Seoul, South Korea: Society and Technology, Health and Well-being

Program Dates

Costs and Financial Aid

The total cost of the program is $22,560 and includes all registration fees and tuition, overseas insurance, flights, passport, visa, pre-departure costs, housing, excursions, meals, and estimated personal expenses during the semester abroad.

You will be able to apply for federal and institutional financial aid to cover a portion or all costs of this program.

Application

The application for Fall 2025 is now open. You must indicate your interest in this program on your UT Austin application. You will then receive a supplementary application in your MyStatus portal. The deadline to apply to UT Austin is December 1, 2024, and the supplemental application for Take the World by the Horns must be received by December 11, 2024. 

Society and Technology

In this Take the World by the Horns program, students discover the way Koreans integrate technology into daily life to create a sustainable future. South Korea is a leader in global innovation, ranking No. 1 in Asia and No. 5 in the world on the Global Innovation Index.  

You'll get a front-row seat to view the entrepreneurial hub of South Korea: browse the world-famous Yongsan Electronics market, envision the future at the SK Telecom 2053 Experience, and get an inside look at the epicenter of Korean media at the Digital Media City in Seoul’s historic Olympic Park.

You will travel to Seoul in August and embark on a week of orientation with our partner, EF Education First. Then, enroll in classes at Hanyang University and attend weekly cultural immersion visits to technology industry leaders or service-learning opportunities. Monthly excursions include travel to cultural sites throughout South Korea, such as Wolmi Island and Dajeon.

There is no language requirement for participation. Intensive Korean language lessons will be taught virtually prior to program departure but will not appear on your transcript. Upon your return, you may take a placement test or seek an evaluation to assess your UT Austin language course level.

Signature Course Offered

After completing their fall semester abroad, students can enroll in a signature course to continue exploring the academic themes with their cohort. 

Professor Rachel Wellhausen’s signature course, Science, Technology, and Politics,” examines how developing technology can impact society. Students will connect their experiences with technology in Seoul to a broader framework and compare it to contexts within the United States. This course will help students unpack their experiences in South Korea and further explore their academic and professional interests. 

Health and Well-being

Embark on a transformative journey into the heart of South Korea’s health and well-being landscape during this Take the World by the Horns program. Delve into Korea's innovative practices that enhance quality of life and promote holistic wellness. Explore the world of rehabilitation technology at Movella, where wearable sensors empower patients to optimize their recovery. Discover the serenity of the Seoul K-Medi Center, Korea’s largest herbal medicine market, and engage in a hands-on herbal medicine class to deepen your understanding of traditional healing. Enhance your nutritional knowledge in a vibrant kimchi cooking class, where you’ll learn to craft this iconic dish while uncovering its cultural significance. Finally, find balance and mindfulness during a  stay at a Buddhist temple, immersing yourself in meditation and communal living. This program offers a unique blend of modern advancements and traditional practices, fostering a deeper connection to health and well-being in a bustling urban environment. 

Academics

The Take the World by the Horns courses in Seoul are integrated into the degree plans for students in the College of Liberal Arts, Moody College of Communication, College of Education, School of Information, Steve Hicks School of Social Work, Cockrell School of Engineering, College of Fine Arts (Arts and Entertainment  Technologies only) and College of Natural Sciences (not including Computer Science and Statistics and Data Science).

The courses offered will vary depending on your major.  

Liberal Arts, Education, Communication, Information, Social Work, Fine Arts (AET)

Course Title	UT Course Number	Core/Flag Credit
Modern Stress and You	LA 319S, pending evaluation	N/A
Culture of Korea and Korean Wave	ANS 329S	Global Cultures Flag
Business and Environmental Ethics	GRG 319S,  BGS 370.3 (non-majors) or  BGS 325 (majors)	Ethics Flag
Aesthetic Awareness in the Modern World	PHL 317K	Visual and Performing Arts Core

The courses selected for this program will prepare students to explore concepts of health and well-being from a South Korean perspective. 

• “Modern Stress and You” will focus on self-awareness, identity, stress management and strategies to sustainably maximize well-being in the modern world 

• “Aesthetic Awareness in the Modern World” introduces students to fundamental aesthetic concepts central to technological design. 

• “Culture of Korea and Korean Wave” examines how modern Korean culture has become increasingly popular on a global scale. 

• “Business Environment and Ethics” will allow students to explore the role of corporations in society and the impact of business activities on public health and the environment. 

Engineering and Natural Sciences

Course Title	UT Course Number	Core/Flag Credit
Modern Stress and You	LA 319S, pending evaluation	N/A
Culture of Korea and Korean Wave	ANS 329S	Global Cultures Flag
Differential and Integral Calculus	M 408C	Natural Science and Technology, Part I
*Principles of Chemistry I	CH 301	Natural Science and Technology, Part I, Quantitative Reasoning Flag
*Health professions schools in Texas have undergraduate coursework requirements for admission that must be taken in-residence at a U.S. accredited institution. Students seeking to attend health professions schools upon graduation should be aware that courses offered on this program are not considered “in-residence.” Please consider future academic planning before participating, as this may delay completion of requirements beyond the standard timeline. You can read more about these requirements and guidance from the University of Texas at Austin Health Professions Office.   The courses selected for this program will prepare students to consider the philosophical, cultural and business implications of a rapidly changing society and allow them to connect with the designers of emergent technologies during program engagements. As a result, students will develop valuable skills in applying theoretical questions to practical applications.  “Modern Stress and You” will focus on self-awareness, identity, stress management and strategies to sustainably maximize well-being in the modern world  “Culture of Korea and Korean Wave” examines how modern Korean culture has become increasingly popular on a global scale.  “Differential and Integral Calculus” covers elementary topics in the theory of real-valued functions of a real variable: limits, continuity, derivatives, maxima and minima, integration, area under a curve, volumes of revolution, trigonometric, logarithmic and exponential functions, and techniques of integration.  “Principles of Chemistry I” will provide a foundational understanding of chemistry concepts including gases, electronic structure and periodic trends, classical bonding, VSEPR, Lewis Dot structures, quantum, VB and MO theories, polarity, intermolecular forces, liquids, solids and thermodynamics.