SATA Vietnam 2003

Courses | Excursions

CC students participating in SATA Vietnam 2003 in an Economics class

Faculty from Vietnam National University (VNU) taught 2 of the 6 courses offered during SATA Vietnam 2003. The other 4 courses were taught by Connecticut College faculty members and directors of the program, Donald Peppard, Professor of Economics, Rolf Jensen, Associate Professor of Economics, and David Patton, Associate Professor of Government.

Courses

Vietnamese Language and Culture - 6 credits. Required of all students. Each class had only 3 to 5 students and met for 2.5 hours each morning, Monday through Thursday. Students learned from a textbook and close interaction with the young teachers from VNU. Emphasis was on speaking and listening competence. Guided by their language instructors, students in this course were introduced to the life and culture of Vietnam.

Elective courses (each course meets once a week for 2.5 hours):

Vietnamese History - 4 credits. Taught by an historian from VNU, this course introduced students to the long and rich history of Vietnam. Strongly recommended for all students.

ECO 216 The Political Economy of Post-War Vietnam - 4 credits. Taught by Don Peppard and Rolf Jensen of the Economics department at Connecticut College, the course gave students background in the recent economic history of Vietnam and involved them in empirical research about the informal sector in Hanoi. Students did survey research during the course.

ECO 406 Political Economy Seminar - 4 credits. Taught by Professors Peppard and Jensen of Connecticut College, the course considered a variety of readings. Students wrote weekly papers and 2 longer papers.

GOV 308 Ethnic Conflict in Europe - 4 credits. Taught by David Patton of the Government Department at Connecticut College, this course examined theoretical perspectives on the causes of ethnic conflict and the application of those perspectives to cases of ethnic conflict in contemporary Europe.

GOV 348 International Political Economy - 4 credits. Taught by Professor Patton of Connecticut College, the course examined the ways in which political actors create and alter the rules, norms and institutions that govern the conduct of international trade and finance, and how these factors influence the global distribution of wealth and the course of economic development. For the SATA Vietnam program, the course emphasized issues germane to Vietnam.

Excursions

During SATA Vietnam 2003, students left for Hanoi at the same time the semester began at Connecticut College, and followed a calendar similar to that used in the U.S. In addition to classes, there were day trips to local sites and overnight trips to the beautiful Ha Long Bay and the mountain town of Sapa. There was also a 10-day long Spring Break trip during which students had a chance to see many interesting sights and sites in other parts of Vietnam, including Hue, the ancient imperial capital of Vietnam; Hoi An, a quaint old fishing town; Nha Trang, a lovely beach resort city; Da Lat, an interior city known for its flowers and waterfalls; and finally Ho Chi Minh City, formerly Saigon. While based in HCMC, there were tours of the Mekong delta and sites associated with the war in Vietnam. Students returned to the U. S. on May 10, 2003, in time for all end-of-semester activities, having earned 18 credits.