Harvard Summer Program in Seoul, Korea
David McCann and various faculty at Ewha Womans University
(8 units: UN, GR) Limited enrollment
Program dates: June 18–July 29
Application deadline: March 1 deadline has been extended
Program cost: $5,500
Deposit due: April 15
Full payment due: May 15
Korea is an amazing place, and Seoul, the capital, is filled with museums and shops, libraries and ancient palaces, places to sit and think, and probably more electronic cafés per capita than anywhere else in the world. This new program, run jointly by Harvard Summer School and Ewha Womans University, takes full advantage of the excellent resources at Ewha, the lively variety of cultural events and other activities in Seoul in the summer, and some of the historical sites within easy access by high-speed train or excursion bus from Seoul. In Professor McCann's course, as well as the cultural and language courses offered by Ewha, students explore the vibrant dialogue between history and culture, the content and structure of works of literature, history, music, dance, and art. Noncredit Korean language instruction with Ewha staff is provided for students with no previous exposure to the Korean alphabet or spoken Korean.
Course of Study
Students take Professor McCann's course, KORE S-112 Korea at 2100, and a second course chosen from among the Ewha Womans University offerings listed below.
KORE S-105 Study Abroad in Korea: Introduction to Korean Cultural Heritage (32082)
Young-Hoon Kim
This introductory course is designed for undergraduate students, both international and domestic, to provide a comprehensive overview on the various aspects of Korean traditional culture. The course is divided largely into 4 parts: general introduction, family and kinship, traditional lifestyles, and world heritages in Korea.
KORE S-112 Study Abroad in Korea: Korea at 2100 (31946)
David McCann
An introduction to Korean culture and history—from the Silla and Koryô kingdoms, through the Chosôn Dynasty and the complex twentieth century, to Korea in the first decade of the twenty-first century—this course explores the dialogue between history and culture, setting in juxtaposition readings in the history text Korea Old and New (Eckert, Lee, Lew, Robinson, and Wagner) with readings of Korean literature, as well as examinations of music and art works. Students follow several themes in readings and discussions, among them inscription, performance, and resistance, with the following questions in mind: How does what is written, composed, or drawn take its particular form? How is culture reflected in performance? How do certain aspects of popular culture represent resistance to an imposed elite or ruling class within a society? How might national culture be the product of resistance to outside forms, patterns, practices, or even threats as well?
The first three weeks of the course consider topics in Silla and Koryô, Chosôn, and twentieth-century Korean culture and history; major historical events and important dates; cultural forms and institutions; relations among the indigenous and the foreign, the central and the local; articulations of cultural identity; challenges met or left unmet by new cultural arrangements; and literature, music, and art as expressive space. In week four, students examine the issues that the twentieth century especially—but also the legacy of Korea's past history—has left for action, reflection, and possible redress by present and future generations. In week five students grab a ride on today's Korean wave—the outburst of music, dance, film, TV, personal electronics, and other forms of culture—that has risen up in Korea in the last decade, and that seems to have swept over the rest of Asia as well. Prerequisites: None.
KORE S-116 Study Abroad in Korea: Gender Relations in Korea (31948)
Eun Mie Lim
This course examines how social, cultural, and political constructions of gender shape women's lives in Korean society. Through this course students gain a better understanding of gender relations by reviewing and critiquing historical and contemporary sources of gender roles in Korea. The main thrust of the course is to discuss the assigned readings. At the end of the term, students submit a research paper on a topic of their own choice and present the paper in class. There are also two field trips during the course, so students can encounter Korean gender relations first-hand. Prerequisites: None.
KORE S-119 Study Abroad in Korea: Politics of the Korean Peninsula Since 1945—War, Democracy, and the Axis of Evil (31949)
Ihn-Hwi Park
This course seeks to analyze Korea's political, economic, and security developments since 1945. Topics to be discussed include: Was the Korean War a civil war, or was it inspired and initiated by international communism? Which factors led to the "Miracle on the Han," state-led industrialization, export-led industrialization (i.e., sound macroeconomic policies), or Asian values? Why is the North unable to reform/liberalize economically? Does South Korea's attainment of democracy validate modernization theory? What are the implications of the North's proliferation of missiles/technology and acquisition of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) for regional and global security? Is reunification possible, and if so, what are the security implications? Prerequisites: None.
