American Studies Program for Scholars

The Cultural and Information Section (PAS) of the U.S. Embassy in Hanoi is seeking suitable candidates to nominate for the 2010 American Studies Programs for scholars and secondary school teachers/professionals.University lecturers and researchers on the United States, and general education teachers/professionals (from Quang Tri province northward) wishing to apply for these research programs are requested to fill out the application form below and submit it online by Monday, January 25, 2010. Nomination results will be announced in early April 2010. Applicants from the South (from Thua Thien Hue province southward) should contact the Cultural and Information Section of the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City for further details.

Program Overview

The American Studies Program is a postgraduate advanced study program combining field trips and study tours, designed to provide university faculty, American studies researchers, and secondary school teachers/professionals with a deeper understanding of American society, culture, and institutions. Upon returning home, participants are expected to strengthen their training programs and improve the quality of teaching about the United States in their respective schools and organizations. Each program includes 18 participants from various countries around the world (excluding the program for Secondary School Teachers/Professionals) and lasts six weeks, beginning around mid-June 2010. All program costs, including program administration, domestic and international travel, accommodation, study materials, and other living expenses, are covered by the U.S. Department of State.

Summary of US Research Programs

1. Program for Research on American Culture and SocietyThe American Social and Cultural Studies Program will provide 18 participants, including university faculty and researchers, with a deeper understanding of American society, culture, values, and institutions. The program examines the ethnic, racial, economic, political, and religious contexts that shaped American cultures and how those cultures influenced social trends and historical periods throughout American history. The program will employ a multidisciplinary approach and will offer a model for teaching American social and cultural studies that universities abroad should adopt. The program's location in the United States will be announced later.2. Program for Research on American Politics and Political ThoughtHeld at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, the American Political Studies and Political Thinking Program provided 18 university faculty members with a deeper understanding of American political institutions and prevailing trends in political thought. The program provided participants with a thorough understanding of the ideological and political trends influencing contemporary American political institutions, including an overview of political thinking during the founding period (the foundations of the constitution), and the current development and functioning of the President, Congress, and the Federal Judiciary. The study of political institutions covered the electoral system, political parties and interest groups, the public service system, the media and advisory bodies, and the welfare/administrative government. The program also addresses contemporary cultural and political issues in the United States (including civil rights, women's rights, immigration, etc.), and the importance of public participation in the public policy-making process.3. The Program for Research on Religious Diversity in the United StatesHeld at the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Program on Religious Diversity in the United States provides 18 participants, including university faculty and religious affairs professionals, with a deeper understanding of American culture and society, past and present, through research on religious diversity in the United States and its interplay with American democracy. Using a multidisciplinary approach drawing on disciplines such as history, political science, sociology, anthropology, law, and other relevant fields, the program will examine the historical and contemporary relationship between state and church in America. Participants will also study the following aspects of religious diversity in the United States: the ways in which religious thought and practice influence and are influenced by the development of American democracy; and the intersections between religion and American politics in areas such as elections, public policy, and foreign policy. Sociology and demographics of religion in the United States today, including an examination of diversity in contemporary religious beliefs and its impact on American politics.4. Program for General Education Teachers/ProfessionalsOrganized into two classes of 30 participants each, the Teacher/Education Specialist Research Program aims to provide participants (teachers, pedagogical lecturers, curriculum developers, textbook authors, education specialists, etc.) with a deeper understanding of the culture, society, and education of the United States, both past and present. The program will focus on the central theme of American civilization and dedicate a section to contemporary issues. Combining traditional, multidisciplinary, and interdisciplinary approaches, the program will explain the history and evolution of American educational values ​​and institutions. It will also address contemporary American social debates on politics, economics, and society. The first class will be held at the University of Illinois, Chicago. The location for the second class will be announced later. Candidate Requirements: Applicants for the American Studies programs must meet the following criteria: - For Programs 1-3: Age 30-50; - For Program 4: Age 25-50; - For Programs 1-3: Passionate and experienced lecturers or researchers in American Studies, preferably with a Master's degree or higher and in-depth knowledge of the program's subject matter; - For Program 4: High school teachers, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, textbook authors, education specialists, or other professionals related to general education who are passionate about their work and wish to incorporate American Studies content into their curricula; - Familiar with academic life, willing and able to fully participate in a demanding postgraduate research and study program; - Proficient in English. The Department of Culture and Information particularly encourages applicants who meet the following criteria to apply for the program: - Young lecturers or researchers with experience and who have rarely been to the United States; - The applicant's organization is planning to incorporate American Studies modules into its curriculum, develop new courses related to the topics of the applicant's research program, innovate and update existing courses on the United States, or organize seminars/workshops for colleagues on fields related to the research program's topics.

Register to participate

Qualified applicants are requested to complete the application form in English and submit it online here before 5:00 PM on Monday, January 25, 2010. Copies of the completed application form and relevant diplomas/certificates should be sent to the following address before the above deadline:American Studies Program for ScholarsCultural and Information Section, US Embassy, ​​No. 7, Lang Ha, Ba Dinh, Hanoi. Phone: (84) 4 3850 5000/ext. 6034 E-mail: pas.culture@gmail.com Applications submitted after the above deadline will not be considered.