Summer in Seoul
K-Pop, Culture, & Language
Tune into the culture of South Korea.
Explore the beautifully landscaped parks alongside the central Cheon-gye stream, the Jongmyo shrine, and the buzzing Dongdaemun or Namdaemun night markets while you tap your toes to the Korean beat. Take classes at Sogang University in Seoul, a Jesuit institution dedicated to global learning. The university’s pristine concrete and glass buildings soar above sweeping green lawns, and the athletic facilities are fully equipped with indoor courts, an artificial climbing wall, soundproof music rooms for practicing, and outdoor soccer fields.
What to Expect:
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Language: English and Korean
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Average Courseload: 1-2 courses (3-6 U.S. credits)
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GPA Requirement: 2.5
Highlights:
- Active student clubs
- State-of-the-art athletic and music facilities
- Live in a bustling 24-hour city
- Excursions to local sites tailored to students' interests
- Sogang University official transcript
Program Details
Sogang University
A Jesuit institution, Sogang University is one of the leading research and liberal arts universities in South Korea. You’ll be among many serious students from South Korea (local students come from the top 1% of their high school classes) as well as numerous international students (40% of students living on campus are international). Notable alumni include Park Geun-hye, the first woman president of South Korea.
Established in 1960, the university’s pristine concrete and glass buildings soar above sweeping green lawns. The athletic facilities are fully equipped with indoor courts, an artificial climbing wall, soundproof music rooms for practicing, and outdoor soccer fields. Eat at one of the two on campus eateries or swing by Gonzaga Plaza to grab some food or something from the convenience store.
This small university cares about the student community. In May, K-pop music performances and food from local bars spring up around campus for the Daedongjae Festival. Each semester, the university also organizes the Sunrise Festival to welcome new students and student clubs host a street festival to recruit new members. You can join the tarot card reading club, the start-up business club, a club all about critiquing comics and video game culture, an English conversation club, martial arts clubs, or something else!
Areas of study with fewer than 3 classes available
- Art & Design
- Mathematics
- Natural & Applied Sciences
Don't see your major listed here? There may still be courses available. Browse our programs by major.
Areas of study with 3 to 7 classes available
- Humanities
- Korean
Don't see your major listed here? There may still be courses available. Browse our programs by major.
You can choose a minimum of one and a maximum of two courses to participate in this summer. Please keep in mind that if you select two courses, in order to avoid scheduling conflicts, you should choose one course in the morning and another in the afternoon. The program price will vary depending on the number of courses you select.
All courses are worth 3 US credits.
The following courses are projected to run in Summer 2020:
Understanding Contemporary Korean Cinema (morning course)
Religion and World Cultures (morning course)
Korea and International Politics (morning course)
Elementary Korean Language (afternoon course)
Intermediate Korean Language (morning course)
Advanced Korean Language (morning course)
Understanding of Money and Finance from a Political Perspective (afternoon course)
Korean Society (afternoon course)
K-Pop and Culture Studies (afternoon course)
History of Korean Politics (afternoon course)
General Psychology (afternoon course)
Elementary Korean Language (afternoon course)
![_Brie Bates_South Korea_[Korean BBQ! Pic taken by Brie]](https://www.cisabroad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Brie-Bates_South-Korea_Korean-BBQ-Pic-taken-by-Brie.jpg)
Why Life in Seoul
South Korea has everything: the longest subway system in the world, one of the most efficient writing systems, large and abundant forests, AND the world’s fastest internet connections (Take that, Netflix lag!). Seoul is a “dynamic city” that, according to Lonely Planet, “mashes up palaces, temples, cutting-edge design and mountain trails, all to a nonstop K-Pop beat.”
Still have stars in your eyes from the 2018 Olympics opening ceremony? You’re in luck! Just a 2-hour train ride from Pyeongchang, Seoul is the 9th most visited city in the world and the 4th largest earner in tourism. The metropolitan area around Seoul contains five UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Changdeok Palace, Hwaseong Fortress, Jongmyo Shrine, Namhansanseong and the Royal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty.
Live La Vida Local
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Outdoor Parks
Walk over the pedestrian-only bridge on your way to Seonyudo Park, an island on the Hangang River that was formerly an industrial water treatment plant, but is now home to the Hangang History Museum and Botanical Gardens.
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Cooking Class
Food is a huge staple in Korean culture - everything revolves around it. Learn to cook and then eat like a local.
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Local Cultural Festivals
No shortage of celebration here! Seoul boasts the Lotus Lantern Festival, the Yeouido Spring Flower Festival, the Seoul International Fireworks Festival, and the Seoul Kimchi Making & Sharing Festival, among many more.
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Learn to write Hangul
Hangul is the official written language of both South and North Korea, and is touted as the simplest language systems in the world. If you already don’t know it, see how quickly you can pick it up!
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Visual & Performance Art
Take a selfie in the wildly colorful Ihwa Mural Village, a revitalized artist neighborhood adorned with murals and filled with galleries, cafes. After, check out these gems within walking distance: Lock Museum, Ihwa-dong Village Museum, and Blacksmith Museum.
