Summary
Students learn and experience the historical and contemporary culture of Southeast Asia through structured explorations and written reflections on key cities of Vietnam and Thailand.
Travel Dates
January 1-23, 2020
Locations
Hanoi, Vietnam
Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand
Required In-Person Orientation
*each school can note date here, and note that it is on their own campus
Required Online Orientation
There will be a required online orientation for this course in late October. The date/time of the orientation will be communicated by October 15. Every effort should be made to participate in the live orientation session, as it will be interactive, provide a chance to virtually meet the course professors and other participants, and should be considered the first class meeting. Students who do not participate will be required to view the recorded session once it is available.
Minimum Enrollment: 16
If the course does not meet the minimum enrollment, students will be given the option of switching to another course (as space is available) or withdrawing their application and receiving a refund of the program deposit.
Maximum Enrollment: 26
Accessibility Information and Requirements:
This course involves a lot of vigorous walking over uneven terrain (and in busily trafficked cities with sparse traffic regulations), so students with significant physical disabilities would most likely need a full-time aide to help them arrange and manage necessary transportation and mobility issues.
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UMAIE (pronounced “U-may”) is the Upper Midwest Association for Intercultural Education, a consortium of six colleges and universities offering intercultural courses during the January Interim. UMAIE was founded in the fall of 1963 when several colleges adopted the 4-1-4 academic calendar. The UMAIE pioneers recognized that they could expand the international curricula, control costs, and increase participation in study abroad if several campuses cooperated in offering courses overseas. This vision has enabled hundreds of students to study abroad every January since 1964. Current UMAIE member schools are Augustana University (Sioux Falls, SD), Elmhurst College (Chicago, IL), Hamline University (St. Paul, MN), St. Ambrose University (Davenport, IA), St. Catherine University (St. Paul, MN), and St. Thomas University (St. Paul, MN) |
Academic Overview
Students will learn about historical and contemporary culture in Southeast Asia by exploring three large cities: Hanoi, the rapidly developing but still traditional capital Vietnam; the modern city of Bangkok; and the more traditional and ecologically aware city of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. In addition, students in this course will also visit the central Vietnam region of Da Nang. Students will be provided, by both the instructors and local guides and lecturers, with foundational background on Vietnam and Thailand including the major periods in their development. Subsequently, students will have the chance to explore the cities in teams, utilizing the “City as Text” method, reading the cities’ historical layers and interpreting their meaning through presentations and written reflections. Students will also have an opportunity to live with a local Thai family for two days, as well as participate in a cultural engagement project connecting with rural Thailand villagers and practicing English.
Prerequisites
No prerequisite
Course Equivalency
*Each campus can list their own course equivalency here
About the Professors
 tedl@elmhurst.edu |
Dr. Ted Nehrud, Elmhurst College
Dr. Lerud is a Professor of English at Elmhurst College. A published author, his most recent book is Memory, Images, and the English Corpus Christi Drama (Palgrave Macmillan 2008). Lerud has served as a visiting scholar at the University of Chicago and at Oxford University’s Centre for
Medieval and Renaissance Studies. He is a strong supporter and frequent leader of study abroad opportunities at Elmhurst. |
 theresew@elmhurst.edu |
Dr. Therese Wehman, Elmhurst College
Dr. Therese Wehman is a Professor of Education and the Director of the
Graduate Programs in Early Childhood Education at Elmhurst College. She also teaches service learning courses to South Africa and Greece and directs international research projects that investigate how college students are impacted by study abroad and service –learning opportunities. She has published many articles and a textbook entitled: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Toward Full Community Inclusion (published by PRO ED).
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Required Readings
Bao Ninh. The Sorrow of War. Pantheon, 1995.
Greene, Graham. The Quiet American. Penguin, 2004.
Hayton, Bill. Rising Dragon Vietnam. Yale, 2010.
Maugham. Somerset. The Gentleman in the Parlour. Doubleday, 1933. (Selections)
Wyatt, David. Thailand. A Short History. Yale, 1982. (Selections)
It is recommended that students read the sections on History and Religion (as well as other relevant sections) in the travel Rough Guides to Vietnam and Thailand.
City as Text methodology:
Braid, Bernice. “Field Based Education In ‘Semesters.’” Thought and Action: The NEA Higher Education Journal (Spring 1990): 93105.
Strikwerda, Robert. “Experiential Learning and City as Text: Reflections on Kolb and Kolb.” Journal of the National Collegiate Honors Council (2007): 99105.
Evaluation
| Attendance and active participation in pre-seminar classes and all lectures, tours, and discussions on site |
25% |
| Quizzes on historical periods and background |
10% |
| Learning log of daily observations followed by synthesizing, analytical written reflections |
25% |
| Team research presentation on a site exploration, delivered at applicable sites |
20% |
| Integrative paper (6-8 typed pg. critical essay -details TBA) |
20% |
Program Estimate Cost
$X,XXX - $X,XXX
Cost estimates will be available on or after April 1, 2019. Final costs will be available in late October.
There will be a $500 deposit, due at the time of application. Please see the Cancellation Policy tab for information on when this deposit is refundable.
