Korea May Term: America in the Pacific: American History, Strategy, and the Future of the Indo-Pacific Region

The May Term in South Korea offers exemplary students the opportunity to gain a firsthand understanding of the U.S. alliances in Korea and Japan, as well as the historical relationships between these countries and their neighbors. Conducted entirely in South Korea, the program includes visits to significant landmarks in Korean history and culture, meetings with local practitioners, pioneers, and academics in the field of national security and foreign policy, and private events with senior policymakers and historians.

During the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, Korea and Japan were shaped by regional powers and global dynamics, while the post–World War II era saw the United States establish crucial alliances in the region, particularly from the 1950s onward. This course will delve into the diplomatic and military history of U.S. alliances in South Korea and Japan, examining how these relationships have evolved and influenced the region’s security policies and visions of international order. Classroom sessions will be enriched by guest speakers and regular field visits to historic sites across South Korea. The program also includes trips to Hiroshima and Okinawa to explore their historical significance.

Students will engage with various touchstones of Korean history, including meetings with North Korean defectors and visits to local military bases on the peninsula. Upon successful completion of the course, students will receive credit through the Department of History (HIS 366N) or the Department of Asian Studies (ANS 361). This course is approved for the IRG Security Track, Certificate in Security Studies and the National Security and International Business minor. 

A recap of our 2025 Korea May Term can be found here.

The course fee is $3,000 and includes airfare, housing, a transportation pass, all program-related excursion expenses, and most meals. Scholarships are available, and students will not be turned away based on financial need.

Note: The fee does not include overseas health insurance, the Study Abroad Office fee, a refundable housing damage deposit, personal travel, and some meals.

2026 Program Dates: May 5th – June 3rd

Applications will open September 10, 2025, and close November 15, 2025

Info Session: October 14, 2025 4:30-6:00 pm, room 430 in Flawn Academic Center

For more information, please contact Amber Howard at amber.howard@austin.utexas.edu