
- Group lunches
- International travel insurance
The student fee does not include the following items:
- Round-trip airfare
- Passport or visa fees if applicable
- Personal meals
- Personal expenses
- CSUF tuition and textbooks
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Scholarships and financial aid opportunities are available to qualifying students. Follow these links to learn more!
Scholarships for HSS Majors and Minors
For More Information
Visit: Student Success Center / HUM-112 / 8am-5pm, M-F
Email or Call: Jaycee Cover jcover@fullerton.edu / (657) 278-2070
Info Sessions: Dates TBD
Photo credits: Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, by sam_garza, CC BY 2.0
