Majors

Fulbright majors provide an opportunity for increased depth in a particular subject and domain that students are interested in. These majors will have rigorous requirements for completion and will be completed primarily across the third and fourth years for students.

Courses are grouped into 4 categories by area of study. Some areas of study will have courses that may apply to more than one category.

  • Arts and Humanities (Art and Media Studies, Vietnam Studies, Literature).
  • Social Sciences (History, Economics, Social Studies, Psychology, Vietnam Studies).
  • Sciences and Engineering (Integrated Sciences, Engineering).
  • Mathematics and Computing (Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Data Science).

Majors

An education for a changing future requires more than knowledge from the past. Fulbright’s majors have been designed with this in mind. A major empowers students to focus on a topic of their interest, for example, economics, Vietnamese studies or artificial intelligence.

With faculty guidance, students will explore their focused topic through a course plan that provides not only deep understanding, but practical opportunities including internships, exchange programs, and/or a capstone project in the final year that challenges students to apply their knowledge of their major.

More than a list of courses, a major at Fulbright will give students a portfolio of experiences and outputs that prepare them for the future. It also gives them choice and flexibility, without sacrificing the depth necessary to build their expertise for future jobs and graduate school opportunities.

Fulbright students will choose from one or two of the following eleven majors:

  • Art and Media Studies

    The Art and Media Studies major offers a theoretically rigorous and socially engaged approach to the examination of aesthetic expression, situating the arts as an important tool for inquiry into the human condition and as a lever to transform the contemporary world. Students in this inherently interdisciplinary major work across a range of related disciplines, including history, engineering, psychology, and anthropology, to historicize, analyze, and theorize works of art in a variety of media. This approach equips future artists, theorists, critics, historians, and curators with the skills to critique and produce works that speak to social, cultural, and ethical issues on local and global levels.

    A common introductory course stresses the importance of visual formulation and representation in visual studies, culture, and theory. Other introductory, intermediate, and advanced courses lead, with increasingly intensive study, to deepening knowledge in one or more areas within the arts, such as art history, studio art, film and media studies, photography, and performance arts. Course offerings draw widely from the creative energy of Vietnam, a growing cultural and artistic hub in Southeast Asia.

    Read more about the Art and Media Studies major here.

  • Economics

    The Economics major provides students with the knowledge necessary to be an engaged participant in the private and public sector, both within and beyond Vietnam’s borders. Economics studies the decisions that individuals, companies, communities, and countries make about the allocation of time, money, and resources. The ways that these decisions are made and how their outcomes affect society raise crucial questions about efficiency and fairness that compel students to think about economics across disciplines within specific historical, political, and cultural contexts. The Economics major at Fulbright prepares students for a wide range of careers as well as for graduate studies in economics, finance, accounting, law, business management, and public policy.

    Read more about the Economics major here.

  • Literature

    Literature constitutes the most sustained, rich, and diverse existing record of human thought and experience: imaginative, ethical, philosophical, and political. Emphasizing historical and transnational breadth in literary studies and employing critical, comparative, digital, and historicist methods, the Literature major embraces the range and reach of global literary thought from the vantage of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cultures and traditions. It invites the examination of literary artifacts within their historical contexts, the consideration of ideas within their form of expression, and the analysis of ideological language and its influences on our worldviews. The student of literature learns not only how to read texts with attention to nuance, but how to produce them: how to speak and write well, in both creative and formal formats. In its transnational scope and concern for divergent perspectives, the Literature major also prepares students to engage locally and globally with people whose views and experiences differ from their own. A student obtaining the degree in Literature at Fulbright will be well-equipped for study in graduate programs and for careers in law, policymaking, publishing, journalism, and education.

    Read more about the Literature major here.

  • History

    History provides students with the foundation necessary to be an engaged citizen in Vietnam and the world. By studying history, students explore the human experience from multiple perspectives, interpret past events and examine their causes, trace the development of civilizations and cultures, and gain insight into the political, social, and economic structures that continue to shape our present. History equips students with a pragmatic and interdisciplinary skillset that emphasizes communication, collaboration, critical thinking, interpreting varied forms of evidence, analyzing patterns within large datasets, and persuasive argument-based writing. The History major also prepares students not only to better understand and analyze current events and engage with peers and colleagues around the world, but also to think deeply about how the past experiences of others can change the way they think about themselves in the present. History offers ideal preparation for future study in graduate and professional schools as well as for careers in public policy, business, consulting, management, law, journalism, and education.

