Two travel opportunities to China next spring

Viterbo will be offering two courses including an immersion experience to China next school year. The two courses, Majestic China and Business in China, will be offered in the spring 2011 semester.

Majestic China is open to traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students. Majestic China will be taught with three weeks of travel to China following the end of the spring semester, including visits to Beijing, Hong Kong, Xian, and Luoyang, Susan Pham, study abroad coordinator, told Lumen. The tentative dates of travel are May 17 to June 4, 2011.

"The course will have guest lecturers on the geography, history, language, eating etiquette and general culture of China," Pham said. "The classroom portion of the course is designed to acquaint the student with essential knowledge of the country of China before their feet touch and their eyes see China."

The Majestic China course will look at a variety of topics concerning China, Pham said. "The student may focus their assignments around content they are specifically interested in, such as Chinese music, Chinese science, Taoism, Chinese agriculture, Confucianism, and Chinese government. The course and trip thus provide an exploration of the vastness of China from Confucius to Communism to the present day, integrating China within the colorful history of East Asia and its interaction with the West. Concluding the classroom with almost three weeks inside China, this trip promises to be no less than the experience of a lifetime."

Students taking the Majestic China course will pay for tuition as part of the regular spring semester tuition with an additional fee of approximately $3500 - $3800 to cover airfare, accommodation, most meals and excursions. A firm price will be established by November, Pham said.

The second course offered in the spring semester is Business in China and is open to traditional and non-traditional undergraduate students as well as MBA students. "It will be taught in the spring 2011 semester with two weeks of travel in China following the end of the semester with tentative dates of May 21 to June 4," Pham said.

"This course focuses on conducting business on a global level," Pham continued. "Students will evaluate the history and dynamics of global industries, global competition, and global strategies and examine topics such as international cooperation among nations, national trade policies, international marketing, technology, as well as the ethical and social responsibility challenges of global businesses.

"In addition to classroom learning, students will have the unique opportunity to experience field research in the country of focus," Pham said. "This trip will expose students to culture, geography, and business practices of an emerging market and to a different academic environment. Students will gain an appreciation for both formal business aspects and informal social aspects of conducting business in another country."

Students taking the Business in China course will also pay for regular spring tuition with an additional fee of $2400 – $2700 to cover the same expenses as the Majestic China course, Pham said.

The Majestic China course will satisfy a general education requirement in the areas of history, philosophy, religious studies, or fine arts, as well as the diversity requirement. The Business in China course will satisfy undergraduate or graduate business requirements as well as the diversity requirement.