CIEE Arts and Sciences Program in Seoul, Korea

  South Korea

• Seoul: 
Seoul

Term: Academic Year, Fall, Spring 
Dates: Fall 16 weeks: mid-August-mid-December; Spring 16 weeks: mid-February-mid-June; Academic Year 44 weeks: late-August-mid-June

Description: The goals of this program are to support students interested in the culture, business, and language of Korea while increasing their knowledge about South Korean society. Through a large selection of elective courses in English, intensive Korean language study, and a required co-curricular program that combines site visits, the Cultural Reimbursement Program, and an international excursion to Japan, students gain considerable knowledge about Korean culture, inter-Korean relations, Korea-U.S. relations, and Korea's modern role in Asia.

Academic Program
Established in 2006, the CIEE Study Center at Yonsei University provides students with a supportive environment in which to study at a top-ranked Korean university and experience life in Seoul. While participants enroll in Yonsei University courses alongside international students, CIEE resident staff organize a special orientation and co-curricular program meant to provide a deeper understanding of Korea. Program participants take courses in English and Korean through the Underwood International College (UIC), a division of Yonsei University.

Academic Culture
At Yonsei, large classes tend to follow a lecture format whereas smaller classes tend to be seminar-oriented. Some classes include excursions to related sites (for example, a Mass Media class may include an excursion to a broadcast center). All courses are taught by Yonsei University faculty.

The academic calendar runs from mid- August through mid-June and is divided into two semesters. The spring semester (February-June) is the first semester of the academic year and the fall semester (August-December) is the second semester. The program at Yonsei is offered both semesters and consists of a one-week CIEE orientation and 15 weeks of classes. The academic year program consists of two consecutive semesters and follows the U.S. academic calendar. Housing between semesters is included in the academic year fee.

Highlights:

• Extensive range of elective courses taught in English in international business, humanities, social sciences, and the arts
  
• Intensive Korean language courses for all levels (beginner to native speaker)
  
• International excursion to Japan for insight on the Korean Diaspora and Koreas influence on Japanese art and architecture
  
• Required site visits to Korean organizations, the North/South border, a national park, and places of historic and cultural significance

International Excursion to Japan: Perspectives on the Korean Diaspora-A critical component of this program is to provide students with an understanding of Koreas modern role in Asia. To achieve this, CIEE participants take an international excursion to Koreatown in Osaka, Japan to provide students with a comparative perspective and to gain first-hand knowledge of the Korean Diaspora that exists in that country. During the day-long visit to Osaka, students visit a Korean cultural center and walk the streets of Koreatown and the adjoining market areas. During the excursion, students also visit cultural sites in Nara to get a better understanding of the influence Korea had on Buddhism, architecture, and the arts of Japan. Students also spend a night in Kyoto and have a full day to visit the historic and cultural sites in the Kyoto area including a tour of the Gion district.

Cultural Reimbursement Program
As a means of encouraging students to enrich their study abroad experience in Seoul, CIEE offers the Cultural Reimbursement Program, reimbursing students for their participation in local cultural activities. This may include Korean movie screenings, Korean traditional music concerts and theater, and visits to local museums and historic places of interest within Seoul.

Immersion
International Buddy Program
Yonsei University organizes an International Buddy Program to promote interaction between international and Korean students. A mentor, a local Korean student volunteer, is matched to interested international students who would like to exchange their experiences, culture, and general perspective with a local Korean student on the Yonsei campus. The Global Lounge organizes several activities for the buddies, but buddies are free to organize their own activities as well.

Volunteering
Although there are no formal community service activities on this program, volunteer opportunities can be arranged by CIEE staff.

University Clubs
CIEE students can join regular Yonsei University student clubs catering to every interest. A sampling includes music, dance, art, photography, martial arts, hiking, and sports. There are also a number of service groups that students can join.

Cost in US$: Please check the CIEE website for current program pricing.

Experience Required: yes

Overall GPA 3.0

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to South Korea Independently

Scholarships are Available. - We have several scholarships that students can apply for. Contact CIEE for details.

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Other
• Transcript
• Written Application

CIEE's Mission Statement: Since 1947, the Council on International Educational Exchange, known as CIEE, has been in pursuit of its mission, "to help people gain understanding, acquire knowledge, and develop skills for living in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world." Our services to young people studying, working, teaching, and traveling abroad are more important than ever. As we look ahead, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles and values that guide this mission statement.

Year Founded: 1947