    Read more about the History major here.

  • Psychology

    The Psychology major aims to develop students capable of understanding the complex issues that individuals and communities face and the behavioral solutions that we can use to improve society.

    With a focus on the scientific understanding of the human mind and behavior, Psychology is critical for a broad-based education that can complement other fields such as the arts, computing, economics, education, healthcare, and management. The Psychology major will equip graduates with an in-depth understanding of mental functions, emotions, behaviors, and the relationships between the environment and human behavior with a particular focus on mental wellness and resilience. Students in Psychology are equipped for a variety of career paths, such as human and social services, marketing and consumer research, educators, human resource, and social work. Additionally, students will be prepared for graduate study in the discipline or in related fields, such as clinical psychology, social services, educational psychology, and healthcare.

    Read more about the Psychology major here.

  • Social Studies

    The Social Studies major provides a liberal arts approach to the empirical study of Society. This major provides training that is thematically broad, methodologically mixed, and analytically rigorous approaches. Students in this interdisciplinary major work across a variety of disciplines including anthropology, sociology, criminology, and political science, to address big problems across modern societies. Graduates will be well prepared to pursue graduate study in the social sciences as well as diverse careers such as NGO work, entrepreneurship, research, consulting, leadership, and work in international organizations.

    Read more about the Social Studies major here.

  • Vietnam Studies

    Students of Vietnam Studies will explore and engage with Vietnam” through time and space, in regional and global contexts, and from transdisciplinary perspectives. As a branch of area studies, Vietnam Studies offers a starting point from which to proceed beyond national boundaries and to address comparative research areas, agendas, and questions. Interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary research in Vietnam Studies at Fulbright connects classroom learning to events and trends in Vietnamese society and the world at large. By introducing students to various historical and contemporary issues in regional and global contexts, Vietnam Studies will not only furnish students with new knowledge and new opportunities for critical thinking but also prepare them for lives as global citizens who will study and grapple with real-world problems in Vietnam and elsewhere.

    With their deep and broad knowledge of Vietnam, plus their rich experience from inside and outside the country, the students of this program can proudly claim their major as Vietnam Studies with a focus on [a specific academic discipline]”. (Students can choose up to two academic disciplines based on their academic and future career goals with their VNS advisors’ approvals).

    Earning a Fulbright bachelor’s degree in Vietnam Studies strengthened by a specific disciplinary focus, plus language and interpersonal skills, students can confidently pursue a wide variety of careers where Vietnam stands as the core in an international network of relationships. For instance, they can serve in arts, journalism, cultural and educational organizations, or research institutes. They can also work for economic, diplomatic or international institutions; tourism and commercial companies; (non-)governmental organizations in Vietnam or overseas that require both broad and deep knowledge of the country. Vietnam Studies graduates will also be prepared for graduate programs with a specific focus on Vietnam and related fields in overseas universities around the world.

    Read more about the Vietnam Studies major here.

  • Integrated Sciences

    The Integrated Sciences major is a single, comprehensive program comprising a variety of fields, including Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience, and Material Science. Today’s most urgent scientific problems – from climate change, to genetic modification, to public health – require an integrated approach. Introducing multiple pathways in natural science and emphasizing real-world experience, the Integrated Science major prepares students for careers as responsible and innovative scientific leaders and to seek interconnected solutions informed by several scientific disciplines. Students in the Integrated Science major will practice interdisciplinary, computationally-oriented, and research-based approaches to scientific discovery, while also pursuing a specific path within the natural sciences: Biology, Neuroscience, Materials Science, or Computational Chemistry. The Integrated Science major provides a strong foundation for a career in the industry as well as future graduate study.

    Read more about the Integrated Sciences major here.

