Location: Seoul, South Korea

Dates

June 24 – August 2, 2013

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 1, 2013--APPLY NOW!

Program

This six-week program offers students an opportunity to study at one of the most prestigious schools in the world, Seoul National University, and to experience Korea, the Land of the Morning Calm. Seoul is the most wired city in the world with the highest internet connection speed, home to the headquarters of numerous global brands, and a rising entertainment center and the origin of a new pop culture known as K-pop.

The Summer Study Abroad at Seoul National University program is open to all undergraduate students – liberal arts and sciences, business, engineering, and nursing. Students will take two 3-credit courses at Seoul National University, and engage in cultural immersion activities in and outside Seoul. A wide variety of unique courses are available. (See the Course Offerings section below.)

Dr. Q Chung, Professor of Information Systems in the Villanova School of Business, will be the Faculty Program Coordinator. A native of Seoul, Dr. Chung will be traveling with the students, available throughout the program, and will lead the cultural immersion activities.

Course Offerings

Below is a tentative list of course offerings. Students are required to enroll in two 3-credit courses for a total of 6 VU credits. Students will work with Dr. Chung to ensure that the courses which they have selected will be awarded VU credit. This will take place when students have their application interview.
*All courses are worth 3 VU credits unless otherwise noted.

Additional Academic Requirements

Language of instruction is English, and there is no language requirement. However, students who are interested in sharpening their Korean language skills may choose a Korean language class at an appropriate proficiency level, in addition to the two regular courses.

These optional, two-credit courses may be chosen upon arrival.
Students may incur an additional cost for these optional two-credit courses.

Housing and Meals

Students will be placed in on-campus dorms at Seoul National University with double occupancy, and the cost of housing is included in the tuition. Cost of meals is very reasonable and there are numerous on- and off-campus dining options available, and therefore the cost of meals is not included in the tuition. (Students who do not need on-campus housing and plan to commute will get tuition reduction by $500.)

Excursions & Cultural Immersion Activities

Once the SNU summer session ends in late July, students will participate in cultural immersion activities. They include:

• Excursion to DMZ (De-Militarized Zone): Korea is the only country that is in active confrontation with a communist neighbor. Four underground infiltration tunnels built by North Korea have been discovered, one of which will be visited.
• Visit to Yangwhajin: This Foreign Missionaries Cemetery is in Seoul, overlooking the Han River.
• Visit to industrial facilities: Korea has many famous production facilities within a day trip’s reach. Students will travel to a southern industrial city of Ulsan by bullet train (KTX) and tour Hyundai Motor Company and Hyundai Shipyard.
• Excursion to Gyeongju: Gyeongju is a 2,000-year old coastal city, once the capital of Shilla for nearly a millennium. It is a popular destination for cultural studies and sightseeing since it has numerous historic treasures that UNESCO designated as World Heritage Sites.
  

These cultural immersion activities are a mandatory component of the Summer Study Abroad at Seoul National University program, and the cost is included in the tuition.

During the summer session, Seoul National University also offers optional field trips over three weekends. The cost, $300, is not included in the tuition.