ACCT2020 – Introduction to Managerial Accounting

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: ACCT2010

This course introduces the basic concepts, analyses, uses, and procedures of accounting and control used by internal company managers when they are faced with planning, directing, controlling, and decision-making activities in their organization. Topics covered focus on the relationship between strategy and decision-making and include product and service costing, budget setting, decision-making, profitability analysis, pricing, investment analysis, management control systems, and performance measurement.

ACCT2010 – Introduction to Financial Accounting

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

Comprehensive introduction to financial accounting concepts and applications. Focuses primarily on recording and communicating financial information for use by external users such as investors, creditors and regulators, and is intended to provide a basic understanding of the accounting cycle, elements of financial statements, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and financial statement interpretation. Topics include accounting for inventory, receivables, depreciation, bonds, equity, and cash flows.

ACCT3030 – Financial Statements Analysis

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

The course will focus on developing a framework for analyzing financial statements to make business decisions. The framework is intended to enhance the ability to qualitatively and quantitatively assess financial information. Goals of the course include learning to read financial statements for relevant information, understanding the impact of a business’ accounting choices and estimates, analyzing financial ratios and cash flow measures and methods for valuation of a business. Cases are incorporated in class discussions and assignments in order to illustrate concepts and allow students to put into practice the tools presented.

CISM2010 – Database Concepts and Skills for Big Data

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: STAT2020

Introduces the principals and functions of relational database management systems (DBMS) and their business application. Students will explore both logical and physical database designs and develop a clear understanding of the concepts and terminology related to DBMS. A small relational database will be designed and students will learn to run SQL queries. Students will learn a set of skills to describe what happened in the past using queries, descriptive statistics, data visualization, and some data mining techniques. Excel add-ins and other DBMS software may also be employed.

MANA3120 – Social Entrepreneurship

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This course starts with the premise that individuals can have a meaningful impact on social issues through business and specifically through social entrepreneurship. Businesses that do well can help change the world. The course is applicable to multiple aspects of social enterprise including – for profit companies and start-ups, non-profit or self-funding organizations and people who want to act more entrepreneurially from within larger NGO’s, non-profits or socially oriented businesses. This course is for those who seek to learn and use an entrepreneurial approach to ameliorate major, global, social challenges.

MARK4040 – Marketing Research

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: MARK1010

This course provides a fundamental understanding of marketing research methods typically employed by firms. It is primarily aimed towards the manager who must decide the direction of research activities and focuses on how one should design research, construct questionnaires, and collect and analyze data. The course will primarily focus on the interpretation and use of results rather than mathematical derivations. Students will be exposed to the practical side of marketing research through problem sets and projects.

MARK4020 – Retail Strategy

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: MARK1010

This course explores the strategies and analytical techniques employed to address both classical and contemporary problems faced by retailers. Case study analysis provides a principal pedagogical approach. Cases come from a broad spectrum of retailing sectors: food, mass, fashion, on-line, international. Project required. Selected retail executives will participate.

FINA3010 – Corporate Finance

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: ACCT2010

The course focuses on the mathematics of finance, valuation, and the economics of managerial decisions, corporate financial policy, risk management, and investments. Topics include the time value of money, bond and stock valuation, capital-budgeting decisions, financing alternatives, the cost of capital and the capital-structure decision, distribution policy, mergers and acquisitions and restructuring, options, forward and futures contracts, market efficiency and market anomalies, strategies of successful investors, and personal finance.

LEAD1010 – Leadership Development

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course is designed as a required course for freshmen to help the students’ leadership development by introducing the basic concepts of leadership and organizational behavior. This course has one big goal for you: to practice and apply concepts and techniques learned in the class and your life to various scenarios. This course is also intended to provide an overview of leadership trends rather than to emphasize every detail and in-depth review of academic studies. Understanding a landscape of leadership will be possible under the structure of four modules: (1) Leader as a decision-maker, (2) Leader as a problem solver, (3) Leader as a designer, and (4) Leader as a game-changer. A leader in this turbulent world is expected to be a final decision-maker to find a creative solution for difficult challenges and will need to organize a group of people with a formal and informal system. Leadership Development offers a safe place for your learning of leadership. Practice, try, fail, and try again! This is the philosophy of this course.