  • Computer Science

    The Computer Science major prepares students with an adaptable skill set to respond to the astonishing speed of technological change and develop solutions for the problems of today and tomorrow. Using a student-centered, interdisciplinary, and future-focused approach, the Computer Science major aims to educate the next generation of local leaders who will make a meaningful and lasting societal impact both in Vietnam – one of the most quickly emerging and innovative technology economies in the world – and beyond. As part of the major, students will be equipped with foundational knowledge in Computer Science and relevant disciplines. They will be exposed to essential areas of the CS discipline including theory, systems, and applications. They will learn about the underlying mathematical ideas that are critical for computation, establish proficiency in the process of designing systems and applications, gain experience in collecting and analyzing data using modern technologies, and begin to develop an understanding for the role of users in the design of systems and applications. Courses in Computer Science go beyond content to help students learn through direct experiences in projects and problems. In the future, they will also have the opportunity to further focus their studies by selecting a concentration, such as data science, artificial intelligence and machine learning, business analytics, digital media, and software engineering. The Computer Science major at Fulbright is designed to prepare students for work in industry or continue their lifelong learning as well as potential graduate-level studies.

    Read more about the Computer Science major here.

  • Applied Mathematics

    Available from the academic year 2022-2023.

    Applied Mathematics is the study and application of mathematical concepts and methods to solve complex problems in a wide range of areas such as natural science, engineering, architecture, business, industry and even psychology and social science. A close-knit family with data science and artificial intelligence, Applied Mathematics unleashes the enormous computing power that could solve unlimited conventional and unconventional problems that arise from natural phenomena and social needs. At Fulbright University Vietnam, the Applied Mathematics major offers a unique approach that is both theoretically rigorous and highly interactive in a truly interdisciplinary environment. The major will provide strong foundations and advanced knowledge on Linear Algebra, Calculus and Statistics. The students will explore and be fascinated by real-life applications of Mathematics in many other majors such as Economics, Engineering, Psychology, Social Sciences, etc., by taking applied elective courses and doing Capstone research. Graduated students would be well equipped with solid knowledge and skills to undertake postgraduate degrees in Mathematics or Statistics as well as to pursue careers in data science (machine learning, AI), engineering (signal processing, financial, optimization and simulation), or social sciences.

    Read more about the Applied Mathematics major here.

  • Engineering

    Available from the academic year 2022-2023. 

    Engineering is a distinctive career path at Fulbright University Vietnam, a liberal arts university. In their typical jobs, engineers apply creatively the principles of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to invent, design, build, maintain and improve things to help solve human beings’ problems as well as improve their quality of living. Such designs and improvements include structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that may have become part and parcel of our everyday life. The Engineering curriculum is designed based on a student-centered, multidisciplinary, project-based, future-fit approach. Students are required to complete a well-balanced set of courses not only in STEM but also in Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship in order to be awarded a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering. Although students will be required to take half of the minimum number of credits for graduation in Engineering, they will have a certain degree of freedom of choosing Engineering elective courses to pursue their interest of study with Engineering. After graduation, Engineering students may choose different career options such as starting up their own companies, working in the industry, or enrolling in post-graduate programs.

    Read more about the Engineering major here.

Double Majors

The spirit of Fulbright encourages students to think beyond typical majors and disciplines. To enable this kind of thinking, Fulbright students can choose to double major, blending interests from different disciplines. Students will work with their faculty advisors to build a set of courses across major areas that allow students to explore their interests in a thorough and diverse way. While all students are expected to draw on a diversity of courses and ways of thinking for their majors, these double majors will heavily emphasize drawing on complementary areas of study.

Students pursuing a double major must complete all requirements for each major. If two majors share a common course requirement, that course can count toward the completion of both majors.

Our Degrees

The undergraduate program at Fulbright University Vietnam offers three degrees:

Bachelor of Arts:

  • Art and Media Studies
  • Economics
  • Literature
  • History
  • Psychology
  • Social Studies
  • Vietnam Studies

Bachelor of Science:

  • Natural Science
    • Integrated Science
  • Mathematics and Computing
    • Computer Science
    • Mathematics

Bachelor of Engineering

With a Fulbright degree, you will be able to pursue a variety of careers, as a leader, researcher, entrepreneur, professional — and other careers that have not even been invented yet.

Additionally, a Fulbright degree will prepare you for further studies at top-caliber graduate and professional schools throughout the world.