Vietnam: Peace and Social Change

EXTENDED APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 15, 2020

This program will introduce students to the land, history, and culture of Vietnam, with an emphasis on the US’s impact and relationship to Vietnam during and after the war. Students will engage in hands-on research and media (studies, movies, literature, songs, news articles, etc) created by both American and Vietnamese and visit sites such as the US Embassy in Saigon, China Beach, and the site of the My Lai massacre. A portion of the program will focus on war tactics and peacebuilding efforts in which students will work with Peace Trees Vietnam to determine the quantifiable and qualitative impacts of their work in Vietnam for the last two decades.

This program is unique in that students will be exposed to a breadth of writings and research from scholars in different disciplines who offer a view of Vietnam that extends beyond American memories of the war there during the 60s and 70s. Students will be led by two Vietnamese professors who represent different aspects of the growing Vietnamese diaspora, and will have the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time in country, living and working with local communities. This program is particularly suited to students interested in learning more about the implications of war, the richness of Southeast Asian culture, and the ways in which nonprofit, nongovernmental organizations meet the needs of the community on a global scale.

Be advised that you will be in Vietnam during monsoon season, meaning it will be quite hot (possibly as high as 110 degrees on some days) with rain resulting in potentially knee-deep water at times. Although students will be staying in air-conditioned hotels at night and will have access to a pool or the local beach for a good portion of the time spent in Vietnam, participants should plan accordingly. 

Students will spend June 22-July 4 and August 12-19 on the UW Tacoma campus. Students will spend July 5-August 5 abroad in the following locations:

Da Nang: Students will travel to Central Vietnam to visit visiting sites like China Beach, Nguyen Palace and Temples, Hoi An historic UNESCO town.

Quang Tri Province:For two weeks, students will work with Peace Trees to collect data regarding their efforts at demining and the impacts of converting the reclaimed land on the community. While in Quang Tri Provice, students will visit the Vinh Moc Tunnel, Paradise Caves, My Lai Massacre site and memorial.

Saigon: Also known as Ho Chi Minh City, an area that is rife with museums, cafes, markets, and students and will engage with local residents through schools, community centers, and guest writers and poets. Students will also engage in excursions from the city. Students will have the unique opportunity of seeing firsthand how American intervention impacted Vietnam, through visits to the nearby Cu Chi tunnels, War Remnants Museum, and other sites of historic significance.

This study abroad program is led by professors Annie Nguyen and Rita Than from UW Tacoma. 

Academic Content 

Students will earn 15 credits for this study abroad program for the following three courses:

Writing for Social Change - TWRT 388 – 5 Credits 

This course is intended to have students consider and implement writing as a force for change within social, political, and cultural contexts. Students will examine various texts throughout the quarter and work with Peace Trees Vietnam to better understand how change occurs.

Learning goals include: 

• Understand the specific exigencies that motivated a person or group to respond in any give situation
• Identify the persuasive features of texts in relation to authors’ purposes and audiences’ needs and expectations
• Evaluate the efficacy of specific choices made by the writer or rhetor
• Explain how specific writers and rhetors grapple with ethics, that is to say, with the consequences of writing within specific social contexts

Introduction to Statistics- TMATH 110 – 5 Credits 

This course addresses introductory statistical concepts and analysis in modern society. The goal of this course is to give the student an understanding of statistical concepts, which the student can then apply to analyze data in his/her own discipline.

Learning goals include: 

• Use statistical thinking in the process of data collection.
• Be able to graphically display both quantitative and qualitative data.
• Compute some descriptive measures to summarize distribution of data.
• Connect classroom learning in real-world problem solving.

Study Abroad in the Social Sciences – TIAS 485 – 5 Credits 

This course uses an interdisciplinary approach integrating a social science perspective and another discipline such as art, literature, history, architecture, philosophy, urban studies, etc. in this field study course. Taught on site and includes interaction with foreign scholars, local exhibits and sites, and local community experiences where appropriate. 

Learning goals include:

Students will develop an understanding of the history and culture of Vietnam through readings and firsthand experiences. This will be measured through readings and writings that assess their knowledge of materials.

Program Schedule

This 15-credit course will run from June 22 – August 21, 2020. Students will spend July 5 - August 5 in Vietnam and will be required to participate in on-campus coursework before and after the abroad portion of the program. Required informational meetings during spring quarter 2020 will prepare students for traveling abroad.

Housing

We will be staying in hotels in Vietnam (double-occupancy). 

Eligibility

This program is designed for undergraduates. Prerequisites are as follows:

• Successful completion of TWRT 120-121 or TCORE 101. 
• Either a minimum grade of 2.0 in TMATH 098 OR a score of 237 on the ACC-AAF Placement Test. 

Application

Applications are due on January 31, 2020. Applicants will be notified of acceptance decisions February 14, 2020. Once accepted to the program, applicants will need to confirm their participation in the program by February 28, 2020.  

**Students are required to submit a letter of recommendation form as a part of their application. Letters of recommendation can be submitted by faculty, advisor, staff, or supervisor from UWT, another institution, or a place of employment. The director of your study abroad program CANNOT provide a letter of recommendation for you. To learn more about how to ask for a letter of recommendaiton, click here.