LEAD1020 – Organizational Behavior

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course introduces students theoretically and practically to key facets of leadership in organizations. It lays the foundations for students’ preparation to being influential leaders who can effectively work in local and global teams. The course covers aspects of self-leadership through developing self-awareness, critical thinking, resilience, and developing a global mindset. It develops interpersonal leadership through addressing perspective taking and feedback management, and strengthens team leadership skills through conflict management and ideation management. Students develop skills through theoretical lectures, case study analysis, individual and team assignments, and self-reflection.

MANA2020 – Business Communication Skills for Managers

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

The main objective of Business Communication Skills for Managers is to help students to be more skilled and thoughtful communicators. The course helps you to engage in more critical thinking when it comes to the choices that you make as you prepare and deliver effective workplace messages. This course aims to introduce students to business communication theories and principles used to produce a business consulting report/plan and a variety of business documents. In so doing, the course provides students with opportunities to explore how to use English as a tool for learning, innovative thinking and communicating within their chosen industry. To that end, the course helps students successfully influence decisions within organizations, based on how well you manage your messages (those you prepare and send, as well as those you receive).

HADM2030 – Restaurant Management with Lab

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

Students will synthesize prior knowledge of foodservice concepts, business principles, and hospitality-management theories and apply them in an actual restaurant setting. The course covers issues and principles relevant to the restaurant industry, including market analysis, menu and service systems, and restaurant metrics. Students will have an opportunity to manage a restaurant and evaluate the process and outcomes.

HADM3060 – Introduction to Wines of the World

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

Students will learn about the wine-producing regions of the world based and taste and evaluate wines, identifying aromas and flavors in connection to the growing and production of the grapes. This course will explore the major wine region, the history, language, culture, production and agricultural traditions, trade patterns, food and social customs. This course is taught in the wine lab.

CECS1030 – Computational and Algorithmic Thinking

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This course introduces computational and algorithmic thinking for students with no computing background. Explains computer organization, networks, and architectures. Emphasizes understanding of key computational concepts such as abstractions, algorithms, efficiency, correctness and the basics of visual programming. Covers main principles of algorithmic problem solving, such as iteration, recursion, searching, and sorting, and concepts such as concurrency and randomness. Introduces the main principles of artificial intelligence and data science. Discusses computational thinking in economics, medicine and healthcare, neuroscience and sports, and examines security, privacy and ethical concerns. In laboratories, students solve computer science problems, with the guidance of staff.

COMP1020 – Object Oriented Programming and Data Structures

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: NA

This course covers program structure and organization, modular programming, advanced topics in object-oriented programming (abstract data types, polymorphism, interfaces, iterators), collections, basics of graphical user interfaces, the basics of algorithm analysis (asymptotic complexity, big “O” notation), recursion, data structures (lists, trees, stacks, queues, heaps, search trees, balanced trees, hash tables, graphs), graph algorithms. Java is the principal programming language.

CHEM2010 – Chemistry

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This course covers basic chemical concepts, such as reactivity and bonding of molecules, introductory quantum mechanics, and intermolecular forces in liquids and solids and gases. Attention will be focused on aspects and applications of chemistry most pertinent to engineering.

ELEC2020 – Signals and Information

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: NA

This course teaches introduction to signal processing. Topics include frequency-based representations: Fourier analysis and synthesis; discrete-time linear systems: input/output relationships, filtering, spectral response; analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion; continuous time signals and linear time-invariant systems: frequency response and continuous-time Fourier transform.

ELEC2030 – Computer Systems Programming

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This course provides a strong foundation in the principles, practices, and art of computer systems programming using the C and C++ programming languages. Students will learn procedural programming in C and how to theoretically analyze and practically implement basic data structures and algorithms. Students will transition to C++ to explore object-oriented, generic, functional, and concurrent programming before exploring advanced data structures and algorithms involving trees, tables, and graphs. Students will explore systems programming using the POSIX standard library. The course includes a series of programming assignments for students to put the principles they have learned into practice.

COMP2050 – Artificial Intelligence

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: COMP1010

This course covers the main areas of artificial intelligence, including symbolic and connectivist approaches to artificial intelligence, state search algorithms and biologically inspired optimization algorithms, Bayesian networks, the use of logic programming and inference algorithms for logical problems. As part of the course, students will learn about various approaches to representing uncertainty, get an introduction to the decision theory, planning and decision making under uncertainty, and learn how to apply various artificial intelligence methods to different problems. The course will consider ethical and societal issues related to artificial intelligence.

