The Seoul field school is a research-based study abroad program located in the heart of Seoul. At the center of the field school experience is the opportunity to conduct first-hand mentored research on Korean culture in Seoul, South Korea. Students will pursue their own research projects under the supervision of the field school director. This is an excellent opportunity to conduct research for a capstone project in any major and to learn about and demonstrate you competence in first-hand research. In the research course, students will receive support and training in ethnographic and qualitative research methods. Students will also register for a course on the history of Korea where they will learn from an expert Korean historian about Korean history and its importance for understanding Korean culture today.
During field school, students will have the option of living with a South Korean family or in an apartment. Students will also have opportunities to take part in various cultural activities such as participating in a Buddhist meditation retreat at the famous Haeinsa Temple, a trip to Jeju Island (if possible), walking tours of historical sites and museums, as well as one of the most popular South Korean pastimes, shopping.
DATES
7 Jun–6 Aug 2021 (approximately)
HOUSING
Students will live with local host families or in a shared apartment. Home stays are recommended as it will facilitate the experience of cultural immersion and also provide students with a local contact to help them in their fieldwork.
COURSES
Students must register for a minimum of 9 credit hours during the spring-summer semester from the following courses:
ANTHR 390R History of Korea (3 credit hours)
ANTHR 495R Ethnographic Field Project (6 credit hours)
Alternative course options may be possible.
A twelve-credit-hour option may be arranged for students who need the credits for scholarship requirements.
Students may not take any other courses on this program, including BYU Online courses, without approval by the program director and ISP.
COST
$5,600–6,000
Includes Latter-day Saint, undergraduate full tuition (increased cost for graduate and non-Latter-day-Saint students), lodging, public transit stipend, local research assistants/translators to assist students with research, in-country excursions, and international health insurance coverage.
Not Included: airfare (typically $900–1,500 from U.S.to South Korea), passport and visa, vaccinations (if needed), meals, personal expenses, personal travel, and additional research expenses not covered by the program.
TRAVEL
Students are responsible for purchasing their own airfare to and from the program sites. Airline reservations must be made through BYU Travel. Students should contact a BYU Travel agent.
BYU Travel
280 HRCB
(801) 422-6293
travel@byu.edu
PREPARATION
Students are required to participate in an international, cross-cultural preparation course (IAS 201R, 1 credit hour). This evening course will be held during the second block of winter semester 2021. It is recommended that students take KOREA 101 Introductory Korean and ANTHR 344 Culture, Language, and History of Korea and ANTHR 101 (which fulfills the university core Global & Cultural Awareness requirement and Social Science requirement) prior to the program. All anthropology students should have taken ANTHR 442 if using this for your thesis research, and all other students are strongly encouraged to take this course in order to develop their research proposal and learn principles of social science research.
FUNDING SOURCES
Regular BYU tuition scholarships, Pell Grants, and Federal Insured Student Loans may be applied to study abroad programs. Students who submit the financial aid section of the ISP application and who have a current FAFSA form on file at the Financial Aid Office (A-41 ASB) will be considered for a study abroad scholarship and may be considered for other scholarships.
Students must indicate on their original online application that they want to be considered for financial aid. Academic departments and colleges may assist with scholarships and grants. Private grants and scholarships outside of BYU may also assist (see kennedy.byu.edu/scholarships).
The director has applied for various sources of funding for this program. In the event that some of these sources are awarded, this may reduce program costs. Additional funding may be available and eligible students can apply for such funding based on either merit and/or demonstrated need. Please consult the director to discuss this and other possible funding options
APPLICATION PROCESS
Complete the online application at kennedy.byu.edu/apply. A nonrefundable $35 application fee is required.
Applicants will be interviewed once the application is complete.
Students will be notified via e-mail of their acceptance into the program. The first payment is due upon acceptance. Please refer to the 2021 Payment Information document (see kennedy.byu.edu/isp-forms/ISPpaymentInformation2021.pdf).
Deadline: 15 February 2021
FACULTY
Gregory A. Thompson, faculty director of the program, teaches courses in the Department of Anthropology and has previously led two fields schools in Korea in 2016 and 2019 (as well as two field schools in Provo).
880 SWKT
(801) 422-8095
greg.a.thompson@gmail.com
SCHEDULE AND TIME COMMITMENT
Students should plan to be in South Korea for the complete duration of the program from approximately 7 June until 6 August.
INTERESTED STUDENTS SHOULD CONTACT
International Study Programs
101 HRCB
(801) 422-3686
isp@byu.edu
kennedy.byu.edu/isp
PROGRAM ADJUSTMENTS
International Study Programs (ISP) reserves the right to cancel this program, revise its offerings, or make any adjustments to the preliminary cost. If it becomes necessary for ISP to cancel a program, all program payments made to BYU ISP will be refunded to the student’s BYU financial account. ISP is the only office authorized to cancel any of its programs.
