Learning Abroad Center
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SIT Vietnam: Traditional Medicine & Community Health

Asia & Oceania

Gain a deep understanding of how Vietnam nurtures its vibrant, traditional medicine system while expanding and strengthening its far-reaching community health network. You will study community health and the intertwined practices of traditional Vietnamese and Chinese medicine at universities and in rural communities.

Program Details

Location
Location
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Term
Term
Summer Session
Housing
Housing
Homestay
Languages Taught In
Languages Taught In
English
Sponsor
Sponsor
SIT Study Abroad

Program Eligibility

Student Type
Student Type
UofM Students
Student Year
Student Year
Sophomores
Juniors
Seniors
GPA
GPA
2.5

Program Structure

This is an affiliate program. You receive resident credit for the courses you take. Your grades factor into your University of Minnesota GPA and each course appears on your transcript with an A/F grade. Consult the Learning Abroad Center's Academic Policies for more information.

Affiliate organizations and partner universities will not accept applications from UMTC students without the endorsement of the Learning Abroad Center. Students must participate in affiliate organization and partner university programs through the standard Learning Abroad Center application process.

Coursework

Vietnam: Traditional Medicine & Community Health

Course descriptions and full syllabi are available on the program page of SIT’s website.

Key Topics

  • Social, economic, and cultural paradigms that frame traditional Vietnamese medicine
  • Healthcare and health delivery among diverse groups, including marginalized and indigenous populations
  • The philosophy behind traditional Vietnamese medicine and its connection with traditional Chinese medicine
  • Herbal remedies, medicinal preparation, Vietnamese massage,and acupuncture
  • Standard Vietnamese language and communication skills.

You will enroll in two courses for a total of 6 credits:

  • Vietnam: Traditional Medicine and Community Health (3 credits)
  • Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Vietnamese (3 credits) OR Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced Mandarin Chinese (3 credits)

SIT also has a semester program in Vietnam, Culture, Social Change, and Development for 16 credits.

Dates Details

Visit your affiliate's website for program dates and application deadlines.

SIT grants admission to programs on a rolling basis as long as space is available. Early submissions are strongly encouraged as some programs fill to capacity prior to the application deadline.

Orientation Dates & Locations

Orientation will consist of:

  • Online Health & Safety Orientation. This asynchronous module can be accessed in your LAC checklist and is mandatory.
  • LAC Affiliate Orientation (live Zoom session). UofM-specific information will be covered (academic planning, finances, etc.). Details on the LAC affiliate orientation will be sent to you via email.
  • Affiliate Provider Orientation. This orientation will cover program-specific information. Your affiliate provider will invite you to a pre-departure orientation leading up to your departure.

Understand it is your responsibility to review the information shared at these orientations.

Fees

University of Minnesota participants pay the program fee instead of on-campus tuition and fees for the term they are abroad.

How to Calculate the Total Program Fee

Affiliate Program Fee plus APAAC plus International Health Insurance minus Affiliate Fee Reduction equals Total program fee

To calculate your total program fee

Find your Affiliate program fee

For more specific information about fees, visit the SIT website.

UofM students on SIT programs receive an automatic fee reduction of $2,700 for semester, $750 for summer sessions. UofM students can also take advantage of SIT's financial aid, in the form of scholarships, grants, and pell grant matching. 

Add APAAC

Refer to the Affiliate Program Fees. Follow instructions on that page to determine your APAAC.

Add International Health Insurance

You will be billed approximately $2/day for your international health insurance.

Subtract Affiliate Fee Reduction

Visit the Affiliate Program Fees to determine the fee reduction you receive for being a University of Minnesota student.

What Is the APAAC?

Students participating on affiliated programs are charged a program fee that is inclusive of the affiliate's program fee, University of Minnesota Advising, Placement, Academic, and Administrative Costs (APAAC), and international health insurance. The APAAC covers:

  • Application processing
  • Advising services, orientation
  • Course registration
  • Grade transfer and posting for resident credit
  • Program billing and assistance with financial aid (when applicable)

Based on these additional services and benefits, the total program fee may be higher than the affiliate's published program fee.

Billing & Payments

Visit Billing for information about the billing process for application fees, deposits, and program fees.

Financial Aid & Scholarships

Visit Financial Information for information on using financial aid and scholarships for study abroad.

Each of our affiliated programs awards its own array of scholarships. While many are need-based, others are based on merit, location, academic area, or diversity criteria. Explore your options within specific affiliates' scholarship pages.

Cancellation Policy

Before you apply to or confirm your participation on this program, review the Learning Abroad Center's Cancellation Policy to inform yourself of the timeline and financial obligations for canceling

Prepare

Complete pre-application advising.

Apply

The COVID-19 vaccine series is required for participation in this program. Complete your COVID-19 vaccine doses immediately.

You will be charged a $50 application fee for each application you submit.

Apply Now

Complete

If your program and term does not appear in the drop-down list of available programs, select ‘SIT—Other Programs Not Listed Here’ and complete the application item ‘Affiliate Program Information’ found in your application checklist.

In addition to completing the LAC application, submit to SIT Study Abroad:

SIT Study Abroad Online Application

Detailed descriptions and instructions for submitting each checklist item are included on the application checklist assigned to you.

Next Steps

  1. Upon submitting the online application, you will receive an automated email message indicating your application was received.
  2. Follow the instructions on your application checklist to submit all of the items. Your application is not considered complete until all items on your application checklist are either received or waived.
  3. Complete the affiliate program's application requirements as applicable.
  4. Your completed application is reviewed by our program team. If nominated for participation, the Learning Abroad Center contacts the affiliate's staff to notify them of your status.
  5. You will be notified of an admission decision by email. If admitted, you will be assigned a confirmation checklist. Log in to the online application to review the confirmation checklist and submit the required items.
  6. Do not pay the affiliate’s confirmation deposit. The affiliate accepts the Learning Abroad Center’s deposit as indication of confirmation. The Learning Abroad Center deposit is submitted by completing the Confirmation and Payment Agreement found on the confirmation checklist assigned to you.
  7. If you decide not to continue with the application process, log in to the online application and submit a Cancel Request. You must also notify your affiliate of your cancellation.

Program Contact

For further information or questions about this program, send an email to

Ashley Metz at [email protected], or call at 612.625.9805

Contact Program Alum

If you’re interested in contacting a program alum, visit SIT's Contact a Former Student webpage.