MATH1020 – Calculus II

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: NA

This course gives an introduction to multivariable calculus. Topics include partial derivatives, double and triple integrals, line and surface integrals, vector fields, Green’s theorem, Stokes’ theorem, and the divergence theorem.

COMP3010 – Algorithm Design

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: COMP2010

This course covers four major algorithm design techniques (greedy algorithms, divide and conquer, dynamic programming, and network flow), and algorithmic techniques for intractable problems, including identification of structured special cases, approximation algorithms, and local search heuristics. Applications are drawn from systems and networks, artificial intelligence, computer vision, data mining, and computational biology.

MATH2050 – Linear Algebra

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: NA

This course teaches linear algebra and its applications. Topics include matrices, determinants, vector spaces, eigenvalues and eigenvectors, orthogonality and inner product spaces; applications include brief introductions to difference equations, Markov chains, and systems of linear ordinary differential equations. This course also includes computer use in solving problems.

MATH4010 – Advanced Probability and Statistics

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This course teaches advanced topics in probability and statistics. Topics include random processes, convergence of random processes, Markov Chains, Bayesian statistics, nonlinear regression.

PHYS1010 – Physics I

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: NA

This course covers the mechanics of particles with focus on kinematics, dynamics, conservation laws, central force fields, periodic motion. Mechanics of many-particle systems: center of mass, rotational mechanics of a rigid body, rotational equilibrium, and fluid mechanics. Temperature, heat, the laws of thermodynamics.

PHYS2030 – Physics III

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: PHYS2020

The course introduces fundamental physical principles through the study of biological systems and clinical situations. The goal of this 2-semester class is for students to understand the physical mechanisms underlying physiological processes (i.e. blood flow, nerve impulses, vision) and medical instrumentation (i.e. MRI, ultrasound, ECG, nuclear medicine). Emphasis is given to bioelectricity, diagnostic imaging, enzymes, fluid dynamics, entropic forces, and ionizing radiation. The integrated lab component of the course will reinforce content presented in lectures and problem-solving exercises, as well as train the student’s use of tools and techniques.

MECE3020 – Thermodynamics

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: PHYS1010, MATH1010

This course presents the definitions, concepts, and laws of thermodynamics. Topics include the first and second laws, thermodynamic property relationships, and applications to vapor and gas power systems, refrigeration, and heat pump systems. Examples and problems are related to contemporary aspects of energy and power generation and to broader environmental issues.

MECE3030 – Dynamics

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This course teaches Newtonian dynamics of a particle, systems of particles, rigid bodies, simple mechanisms, and simple harmonic oscillators. Impulse, momentum, angular momentum, work, and energy. Two-dimensional (planar) kinematics including motion relative to a moving reference frame. Three-dimensional rigid-body dynamics are also introduced. Setting up the differential equations of motion and solving them both analytically and numerically with MATLAB. In-lecture laboratory demonstrations illustrate basic principles.

BIOL1011 – Biology

Credits: 2.5

Pre-requisite: NA

Biology is a compulsory subject for the first year medical students. It covers basic biological principles as well as introductory concepts of molecular biology and human physiology to prepare students for the career development in medicine.

MEDI1010B – Introduction to Professionalism in Medicine

Credits: 3.5

Pre-requisite: MEDI1010A

This course in year one sets the foundations of professionalism. Students being the active learners, will identify the core components of what it means to be a professional as medical student and a doctor in later years. These components once identified will determine the content to be learned across the six years.

PHYS1011 – Biophysics

Credits: 3.5

Pre-requisite: NA

Biophysics is compulsory course for the first year medical students. This course provides fundamental knowledge about Physics and BioPhysics which covers five main topics in Physics such as: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electromagnetics, Optics and Nuclear Physics. In both theory and practice/laboratory portion, the course is designed so as the student can understand the involvement of physics in many areas of biology, and medicine in both basic understanding of process/function as well as in experimental techniques.

MEDI3050 – Nutrition and Food Hygiene

Credits: 1.5

Pre-requisite: NA

Nutrition and food hygiene is the subject for the second year medical students. It provides fundamental knowledge and practical skills to engage the healthy nutrition planning and food hygiene management to promote nutritional status and health of individuals and the community.

MEDI1060 – Human Body Structure and Function 2

Credits: 7

Pre-requisite: NA

These are sequential courses that integrate gross and embryologic anatomy of the human body, principles of physiology with the structure and function of cells and tissues. Imaging anatomy in radiology is also included. The courses are organized into units based upon the body systems and emphasize the clinical anatomy essential to the practice of medicine, physiologic processes in the human body. The courses include lectures, laboratories, and case studies.

