Undergraduate business students at the University of Utah Salt Lake City campus are now able to take their required Pre-Business Core and some upper-division courses while staying on track to graduation – all while enjoying an exceptional international experience at the U Asia Campus in Incheon, South Korea.
The University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) began offering an opportunity for UAC students to major in either Accounting or Information Systems at the campus in the fall of 2022 as a part of the David Eccles School of Business’s official UAC launch. Courses such as Foundations of Business and Introduction to Business Economics were launched first for freshmen students enrolling directly in the U Asia Campus from South Korea.
The Accounting program is a brand new addition to the Asia Campus curriculum. Speaking about the exciting new venture, Professor Marlene Plumlee of the School of Accounting says, “this provides students at the Salt Lake City campus with the opportunity to interact and work with a broader, more diverse group of students. An international experience broadens students’ views of the world and enhances their experiences in the classroom.”
The Information Systems (IS) program has had a slightly longer tenure at the Asia Campus. The program began traveling to the UAC as a summer experience for students completing an IS minor. Beginning in 2021, small cohorts of IS minor students visited South Korea each summer to take relevant coursework while visiting iconic Korean locations and learning about the country’s rich culture.
“My experience at the U Asia Campus has benefited me in so many different ways,” says Logan Marr ‘22, who participated in the first IS minor program, “it gave me a global perspective that helps me better understand economic factors and improves my interaction skills with people from different cultures.”
Professor Chong Oh, Director of the Undergraduate IS Program, expressed his excitement about diversifying the program’s student body and program offerings. “This partnership will bring a unique perspective to our campus and enhance the learning experience for all students. It is sure to bring many opportunities and benefits to our department and institution as a whole.”
Indeed, the U Asia Campus experience is truly one-of-a-kind. Students from the Salt Lake City campus are able to apply easily through the Learning Abroad office, after which they can take as many semesters as their course schedules allow in South Korea.
Salt Lake City students pay in-state tuition rates regardless of their Utah residency status for up to two semesters, and most scholarships and financial aid are transferred directly. On-campus housing rates are affordable as well, priced at under $1,800 per semester.
What’s more, all credits taken at the Asia Campus count toward students’ degrees without going through a transfer process, meaning most students do not have to weigh the options between having an international experience and graduating on time—the Asia Campus allows them to do both.
An international experience at the Asia Campus also allows students to learn crucial skills for employment, including cross-cultural knowledge, multilingual proficiency, adaptability to dynamic and unpredictable environments, global perspectives and industry-specific knowledge, in addition to providing access to global networks and connections.
Business students currently at the Salt Lake City campus are strongly encouraged to apply to the U Asia Campus for an invaluable international experience, and to pioneer the David Eccles School of Business’s efforts in South Korea.
Application deadlines for Eccles School of Business programs at the U Asia Campus are:
- Fall 2023 semester and academic year: May 1
- Spring 2024 semester and calendar year: November 1
Learn more about the U Asia Campus at asiacampus.utah.edu.
Watch President Taylor Randall’s announcement of the IS and Accounting programs launching.