Eligibility
- 18 years of age or above
- Good academic and disciplinary standing at Penn State
- 2.5 cumulative GPA or better at the time of application
- Second-semester sophomore standing or above at the start of the program
Program Description
The CIEE Seoul, Arts + Sciences program is designed to support students while they learn at a top-ranked Korean university and experience everyday life in Seoul. A special in-depth orientation and extracurricular program helps students get to know the country, along with 16 weeks of courses in English and Korean administered by Yonsei University’s Office of International Affairs (OIA). Students will be directly enrolling in courses at Yonsei University.
Yonsei University classes include both seminar and lecture formats. Some include excursions that relate to course subject matter. Students can take classes designed for only international students or they can take classes alongside local students by enrolling in classes in a variety of departments and colleges including engineering, science, and business administration, though some courses may have prerequisites and/or restrictions (e.g. business administration courses are restricted to business majors). Students with near-native Korean language skills have many more options, provided they have Korean university-level comprehension. Students wishing to study Korean language can choose to take an intensive 6-credit course or a less intensive 3-credit course.
Dates
Academic Year: late August - late June
Fall: late August - late December
Spring: late February - late June
Note: The Korean academic calendar runs from mid-August through late June and is divided into two semesters. Unlike in the U.S., the spring semester (February-June) is the first semester of the academic year and fall (August-December) is the second.
Refer to CIEE's website for the specific dates, if available.
Location
Recognized by UNESCO for outstanding design yet firmly rooted in ancient traditions, Seoul is full of intrigue and inspiration for students of arts and sciences. You’ll find it easy to make the most of the city’s live-wire environment, with access to Korean culture through the Seoul Mates program, university clubs, a variety of unforgettable excursions, and our dedicated team to guide you at every step.
Packed with people, it’s no wonder Seoul is the capital and largest city in South Korea. A vibrant business and financial hub, Seoul also brims with culture, with more than 100 museums, numerous religious monuments, parks, markets, festivals, sports teams, and the Gyeongbok and Changdeok palaces. The mighty Han River runs through the city, and rugged mountains loom in the distance.
Education Abroad in Countries with a Penn State Restricted Travel Designation
In order to comply with Penn State’s International Travel Policy, students interested in studying abroad in countries that Penn State has designated as “restricted” for travel, a petition for a waiver must be submitted. Once a petition is complete, and if the student is approved for study on the program in question, the student may be asked to meet with the Director of Education Abroad and the petition will be reviewed by the Penn State International Restricted Travel Committee (IRTC). The necessary petition will be included in the online application process for this program. To see if your program is taking place in a restricted travel country, please visit the Penn State Global website.