MEDI2020 – Microbiology/Parasitology

Credits: 4

Pre-requisite: NA

Microbiology/Parasitology is designed to introduce the medical student to the fundamental principles of microbiology and parasitology. This course provides an overview of microbiology and covers basic bacteriology, virology, mycology and parasitology. Throughout the second semester, an integrated approach with case discussions highlights the role of host defenses and correlates organisms with disease presentations.

MEDI2010 – Immunology

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

Immunology is designed to teach the medical student about the cellular and molecular basis of immune-mediated host defenses to invading microbes. This course provides a basic introduction to the general organization and functional principles of host defense elements. It builds on these fundamental principles covered by providing an integrated approach that correlates with case presentations to highlight the clinical significance and translation of key immunological concepts

MEDI1040 – Communication in Healthcare

Credits: 1

Pre-requisite: NA

The course focuses on the development of communication skills and strategies in a variety of medical contexts; increasing the learner’s confidence when communicating with patients, carers and their families as well as with peers and members with health professional teams.

MEDI1020 – Fundamentals of Population & Health Research 1

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course provides an introduction to the basic concepts and inferential methods of biostatistics and epidemiology. It is designed to enable the medical student to gain foundational knowledge within these fields and apply basic principles as relevant to medicine. This course will also cover topics in demography, research methods and ethics as well as critical reading, interpretation, and analysis of medical literature.

NURS2170 – Biology-Genetics, Microbiology and Parasitology II

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NURS2110

This is the second part of a two-semester course designed to provide a comprehensive integrated study of cell biology with respect to the interactions of human host to pathogens and parasites in context of microbiology, genetics, and parasitology. This approach will provide students with an extensive understanding of these areas with respect to patient care and infection control in nursing practice. The second course will provide the key aspects of cell biology beginning with meiosis and mendelian inheritance in eukaryote cells. These concepts provide the background for the determination of gender based on the sex chromosomes. The interaction at the intercellular level of genes, gene regulation, and mutation with respect to cellular growth and development. Mutations leading to human cancers will be discussed in conjunction with human health and infectious disease. The introduction to both normal and abnormal human immunological defenses and responses against pathogens and parasites. The continuation of parasitology with specific examination of parasitic fungi and malaria parasites. Medically important insect disease vectors will be linked their infectious agents and mechanisms of transmission and detection. Public health nursing practices will examine methods of prevention. Integrated laboratories and case studies provide additional methods to acquire specific skills and knowledge.

NURS2160 – Pathophysiology and Pharmacology II

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NURS2100

This is the second part of a two-semester course designed to provide the fundamental mechanisms of human disease across the lifespan. Function and dysfunction of organ systems from the level of the cell through integrated organ levels will be presented, including the genetic basis of disease. Basic and clinical principles of pharmacology will be presented to support evidence-based, life-stage appropriate pharmacotherapy approaches to treating common diseases and conditions in acute and primary care settings. Practice-based problem-solving skills will be developed through the use of nursing-focused case studies; often combining the pathophysiology and pharmacology arms of the course. Hence, basic biological theories will be applied to simulated practice situations throughout. Teaching methods will include in-class lecture, independent learning, cases, and recitation.

NURS2180 – Biochemistry and Clinical Nutrition

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NURS2120

Fundamentals of biological chemistry, including the structure of biological macromolecules and their mechanism of action, intermediary metabolism, and the chemical basis of information transfer. This course examines the essentials of clinical nutrition and their relationships to the health of individuals and families. These concepts serve as a basis for the development of an understanding of the therapeutic application of dietary principles and the nurse’s role and responsibility in this facet of patient care.

NURS2200 – Infection Control in Nursing Practice

Credits: 1

Pre-requisite: NA

This course provides opportunities to apply knowledge from infection control to the care of patients and their families in a variety of health care settings. It includes the introduction of universal precautions and the skills associated with handwashing, gowning and gloving, and basic wound manage.