HARC S-186 Study Abroad in Korea: Korean Art History from Prehistoric Times to the Chosôn Dynasty (31957)
Jiyoung Shin
The indigenous world of Korean art evolved from both independent and foreign-influenced origins, displaying a rich and varied artistic heritage. Even in modern society, the Korean tradition lives on influencing the lifestyles and conscience of the Korean people. This introductory course examines the genres of Korean art from the Neolithic period up until the Chosôn Dynasty. Painting, sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, and architecture from each period are studied through slides, exploring their stylistic, religious, and social dimensions. The dynamic and subtle flavor of Korean art is a theme of the study, providing students with a better understanding of Korean art within the context of the East Asian tradition. Prerequisites: None.
Course Credit
Harvard College Credit. For Harvard College students, this program counts as two half-courses (4 units each) of Harvard College degree credit. KORE S-112 satisfies the foreign cultures Core requirement.
Harvard Summer School courses and credits are accepted toward degrees at most colleges and universities. Since degree requirements vary at different schools, students are advised to obtain transfer credit approval from their home institutions before registering for Harvard Summer School courses.
Faculty
David McCann is Korea Foundation Professor of Korean Literature at Harvard University.
Eun Mie Lim is Lecturer in the Graduate School of International Studies at Ewha Womans University.
Ihn-Hwi Park is Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of International Studies at Ewha Womans University.
Jiyoung Shin is Lecturer on Korean Art History at Sungshin University.
Application
Students should submit the Harvard Summer Program in Seoul, Korea application form*, official transcripts, a $50 nonrefundable application fee, and a supplementary statement describing their travel experience abroad (not a prerequisite) and the reasons for their interest in the program to Professor David McCann, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, 2 Divinity Avenue, Room 216, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA. Students must have official transcripts sent directly from their schools to Professor McCann; unofficial copies of transcripts will not be accepted. Students must be 18 years of age or older. All application materials must be received by March 1.
Students will be notified of admissions decisions by mid-March.
* Application forms may be downloaded from this website. (To download PDFs students must have Adobe's Acrobat Reader installed on their computers.)
Cost
The cost of the program is $5,500, plus a nonrefundable $50 application fee. In addition, students are responsible for a $110 health insurance fee (which is waived if students have US insurance coverage) and for their transportation to and from Seoul. The program fee covers:
- tuition
- room and some meals
- all course materials
- all scheduled excursions and extracurricular activities
A nonrefundable deposit of $550 must be received by April 15 in order to ensure the admitted student's place in the program. Payment in full is due by May 15. A $100 late fee will be charged for payments received after this date.
Students who do not purchase health insurance through the Harvard Summer School should confirm that their insurance provider offers coverage outside the United States.
Harvard College students are eligible for financial assistance through the Harvard Office for International Programs (OIP). Students may download a study abroad scholarship information sheet or contact the OIP for more information. Other Harvard students may be eligible for financial assistance through their Harvard financial aid offices. Students enrolled at other institutions should consult their respective financial aid offices.
Accommodations
Students stay in coed dormitories at Ewha University. All rooms are doubles and include breakfast.
Additional Information
Contact Professor David McCann, East Asian Languages and Civilizations, 2 Divinity Avenue, Room 216, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA; dmccann@fas.harvard.edu; (617) 495-8378; fax (617) 496-6040.
For information about accommodations, students with disabilities should contact Joanne Eno, Disability Services Coordinator, at (617) 495-0977 or (617) 495-9419 (TTY) as soon as possible. Request for accommodation forms and supporting diagnostic documentation must be submitted by April 29, 2006. See Disability Services.
The Harvard Summer School is aware of the risks associated with international travel. Should the US Department of State issue a travel warning for any of the countries in which a study abroad program is planned, the program in that country may be cancelled.