The CIEE Study Center at Yonsei University is designed to provide students with cross-cultural training by way of offering a range of courses in various disciplines, a co-curricular program that will take students within the city of Seoul and internationally to communities of the Korean Diaspora, and providing on-site staff to support the students during their time in Seoul, Korea.
What You'll Learn
The goals of the Arts and Sciences 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 its modern role in Asia.
Program Snapshot- 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 Korea's 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 buddy program
- Global Lounge
- Cultural reimbursement
- Volunteering
- University clubs
SubjectsAsian Studies
Biotechnology
Business
Communications
Economics
Engineering
History
International Relations
Korean Language
Korean Studies
Management
Philosophy
Political Science
Religion
Sociology
Theology
Eligibility
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, CIEE resident staff organize a special orientation and cocurricular 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. Housing between semesters is included in the academic year fee.
Where You'll Study - Yonsei University
The CIEE Study Center is based at Yonsei University, the most prestigious private institution of higher education in Korea. Founded in 1885, the school now has 18 graduate schools and 21 colleges and a student population of over 30,000 including over 1,000 students from some 20 countries around the world. The University is located less than 20 minutes from downtown Seoul. A full range of sporting facilities including a fitness center, swimming pool, gymnasium, and basketball and tennis courts are available.
Program Requirements
Students take three elective courses for a total of nine credits and one intensive Korean language course at their level for six credits. All students must enroll in at least one elective course directly related to Korea. Students that exhibit fluency in Korean may be able to take certain elective courses in Korean alongside local Korean students.
Credit
Total recommended credit for a semester is 15 semester/22.5 quarter hours and total recommended credit for the academic year is 30 semester/45 quarter hours.
Content course contact hours are 45 hours and recommended credit is 3 semester/4.5 quarter hours per course. Korean language course contact hours are 90 hours and recommended credit is 6 semester/9 quarter hours.Application Deadlines
Spring 2009: 11/1/2008
Fall 2009: 4/1/2009
Academic Year 2008-09: 4/1/2008
DurationSpring 2009: 16 weeks: late February - mid-June
Fall 2009: 16 weeks: late August - mid-December
Academic Year 2008-09: 44 weeks: mid-August - mid-June
The CIEE fees for 2008-09 include an optional on-site airport meet and greet, tuition, full-time program leadership and support, housing, orientation, site visits and cultural activities, group excursion to China or Japan, pre-departure advising, and a CIEE iNext travel card which provides insurance and other travel benefits.
Orientation
A one-week mandatory orientation in Seoul takes place prior to the beginning of courses. The CIEE orientation introduces students to the country and the culture, provides practical information about living in Korea, and prepares students for their upcoming international experience. The orientation also includes visits to places of cultural and historical significance, an excursion to the DMZ that separates North and South Korea, and an overnight trip to the countryside during which meals are provided. Additionally, Yonsei University's Underwood International College provides an academic orientation including a Korean language placement exam. Students also receive ongoing orientation on aspects of Korean culture through the co-curricular program and individual appointments with the CIEE Resident Director.
Housing and Meals
Housing is included in the program fee. CIEE students are housed at an off-campus facility. Details about the new facility is provided to students in their pre-departure materials. Meals are the responsibility of the student and are not included in the program fee. Meals may be taken at on-campus cafeterias, restaurants, and snack bars and at restaurants throughout Seoul, including one in the dormitory.
Students typically live with other international or CIEE students. Students may live with their relatives in a homestay environment if available.
Internet
Students have free Internet access via the LAN connection in their room. Students also have access to the Internet in the Global Lounge and many other locations at Yonsei University. Students are encouraged to bring wireless-enabled laptops.
Cultural Activities and Field TripsComplementing the classroom work are special lectures, excursions, and cultural activities such as visits to Korean organizations, museums, temples, and historic sites, a trip to the DMZ, and a trip to a national park or some other location of great natural and cultural significance. These organized activities are a required part of the CIEE program and students should expect to fully participate in each activity.
International Excursion to Japan: Perspectives on the Korean Diaspora--A critical component of this program is to provide students with an understanding of Korea's modern role in Asia. To achieve this, CIEE leads an international excursion to Koreatown in Osaka, Japan to provide students with a comparative perspective and to gain firsthand 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.
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.