NURS1060 – Anatomy and Physiology II

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This is the second part of a two-semester course designed to provide a comprehensive study of the structure and function of the human body along with essential embryology and maturational physiology. Histological and gross anatomical features of selected organ systems are related to the physiologic and biochemical mechanisms that enable the human body to maintain homeostasis. Within each system, deviations from normal are considered to situate the student’s understanding of health problems and to foster an appreciation for the complexity of the human organism. Integrated laboratories and case studies provide a contextual base to acquire and use domain-specific knowledge that includes physical assessment and procedural approaches to patient care.

NURS1030 – Introduction to Professional Nursing Practice I

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

This course explores the role of the nurse particularly within Vietnam and introduces the foundations for nursing practice. Nursing students will be facilitated to develop nursing knowledge by use of scientific knowledge integrated into theory and applied to simulated practice situations. Clinical decision-making skills will be simulated through use of nursing focused case studies. Teaching methods will guide students to build a foundation for independent learning and application of evidence base to support clinical decision making for nursing practice.

NURS3240 – Healthcare Ethics

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course aims to equip students with basic knowledge and skills to solve ethical challenges in the nursing practice. The topics cover fundamental concepts of bioethics and nursing ethics, professional code of conduct, and ethical decision-making process in nursing care. Ethical dilemmas that nurses may face while taking care for individuals with various individual and health backgrounds are discussed. Various learning experience will be organized to develop students’ abilities to understand, analyze, and distinguish matters of right and wrong, and good and bad in making ethical decisions.

CHEM1022 – Chemistry

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course will take a practical approach to studying the general and organic chemistry concepts that are foundational to an understanding of normal cellular and physiological processes. Real-world situations from clinical contexts will carry through lecture and lab components of the course to link theoretical knowledge of the chemical and physical characteristics of the major classes of compounds (like acid-base physiology in blood pH, osmosis and electrolytes in cellular health, and radioactivity) to living systems and the practical diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The integrated lab component of the course will reinforce content presented in lectures and problem-solving exercises, as well as train the student’s use of tools and techniques.

ENGL1020 – Academic English 2

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

Academic English 2 reinforces and expands the language and academic skills developed in Academic English 1. Students will continue to expand and refine their range and accuracy of English but will now focus more intensively on the skill of writing. The principle aim of this course is to transition from the written essay to the research paper, augmenting students’ academic writing skills to prepare them for the type of writing that is essential to their university studies. After identifying a key academic question, through a scaffolded and multistage approach, students will demonstrate a diversity of writing skills to create a coherent research paper and share their findings with an interdisciplinary audience through formal presentations. Students will further develop their academic inquiry skills, synthesizing and critically evaluating knowledge from various sources, creating new connections and ultimately crafting their own original ideas.

ENGL0022 – Pathway English Advanced B

Credits: 0

Pre-requisite: NA

The overall goal of Pathway English is to provide students with the English proficiency and academic skills needed to successfully study at VinUniversity in English. Pathway English Advanced is a course for students who have completed Pathway English Intermediate or for those who have an English entry proficiency level of CEFR B2 (IELTS 6.0 or equivalent). Students who study Pathway Intermediate in the Summer semester will study Pathway Advanced in the Fall and Spring semesters, alongside some introductory courses. At the end of the course, students will exit with an English proficiency equivalent to CEFR B2+ and meet the English language requirements for full admission to VinUniversity.

The course is divided into two separate skills components: a reading and writing component, and a listening and speaking component. By the end of this course, students will have developed fundamental academic English reading, listening, speaking and writing skills as well as increased their knowledge of prescriptive grammar, pronunciation and academic vocabulary. Classes are active, utilizing a range of activities including group discussions, tasks, online learning activities. The input provided for learners at this level is a blend of graded and authentic texts, including audiovisual texts. Students at this level are still provided with enough scaffolding strategies, diagnostic information, regular formative assessments, teacher check-ins, and out-of-class support to help them achieve optimal success.

This course will benefit students by not only improving their English language proficiency but also by learning and applying academic and 21st century skills that will prepare them to adjust to the norms and expectations of a modern university environment.

VCOR1011 – OASIS (Orientation – Academic Skills – Identity and Service)

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

OASIS – an acronym of Orientation, Advising, Skills, Identity & Diversity, Service Learning – is a mandatory course of the General Education Program.

OASIS is a foundational course that comprises 5 education blocks:

– Orientation, aimed to equip the first-year students with a proper understanding of the general nature, value, and requirement of university education and help them to become college-ready, and successfully transform from high school to university students.

– Through the Advising and Skills blocks, the course aims to assist students to successfully navigate their university learning pathway while equipping skills that will help them to become future and career-ready.

