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VIPP Curriculum

The information below applies to GPEP and SGPEP programs.

VIPP leverages expansive MSU resources, recognizing our participants come from different disciplines and have different career needs. MSU is one of the top research universities in the world and offers more than 200 programs. Every day, there are many academic events, public lectures, and seminars happening across campus. VIPP will guide you to take advantage of our world-class academics and resources to enhance your disciplinary knowledge.

VIPP curriculum is designed to equip today’s professionals with the most transferable skills applicable to any discipline. To accelerate professional growth in today’s multi-cultural, highly-connected world, it is important to have the interdisciplinary knowledge, the ability and enthusiasm to acquire new knowledge fast, the ability to communicate ideas and solutions, the empathy for other perspectives, and the skill to integrate and lead. 

All VIPP courses are developed to help the participants achieve the following four learning outcomes captured in the diagram. Obtaining these skills will enable you to progress and thrive in your professional life. With VIPP, you will elevate your career to the next level from today’s professional to tomorrow’s leader.

leearningoutcomes-08.png

*Click on the above photo to download the PDF version.

VIPP's Four Learning Outcomes:

  • Competent Professionalism – To master professional knowledge and essential skills for your job and gain insights on current trends in your field 
    • Content Knowledge
    • Efficiency
    • Collaboration
    • Networking
    • Negotiation Skills
    • Project Management
  • Effective Communication– To improve your English for effective communication and career advancement 
    • Teamwork
    • Negotiation Skills
    • Writing and Speaking
    • Inter-personal Skills
  • Strong Leadership – To develop and practice leadership skills in different contexts
    • Strategic Thinking
    • Influencing Others
    • Creativity
    • Innovation
    • Critical Thinking 
  • Multicultural & Global Awareness – To increase your understanding and sensitivity of cultural diversity and enhance your adaptability in a global working environment
    • Cultural Competency
    • Global Understanding
    • Multicultural Growth

 

VIPP Course Offerings

Based on four learning outcomes, we developed the following courses. Course offerings are subject to change each semester. In general, you are required to take 3 VIPP courses unless you have arranged taking other MSU courses with your program coordinator in advance. 

Please note that due to the Covid-19 pandemic, course selections may be limited.

Competent Professionalism

  • VIP 484     Project Management
  • VIP 486     Negotiation Skills
  • VIP 482     Crafting a Successful Career
  • VIP 858     General Research Methodology

Effective Communication

  • VIP 415A   Conversation A
  • VIP 415B   Conversation B
  • VIP 414      Idioms
  • VIP 420     Media English
  • VIP 464     Business English
  • VIP 417      Writing Skills for Academic & Business Purpose
  • VIP 617      Academic and Professional Writing: Beyond the Basics
  • VIP 422     Academic Reading
  • VIP 423     Critical Reading Strategies 
  • VIP 441      Pronunciation & Presentation Skills
  • VIP 685     Public Speaking
  • VIP 467     Communication Strategies and Social Discourse

Strong Leadership

  • VIP 472     Critical Thinking
  • VIP 473     Innovation Thinking
  • VIP 474     Leadership Through Change and Innovation
  • VIP 483     Organizational Behavior
  • VIP 854     Global Leadership and Management

Multicultural & Global Awareness

  • VIP 451A   American Culture: Education, Sports, and Family
  • VIP 451B   American Culture: Movies and Music
  • VIP 451C   American Culture: Current Event and Society
  • VIP 451D   American Culture: History, Race, and Immigration
  • VIP 477     U.S. International Relations
  • VIP 452     U.S. Legal System and Government
  • VIP 454     Discovering MSU
  • VIP 455     Discovering Michigan
  • VIP 480    Cross-Cultural Communication Skills

Disciplinary Knowledge-based courses (offered depending on enrollment) 

  • VIP 476     Introduction to Finance
  • VIP 478     International Finance
  • VIP 481      International Business
  • VIP 487     International Perspective on Educational Psychology and Schools
  • VIP 856     Pedagogy of University Teaching
  • VIP 857     Second Language Acquisition

Other Learning Opportunities

In addition to the VIPP classes, participants will have many opportunities to engage in disciplinary studies and interact with faulty, researchers and practitioners in their fields. As one of the top 100 universities in the world, MSU offers over 200 programs and many academic events happen every day. VIPP participants will have the privilege to learn and study at MSU.