Korea May Term: America in the Pacific: American History, Strategy, and the Future of the Indo-Pacific Region
In collaboration with a leading Korean university, 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. The program, conducted in South Korea, includes visits to significant landmarks in Korean history and culture, meetings with practitioners, 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, held in South Korea as a May Term, will delve into the diplomatic and military history of the 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 feature guest instructors from the esteemed Korean university’s faculty, supplemented by 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 carries the Global Cultures Flag, and it is also approved for the Certificate in Security Studies.
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’s fee, a refundable housing damage deposit, personal travel, and some meals.
INFO SESSION: October 16 at 4:30 pm in FAC 430
2025 Program Dates: May 6th-June 4th.
Applications for May 2025 will open on September 10th. The application for this May Term program is not available through Texas Global, you can only access the application through the button below.
For more information, please contact Amber Howard at [email protected]