– The Identity-Diversity block provides students with diversified perspectives about themselves, community, country, and the world.

– Service Learning is a unique experiential learning block that integrates students’ academic study with meaningful community service. Students will go outside the classrooms and serve the community by applying their professional knowledge to different stakeholders and become responsible citizens.

OASIS is delivered through 2 parts: faculty-led OASIS learning (3-credit compulsory) and student-led OASIS lab (optional).

VCOR1021 – Healthy Lifestyle 2

Credits: 0

Pre-requisite: NA

“Healthy Lifestyle” is a mandatory and non-credit bearing course of the General Education Program. Undergraduate students are required to enroll in this course to fulfill part of the graduation requirements and are expected to complete it by the end of their first-year study. This course provides the essential knowledge, skills and practicum lessons (exercise/sport classes), whereby students are able to develop a suitable approach in attaining a physically, mentally, socially and spiritually healthy lifestyle.

Specifically, this course provides students with the knowledge to make better choices during their daily routines to build a healthy lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle includes physical wellbeing, psychosocial, and spiritual health. Students receive mentorship that guides and shapes their perspective, showcasing the importance of having a well-balanced life. Components of a healthy lifestyle will be discussed as a process and science that allows students to have a greater understanding of what it takes to achieve their goals for overall wellbeing. Nutrition and diet will be taught to dispel the myths about how and what you should eat to achieve desired health results. Having a healthy mind, healthy body, clarity of thought and the ability to effectively process information are key trademarks of a healthy lifestyle.

This course emphasizes practical application of the learned concepts in order to integrate subject matter into students’ current daily routines and throughout life. The majority of coursework will be held in different environments and venues in order to expose students to the many varieties of fitness tools and resources to maintain a healthy foundation.

HASS1010 – Marxism-Leninism Philosophy (Philosophy Science and Society)

Credits: 3

Pre-requisite: NA

Philosophy Science and Society is one of four courses in the General Education Program forming the ideology/national education component required for higher education curriculum as directed by the Ministry of Education & Training, Socialist Republic of Vietnam. These four courses are written to achieve the primary objective of helping students understand core values of both country and university through objective and critical academic lenses in a global context. As these courses will be taught in English to students for whom English is mainly a second language at VinUniversity, each course is designed to be delivered in the spirit of content-based language learning approach to help students both develop English language competency (focusing on speaking, listening and reading) and basic understanding of the content. Philosophy, Science & Society (PSS) provides students with a broad survey of key ideas in Philosophy, its relevance to society and the way we think we understand the world, or to put it broadly, “science.” We begin the course with an overview of the role of Philosophy and Metaphysics as we embark on this journey of critically re-examining the way we look at our world. In the second part of the course, we take a deep dive into questions of Epistemology, based on which students can orient and develop their creative thinking, philosophy of humanity and action. We follow up with an exploration of trends that came into being with the “social turn” of epistemology found in the critical works of Thomas Kuhn and later in the burgeoning body of works clustered as Sociology of Science. Following this radical re-thinking, we return to the fundamental questions about humanity posed in Social Philosophy and Ethics, to round up our critical inquiry of the complex relationship among philosophy, science and society.

HASS1020 – Marxism-Leninism Political Economy (Global Political Economy)

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

Global Political Economy: Vietnam-Region-The World is one of four courses in the General Education Program forming the ideology/national education component required for higher education curriculum as directed by the Ministry of Education & Training, Socialist Republic of Vietnam. These four courses are written to achieve the primary objective of helping students understand core values of both country and university through objective and critical academic lenses in a global context. This course is designed to help students develop a critical lens to understand social reality and social issues, including pressing questions, such as: What is Vietnam’s place in the world? What are the opportunities and challenges for Vietnam in the current configuration of the global political economy? To do so, we begin with a brief introduction to the study of political economy, informed by different persuasions in Marx-Leninism, political science, economic, sociology, anthropology and history. Students will gain a nuanced understanding of this interdisciplinary field through hands-on workshops and exercises on the principles of scientific and logical arguments. The second part of this course will focus on specific issues related to globalization and international integration. In particular, we focus on the role of development, modernization, and regional development in Vietnam’s prospects in the world. Our case studies pay special attention to the immediate regions surrounding Vietnam, namely ASEAN, East Asia (in particular, China) and South Asia. In the third and final part of this course, we examine the expressions of global inequality and consider how individuals and communities within Vietnam can move forward in an ever-globalizing world.

