VNU-USSH Cultural Studies program: equipping students with a multifaceted perspective and broad knowledge base.

On July 6th and 7th, 2024, among nearly 1,300 students receiving their diplomas in the third graduation ceremony of 2024, were the first 32 graduates of the Cultural Studies major at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
Since 2019, building upon accumulated achievements and experience, the Department of Vietnamese Cultural Studies and Cultural History has developed a Bachelor's program in Cultural Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. While not the first of its kind in Vietnam, the Cultural Studies program at VNU-USSH has established a novel direction: training in culture based on the strengths of fundamental science but with high applicability, aligning with the development trends of the domestic and international economy, culture, and society, and meeting the needs of recruiting agencies in Vietnam. From the 2020-2021 academic year, the Bachelor's program in Cultural Studies was officially launched, enrolling its first cohort of 60 students. Since then, the Cultural Studies program within the Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, has consistently enrolled around 50-60 students annually, exceeding the target set by the Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
After the graduation ceremony, a new graduate of the K65 Cultural Studies program emotionally shared: “On a sunny July afternoon, we joyfully held our Bachelor of Cultural Studies degrees in our hands – the first graduating class of the program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. This is the sweet fruit of our tireless efforts under the guidance of our teachers and the support of our families and friends. We are proud to be among the first to complete the Cultural Studies program, Faculty of History, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.”

According to Dr. Nguyen Hoai Phuong: Compared to many other institutions offering cultural studies programs, the Bachelor of Cultural Studies program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has many advantages in promoting the value of basic science, harmoniously and effectively combining it with applied sciences, and meeting the needs of practical life. Students will learn theories and research methods in culture, applying them in researching, analyzing, and interpreting the elements of culture (cuisine, clothing, housing, customs, religion, festivals, etc.) to cultural issues in contemporary society (cultural contact and integration, heritage and heritage management, cultural industry, gender and sexuality issues...). Accordingly, learners will understand the origins and nature of cultural values; By examining and evaluating the transformation of cultural values ​​throughout history, we can convey the message that culture is not about superiority or inferiority, but about differences and respecting those differences.
The Bachelor of Cultural Studies program equips students with a systematic and well-structured theoretical and methodological approach to understanding all aspects of cultural life. In addition, the program includes many highly applicable and up-to-date courses such as Media Culture, Tourism Culture, and Cultural Industries.
All courses are structured with appropriate, flexible, and diverse practical activities: these can range from a one-day trip to locations within and outside Hanoi, to longer trips of 7 days, and even up to 10 days (for fourth-year students). For courses like Fundamentals of Culture, Symbolic Culture, Cultural Institutions, and Community with Cultural Heritage Activities/Practices, etc., practical activities usually take place over a day or half-day, but for the Cultural Practice course, students have field trips lasting from 4 to 7 days. The K65 Cultural Studies class had a very successful 7-day internship in Mai Chau, Hoa Binh province.
The longest and most memorable trip was the graduation internship, which usually lasted about 10 days. Our K65 Cultural Studies class spent 10 days exploring the landscapes and cultural heritage of Hue City.

 Job opportunities in many fields.
In a recent survey on the demand for human resources with a Bachelor's degree in Cultural Studies conducted by USSH on 150 employers, alumni, and students, the majority believe that the knowledge and skills in Cultural Studies are suitable for a range of important professions that Vietnam needs. Specifically, 93% of respondents believe that students with this degree have excellent job opportunities in related fields such as cultural management, museums, heritage preservation, heritage space development, and the arts. Over 92% believe that journalism and media can recruit personnel in this field. More than 85% believe that the tourism, hospitality, and education sectors have a high demand for individuals with in-depth cultural knowledge, and approximately 65-70% indicate that high-quality human resources related to cultural research are suitable for many positions in state management, foreign affairs, and leadership.

Dr. Nguyen Hoai Phuong added: Among the more than 60 students of the first cohort, many found jobs even before graduation, and most of them, upon receiving their Bachelor's degrees, were able to immediately apply for positions that matched their field of study and interests.
Notably, graduates of Cultural Studies at VNU-USSH have been successfully employed in numerous fields: communications staff, sales and marketing, content marketing, event marketing, tourism telemarketing, cultural project communication; teaching, research; office staff, human resources management, cultural management; tour guides; museum and exhibition staff; publishing; cultural product business, etc.
This partly shows that the demand for labor in the field of Cultural Studies is very high and reflects the quality of human resources trained by VNU-USSH.

Cultural studies is a highly interdisciplinary and comprehensive science, so students majoring in Cultural Studies can simultaneously pursue double degrees in other fields within the University of Social Sciences and Humanities such as History, Literature, Journalism, Tourism, Linguistics, International Studies, Oriental Studies, etc., or in other fields outside the University of Hanoi such as Economics, Education, Law, Foreign Languages, etc. After completing their Bachelor's degree, if they are passionate about and committed to the field of Cultural Studies, they can continue their studies at a higher level (Master's in Cultural Studies, Master's in Cultural Management, Doctorate in Cultural Management) at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities or many other training institutions nationwide.
Students who appreciate traditional cultural values ​​can choose specialized courses in Sino-Vietnamese studies. These courses will teach students various types of texts and provide opportunities to access and process Sino-Vietnamese documents such as inscriptions, legends, royal decrees, and village regulations. These courses are taught directly by leading experts in Sino-Vietnamese studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities.
In addition, students will study specialized subjects in English. Therefore, besides improving their foreign language skills, students will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about this field of study abroad in the future, as well as seek scholarships and financial aid overseas.