The Sejong Korean Scholars Program (SKSP) is an online course for high school students sponsored by the Stanford Program on International and Cross-Cultural Education and the Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center. The course is offered twice per year—spring and fall—but applications for both terms must be submitted the previous fall. For each term, 20-25 exceptional high school students from throughout the United States are selected to engage in an intensive study of Korea.

The SKSP provides students with a broad overview of Korean history and culture. Ambassadors, top scholars, and experts throughout the United States provide online lectures and engage students in live discussion sessions. Students also complete readings and weekly assignments, with the coursework culminating in an independent research project. Final research projects are printed in journal format. Students who successfully complete the course earn Stanford Continuing Studies Program (CSP) credit and a Certificate of Completion from SPICE, Stanford University.

Students participate in 9–10 “virtual classes” via the Internet during either the Spring or Fall term. Students should expect to allot 4–6 hours per week to complete the lectures, discussions, readings, and assignments. Since this is a distance-learning course, however, students can structure most of the work around their individual schedules. Although intensive, this program equips participants with a rare degree of expertise about Korea that may have a significant impact on their choices of study and future careers. The SKSP is not a language course and is taught all in English. Students do not need to know the Korean language to participate in this course, and there are no student fees.

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