HASS1030 – Scientific Socialism (Politics and Social Change)

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

Assuming a basic, strong, and even pivotal relationship between society and politics, the course Politics and Social Change will guide participants to a deep understanding of that relationship in Vietnam and the wider Asian region in the 20th and 21st centuries. The course explores key concepts of politics and social change, and in explication of those concepts, examine the dynamics of politics and social change in concrete terms.

What can be learned?

Students at the end of course will become familiar with the concepts of politics and social change of Vietnam. Students will also understand and compare Vietnam with national development efforts elsewhere in Asia. Finally, they will become familiar with major political and international relations developments from the 20th century.

The medium of instruction help students to both develop English language competency (focusing on speaking, and articulation, reading) and discourse skills through continuous practice with classmates and instructor.

Broad outlines

The course begins with a basic appreciation of the concepts of politics and social change, moving into Marxism-Leninism and its application to understanding politics & social change, and extending into how Ho Chi Minh Thought applies Marxism-Leninism and also stands apart as a set of national and contextual ideas and practices. The processes of politics and social change of other countries in the Asia-Pacific are then explored for comparison and contrast.

Medium of learning

The guiding principle for learning at the Vin Uni is active learning. This approach engages students to be active in the learning process with methods that are more than, not without, the traditional base of lectures and tutorials. The instructor or teacher plays the role of facilitator and provides the environment where students responsibly and actively acquire as much as possible, rather than are passively given, the learning points that the course desires.

Participants in this course will learn and share through a mix of lectures, tutorials, non-judgmental journal writing, presentations, and learning to collaborate with others through group projects. The learning environment should be safe, frank, friendly, collaborative, and enlightening.

The weekly lists of readings are divided into two types. Basic readings are recommended, and students should at least complete one for each week. Students who wish to do more can pick up the other basic and optional/additional readings.

HASS1041 – Ho Chi Minh Ideology (Vietnam: History and Culture II)

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

Vietnam History and Culture since 1858 is continuation of the first period (from ancient time to 1858) and covers the period from 1858 until today.

The main objective of the course is to analyze the development of Vietnam and its people from 1858 when France attacked and colonized VN through two Indochina wars (1946-1965) and (1954-1975) until today as Vietnam reunified and reformed and integrated into international system.

Due to its strategic geopolitical position, Vietnam has long been a global crossroads. So, this course tries to show as much as possible the parallels, interactions between Vietnam history and events and that happened in the world’s stage.

The course also aims to reflect Vietnam history and culture through the central figure of Ho Chi Minh (1890-1969), the most famous Vietnamese during this period. His life and career reflected the development of the very period of Vietnam history.

Students are encouraged to do research himself to have broader view, discover new historical details.

HASS1050 – History of the Communist Party (Vietnam: History and Culture I)

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

The great American humorist and writer Mark Twain once said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” This course takes as its point of departure the possibility of using those rhymes of the past to better help us navigate our present and future. What lessons can we draw? As future businesspeople, health care professionals, engineers, and computer scientists, these lessons have far more relevance than you may imagine.

Vietnam History and Culture (I) examines Vietnamese history and cultural production from its early origins to 1858 and the French Colonial project. The curriculum is divided into five units. We begin the curriculum by considering the study of both history and culture from theoretical perspectives and consider what these mean in the Vietnamese context. Just what are “History” and “culture”? What does it mean to be Vietnamese? In the second unit, we consider the ancient construction of Vietnamese history and cultural production. The third portion of the course

examines the Lý and Trần dynasties as well as the Ming Occupation. Fourth, we explore the movement of Vietnamese people southward and the Tây Sơn Rebellion. And finally, fifth, we assess the unification of Vietnam under the Nguyễn and what is to come.

Too often Vietnamese are portrayed in history as vessels upon which events happen to them. This course treats the Vietnamese as agents of their history, grappling with big questions and great problems. We also explore the Vietnamese people’s historical willingness to learn from and integrate foreign ideas and instruments to further develop the Vietnamese culture. To this end, we will wrestle with questions such as: What are the forces that have shaped Vietnamese identity? What drives the worldview(s) of Vietnamese? How has it been transformed over time?