Included in the Program Cost (subject to change)
International airfare
Hotel accommodations in twin/triple rooms
Ground transportation
All entrances and activities required for class
Breakfast daily
15 lunches
12 dinners
Visa fees
Application Procedures & Deadline
Applications will open on April 1, 2019·
To Apply:
1. Select the Apply Now button at the top to start your online application.
2. Login using your username and password
3. Complete all the application requirements. Your application will not be considered complete until ALL requirements have been completed.
All applications received by the Priority Application Deadline will be sent to the faculty in a batch at the end of the priority application period. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after the priority deadline for programs with space still remaining until the final application deadline of October 1, 2019.
Priority Application Deadline
*Schools can enter own priority deadline here
Final Application Deadline
October 1, 2019
UMAIE Scholarship - The George and Betty St. Angelo Memorial Scholarship
In memory of the vision and commitment to social justice by George & Betty St. Angelo, UMAIE and Seminars International are able to grant three $2,000 travel scholarships to students from UMAIE member institutions applying to study abroad on a 2020 UMAIE course.
The UMAIE Travel Scholarship is designed to broaden access to study abroad participation. Successful applicants will have demonstrated financial need and will fit one or more of, but not limited to, these diverse groups:
- Underrepresented racial/ethnic identities
- First generation college students
- Students identifying as LGBTQ+
- First time travel abroad
General Eligibility:
- Must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree program at a UMAIE member institution.
- Must be in academic and disciplinary good standing.
- Must be approved to study abroad by their home institution.
- Must submit a complete UMAIE course application to their home institution by the priority deadline.
- Must have a minimum GPA of 2.5.
- Must have demonstrated financial need documented by a current financial aid award letter.
Scholarship applications will be open from
April 1-15, 2019. Students MUST complete a priority application and be accepted to a UMAIE course to be considered for the scholarship.
Passport Requirements: All course participants must have a current, valid Passport that expires no less than 6 months from the date the program returns. A legible scan of your passport must be submitted to your home school Study Abroad Office by October 20, 2019. STUDENTS WHO APPLY AND ARE ACCEPTED IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER AND DO NOT HAVE A CURRENT PASSPORT MUST EXPEDITE THEIR PASSPORT APPLICATION. Students who do NOT submit their passport by the deadline will be subject to a $100 Late Passport fee.
Visa Requirements: Please note that a visa IS required for U.S. Citizens to travel to the country(ies) included in this course. Students accepted to the course will receive more information about the Visa process from their home school study abroad office in late October or early November. The visa process for this course includes mailing passports to a Vietnamese consulate; therefore, students on this course should not plan for international travel during late November/early December. Citizens of countries other than the United States or people who have Travel Documents (Issued by the United States or any other country) should contact their school's Study Abroad Office as soon as possible; additional visa fees may apply to non-U.S. citizens.
U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories: The U.S. Department of State uses levels to indicate risk in travel to particular locations. Please see the
U.S.Department of State website for more information on the particular locations of this course.
U.S. Department of State STEP Enrollment: The U.S. Department of State has a Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, which is a free service to allow U.S. citizens and nationals traveling and living abroad to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The UMAIE Consortium encourages all travelers to ensure that they are enrolled before travel. Some students' home campus Study Abroad Office may enroll student travelers automatically. Please check with your home campus Study Abroad Office for more information on your school's process, and see the
STEP website for more information and to enroll.
Health and Travel: The Center for Disease Control issues travel vaccine recommendations by country. Please see the
CDC Traveler's Health website for more information on the particular locations of this course.
Medications and Travel: Please note that Thailand has restrictions on travel with some medications containing narcotic drugs/psychotropic substances. If you take a medication that contains a narcotic drug/psychotropic substance, please see the
Embassy of Thailand website for more information.
CISI Insurance: All UMAIE participants will be enrolled in an international emergency and medical insurance policy with CISI through their home institution. Please see your home campus Study Abroad Office for more information.
Flight Deviations: Airline tickets are booked as Group Tickets. If a student wishes to deviate from the group (go early, stay after, etc.), the student will need to submit that request as part of the application. The final date to request a flight deviation is Oct. 1, 2019. Please note that there are additional costs to flight deviations. It will be the responsibility of the student to pay the additional costs at the time the booking is made.
UMAIE Withdrawals and Refunds
Once students have completed a UMAIE application and been notified of their acceptance, the following Withdrawal and Refund policy applies:
Refund Available Withdrawal Date
No cancellation fee and full refund of deposit September 15, 2019 (must be received by 4:00pm)
No refund of $500 deposit September 16 – October 1, 2019
No refund of $500 deposit & refund of RECOVERABLE COSTS ONLY* After October 1, 2019
No refund 30 days or less prior to departure
*NOTE: Recoverable costs will not be calculated until after the group returns in February. The ENTIRE COURSE COST, INCLUDING AIRLINE TICKET, may be forfeited.
NOTICE OF CANCELLATION MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO YOUR SCHOOL'S STUDY ABROAD OFFICE. The date this is received is the official date of cancellation
Travel cancellation insurance is recommended for students with preexisting medical conditions. This insurance must be purchased at the time of application. Please discuss this with your Study Abroad Office.
If a course price increases by more than 6% over the highest price in the range (due to general inflation or lower enrollment) a student may cancel without penalty.
No refund is given to students who wish to omit portions of the course.