Housing in Seoul
Location
Students will be housed in the modern Gonzaga Hall on campus. Rooms are double occupancy and include a bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, bathroom with a shower, telephone, AC unit, and internet access.
Check out the photo gallery to see what your housing in Gonzaga Hall might be like.
Meals
A partial meal plan is included by Gonzaga Hall, which boasts its own cafeteria offering breakfasts and dinners each day.
Inclusions and Amenities
- Air conditioning
- BathroomEnsuite
- CommuteWalking
- Desk
- Double Room
- LaundryOn-site
- Meal PlanPartial
- Wi-Fi
Housing Note
What's Included
Inclusions
Program fees are in US dollars and include the following:
- Full-time tuition and fees
- Housing
- Academic advising
- Medical and accident insurance
- CIS Abroad support services before, during, and after the program
- Financial aid counseling
- Assistance with travel arrangements
- Pre-departure orientation
- Airport pickup
- CIS Abroad on-site orientation
- On-site support
- Seoul Walking Tour
- Day trip to the DMZ and one or more overnight excursions
- La Vida Local cultural program
- Sogang University official transcript
Welcome & Orientation
Upon arrival, you’ll take part in both the university and CISabroad orientation program. You’ll learn the “dos and don’ts” of living in Seoul, South Korea. What will your site director cover? Where to go to enjoy some social, cultural and recreational activities, how to stay safe, and where to shop are just a few topics. Oh, and there’ll be a welcome meal, something traditional and yummy, as Korean cuisine is known to be one of the best in the world!
Farewell & Re-Entry Program
Though you’re not an astronaut returning from space, re-entering your home culture after being abroad can be shocking to the system. We’ll walk you through some of the things to expect, rehash your time abroad so that you can remember the highlights and, yep, we’ll feed you one last delicious Korean meal before you go!
Program Excursions
Jeongdong Theater
Take in a masterful performance at this award-winning theatre with a rich history. Jeongdong Theatre regularly hosts free performances and produces a number of traditional nonverbal musicals, full of fast, energetic music and powerful dance. Arrive early? Browse the nearby National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art to get yourself in the creative zone.
Namhansanseong Fortress (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Located on Namhansan Mountain, this fortress was originally built during the Goguryeo period about 2,000 years ago and after many renovations, it became a designated UNESCO World Heritage site in 2014. Choose your level of difficulty with five courses to walk along the fortress, which showcases amazing views of the mountain during all seasons of the year. Climb to the highest peak, Iljangsan, for a wonderful view of Seoul.
Bamdokkaebi Night Market
Discover unique and experimental treats made by creative young chefs at this food truck market, open only two nights per week at Yeouido Hangang Park. At night, traditional and modern cultural performances are held against the backdrop of the Han River. Learn about one-of-a-kind handmade items created by artists and designers in a nearby cute shopping street packed with tents.
Site Director
Travel Tip:
Whenever I arrive in another country, I try to look for a very local restaurant where real residents of the town usually eat. Such spots may not have any distinguishable sign or decent interiors, but the reward is delicious food and welcoming locals. Just by going even slightly off the beaten path, you are oftentimes rewarded with a better value and cultural insights.
Travel Tip:
Whenever I arrive in another country, I try to look for a very local restaurant where real residents of the town usually eat. Such spots may not have any distinguishable sign or decent interiors, but the reward is delicious food and welcoming locals. Just by going even slightly off the beaten path, you are oftentimes rewarded with a better value and cultural insights.
About:
I believe that education – and particularly international education and cultural exchange – empowers people and advances society. Through my experiences as an educator, I have planned and executed many kinds of degree/non-degree programs across a wide range of fields, including HR, program design, international student recruitment, international cooperation, international student admissions, business incubating management, and government funding. I like to meet people and communicate with them in global settings. I am also very happy when I am working with other people in a new and challenging environment.
Your Support Staff
We love what we do and want to talk to you! The Global Advising Center is here to help you decide on a program, and complete the Online Application. From the moment you first hear from us—be it through a text, phone call, email or personal visit—you will find that our passion for international education is contagious. We’re ready to launch you abroad.
Be open to meeting new people! Some of my favorite memories while traveling include meeting people in hostels, or by getting involved at my school abroad. You never know who will be a lifelong friend! Try all of the local foods, even if you don’t think you will like it. Write everything down in a journal- you will appreciate those stories later!
Expect the unexpected! Sometimes culture shock is stronger in countries where you expect things to be more similar to your home country and environment. Traveling abroad is an excellent way to learn more about your own culture, habits, style, and adaptability.
Dates & Prices
ADVISOR TIP: Please WAIT to book flights until you have received confirmed dates in your acceptance paperwork. Dates posted here are subject to change.
- Application Deadline: Apr 1
- Arrival: June 29
- Departure: July 24
- Price: $4,990 - $5,990
- Application Deadline: Apr 1 (Estimated)
- Arrival: June 29 (Estimated)
- Departure: July 24 (Estimated)
- Price: $4,990 - $5,990 (Estimated)
1 course: $4,990
2 courses: $5,990
As with all study abroad programs, you should count on a few additional expenses.
CIS Abroad reserves the right to alter fees at any time due to currency fluctuations and/or fee changes made by our partner universities.