LAW1010 – Introduction to Law

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course is an introduction to the concept and role of law in which the main themes are ‘what is law’ and ‘how does law work in contemporary society’. For an overview, this course considers the nature of the rule of law and its relationship with morality, ethics, politics, human rights and decision making through a critical exploration of topical issues. The course content is organized into 4 components. The first part focuses on the notions of law, rules and legal systems to explore the law itself in social context and equip students with knowledge of different styles of states and national legal systems all over the world. Then, an introduction to Vietnamese civil law will be presented to help students gain familiarity with fundamental concepts of rights, obligations, entitlement, etc. as well as issues relating to contract formation, implementation and remedies in accordance with Vietnamese law. The third part analyzes law in a global context to examine legal relationships between subjects of international law, with respect to both private and public international law. Finally, students will delve deeper into different means of settling dispute, either at municipal courts or other international forums worldwide. On such a basis, students build a general knowledge of the law that will serve as a helpful foundation for understanding how the law interacts with other disciplines that they study and pursue in the future.

HASS1070 – Cross Cultural Navigation

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course aims to equip students an understanding of one aspect of the so-called “global experience” and/or inter-cultural sensitivity, so that students can become knowledgeable about the ways in which individual identities, values, and perceptions and biases are shaped by cultures across the continentals through acquiring knowledge of theories practice related to the impact of culture in our daily ecologies in local and global contexts. In the end, students are able to identify and understand the inter-sectionalities of one’s own and others’ cultural identities in order to reflect on how various cultural concepts apply to your own life, communication and various areas of study.

HASS1080 – Asian Philosophy

Credits: 2

Pre-requisite: NA

This course introduces students to the main philosophers, ideas and arguments of Asian Philosophy with an emphasis on those philosophical schools that have most influenced Vietnam: Buddhism, Daoism and Confucianism. The approach will be that of “applied philosophy” wherein students will get to apply the main philosophical ideas to a range of social, ethical and political issues arising from their own fields of study and the three major college areas at VinUni: medicine, business and engineering. The other applied aspect of the course will be to provide students an opportunity to investigate how Asian philosophy can enrich their own life goals and well-being. This will be enhanced through a variety of external learning activities including a meditation session with a Buddhist monk, calligraphy at Van Mieu and a talk and yoga session with an Indian expert. There will also be opportunities for additional cultural activities involving various Asian cuisines, a Japanese tea ceremony and a chance to the learn the basics of ancient languages like Sanskrit and Pali.

MUSI1010 – Music Appreciation

Credits: 1

Pre-requisite: NA

This course provides an introduction to music, and elements of musical expressions and genres. The course explores various world and Vietnamese music, how it has evolved over time, and its role in society. This course helps student become an active and effective listener of music, through the understanding of fundamentals and functionalities of music. Guest artists will be invited to deliver presentations to illustrate the content of selected modules.

ARTS1010 – Art Appreciation

Credits: 1

Pre-requisite: NA

Art Appreciation is a one-credit elective course that provides a general introduction to the visual arts, media, techniques, and history. This course takes on interdisciplinary approaches to equip students with a broad knowledge of the historical, practical, philosophical, cultural, and social contexts of the arts in order to help students gain the ability to articulate their understanding and interpretation of the arts. This course introduces students to aspects of arts research and curation, as well as elements, media, and methods used in creative processes. The application of the arts, especially visual arts in daily life and in the field of business, technology, and medicine is explored in this course. This course also aims to develop students’ appreciation for Vietnam arts and visual art forms by providing them with opportunities to explore the diversity and richness of what Vietnam has to offer in terms of the arts.

This course offers students opportunities to learn about how art is created and how it evolves over time; it would cultivate and enrich students’ artistic senses, experience, and enjoyment of different forms of arts even if the student is not an artist or does not have an ability to draw/paint. In addition, this course fosters and supports students’ development of oral and written presentation and communication, critical and analytical thinking, and multicultural perspectives.

This course does not require students to have any prerequisite experience in art theory or practice. Rather, it is a beginning-level course to help students familiarize themselves with the different types of arts, as well as learn how to observe, appreciate, speak, write intellectually about art. Furthermore, the course helps students to think about how art can be integrated and applied in their daily lives and their own fields of interest.

VIET1010 – Vietnamese Language

Credits: 6

Pre-requisite: NA

The course in the Vietnamese language will give the international student the opportunity to gain vital knowledge about the language, culture, and customs of Vietnam. At the same time, the courses will give the student an invaluable skill he/she will be able to build on and use in a myriad of careers. This course is a year-long sequence.