Travel Documents and Insurance

All program participants must have a valid passport in order to travel to Vietnam. 

Visas 

Students will be required to apply for a visa in order to enter Vietnam. Travel visas of up to 60 days are available for US tourists. Program participants will be instructed during pre-departure meetings in February and again in May to begin securing their visas. The normal turnaround for a visa is 60 days, with more expensive, expedited service as short as a week. For up-to-date information regarding obtaining a visa to enter Vietnam, please contact program leaders professors Annie Nguyen and Rita Than.  

If you are a citizen of another country, you can research visa requirements by calling the consular offices of countries to where you will be travelling or visiting the following website: http://travel.state.gov/content/passports/english/country.html. 

The cost and requirements for obtaining visas vary. It is your responsibility to determine visa requirements for all countries you plan to visit while abroad including countries that you plan to visit before or after your study abroad program. This is an especially important consideration if you are planning to do more than one study abroad program.

Insurance

The University of Washington requires students engaged in educational activities abroad – including study, research, internships or community engagement – to purchase UW Student Abroad Insurance. If you are a current UW student, you are required to purchase coverage UW Student Abroad Insurance. Details are on the UW Study Abroad Insurance page.

Program Cost

The total cost of the program is $5,010

Included in the cost of the program:

• $450 Administrative Fee
• Instruction 
• Lodging (double occupancy) 
• Program activities and program travel in Vietnam
• Some meals in Vietnam 

Not included in the cost of the program:

• Round trip airfare to/from Vietnam
• Costs of travel documents (passport, visas)
• Meals (except as listed above)
• Personal expenses
• Single-occupancy lodging (available for extra fee if desired)

Payment Due Date: July 10, 2020

Program fees will be posted to your MyUW student account and can be paid the same way that you pay tuition and other fees. Check your MyUW Account periodically for due dates.

Withdrawals 

The $450 UW Study Abroad Administrative Fees are non-refundable once a contract has been submitted. Students withdrawing from a program are responsible for paying a percentage of the program fee depending on the date of withdrawal. More details about the withdrawal policy are included in your payment contract. No part of the program fee is refundable once the program has begun (please refer to Emergency Withdrawal information below, if applicable). The date of withdrawal is considered the business day a withdrawal form is received by the Office of Global Affairs. Notice of withdrawal from the program must be made in writing by completing the following steps:

Please email uwtintl@uw.edu and copy your program director(s) providing notice that you will no longer be participating in the program. You will also need to respond to any further communication from the Office of Global Affairs to finalize your withdrawal.

Emergency Withdrawal

If you cannot participate in a study abroad program, you may submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition. If granted, the Emergency Withdrawal may allow for partial relief from your financial obligations to the program.

An Emergency Withdrawal Petition may be submitted in the following circumstances:

• Unanticipated change in financial situation
• Medical emergency
• Death in immediate family
• Active military duty
• Unusual or extenuating circumstances

To submit an Emergency Withdrawal Petition, complete this form and email it to uwtintl@uw.edu.

Financial Aid and Scholarships 

• A large percentage of UW students utilize financial aid to study abroad. Most types of financial aid can be applied to study abroad fees.
• For UW Tacoma students, you can submit a revision request to increase the amount of aid for the quarter you are studying abroad. These additional funds are usually awarded in the form of loans. To apply, fill out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the UW Tacoma Office of Financial Aid. 
• For UW Seattle or Bothell Students, you can apply by filling out a revision request form, attach the budget sheet (available via the link at the top of this brochure) and submit these documents to the Office of Financial Aid. 
• Consult the Financial Aid section of our website for more information on applying for financial aid, special considerations for summer and early fall programs, and budgeting and fundraising tips
• Please also review this list of scholarships: these are opportunities that can help fund your study abroad experience. Please note that many of them have deadlines before your study abroad application is due. For help with the application process, please contact uwtintl@uw.edu.

Budgeting Tools

We understand that figuring out your finances for study abroad can be complicated, and we are here to help. Here are some ways to find additional support:

• Click on the Budget Sheets link at the top of this brochure to view the estimated budget of all expenses for this program.
• UW Tacoma students can attend a How to Fund Your Study Abroad event - more information is on the Events page of our website.

Changes in Cost or Scope of Program

In the event of significant devaluations of the dollar, some adjustments to program activities may be necessary. If there are any political events that might compromise the safety of the participants, a rescheduling or cancellation of the program may be necessary. If such changes occur, students will be notified of the changes and options will be presented.

Orientation

To be eligible to study abroad, all program participants must attend an online pre-departure orientation facilitated by UW Study Abroad as well as your program-specific orientations, offered by your program directors. Orientation must be completed prior to the enrollment deadline for the quarter that you are studying abroad.

Program Cancellation

If viable enrollment is not reached by April 1, 2020 the program will be cancelled. Participants will be notified and the administrative and program fees will be refunded.

Disability Accommodations

The University of Washington is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation in its services, programs, activities, and education for individuals with disabilities. To request disability accommodation for this program, contact Disability Resources for Students at least 8 weeks in advance of your departure date. Contact info at tacoma.uw.edu/drs.