Korean Studies (BA, minor)

Program Overview

The Korean studies major is based on the premise that both contemporary and historic understanding of Korea, its interrelations with larger East Asia and its global importance today cannot be fully grasped without a deep understanding of its language, history, social systems and culture.

Students who choose this major typically also choose to double major within a different discipline to build a holistic degree plan.

Degrees Offered

• BA in Korean Studies

Minors

• Korean Studies

Internships, Research Opportunities and More

The faculty of the Korean studies program are not only outstanding educators but are recognized and published scholars within their respective fields of research which include:

• Korean and English idiomatic expressions
• Korean language and grammar
 

• modern Korean history and gender relations
• North Korean literature and film 

• pre-modern Korean history and literature


Many Korean studies majors choose to study abroad to immerse themselves in the culture and language.

Coursework

Some courses to consider in your first year:

• KOR 101 - Elementary Korean I

  Course is designed to give the student a beginning knowledge of Hangul through the study of grammar, syntax and vocabulary. The major objective is to prepare the student for the more advanced grammar and, especially, communicational skills in Korean language study. Students who possess slight conversational skills in Korean but require basic instruction in learning to read and write Hangul will be admitted. 4 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• KOR 102 - Elementary Korean II

  Continuation of KOR 101. Course is designed to give the student a basic knowledge of Hangul through the study of grammar, syntax and vocabulary. The principal objective is to prepare the student for more advanced grammar and especially, to develop communicational skills in Korean. Not for native speakers. 4 credits. Levels: Graduate, Undergraduate

• KOR 203 - Intermediate Korean I

  Third-semester course in the Korean language designed to develop reading and listening comprehension, conversation and writing skill through the introduction of complex grammatical structures and idioms. For students who have taken KOR 102 or have equivalent exposure to Korean. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

• KOR 204 - Intermediate Korean II

  Fourth-semester course in Korean language, with continued emphasis on reading, writing, conversation and listening comprehension. Materials include folk songs (sung with the instructor) and text from Korean literature. For students who have taken KOR 203 or have equivalent exposure to Korean. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

• AAAS 211 - Korean Civilization

  Provides the opportunity to become acquainted with Korea and Korean through a study of culture, history, literature and language. Leads to a general understanding of Korean people, with emphasis on history and culture. Highlights the uniqueness of the Korean cultural tradition in the broad context of East Asian civilization, and to consider the Korean diaspora through imperialism and interaction of Korean War. Knowledge of Korean is not required. Reading materials and lectures are in English. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

• AAAS 240 - Korean Lit & Culture:Pre 20thc

  Introduces pre-modern (i.e., pre-1900) Korean culture and society through literary works of various periods and genres. Works include poem-songs, short stories, diaries, dramas, and novels. All readings are in English and thus Korean language fluency is not necessary. The course will permit students a good understanding of the diversity of pre-modern Korean society, culture, and lifestyles along with its place in the larger East Asian tradition. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

• AAAS 242 - 20th Cen Korean Lit (In Trans)

  Introduces modern Korean literature and culture (i.e., post-1900) in various genres including short stories, novels, and poetry. All readings are in English and thus Korean language fluency is not necessary. This course will allow students to understand the many changes experienced by Koreans in the past century along with gaining deeper knowledge of Korean culture practices and literary works. 4 credits. Levels: Undergraduate

After You Graduate

The Korean major not only provides students with a solid foundation of language skills, but also develops the student’s written and oral communication skills, critical-thinking skills and overall cultural awareness.

Graduates find employment in teaching, business, government, information technologies, writing, international aid, etc. Students who graduate with this degree also pursue a myriad of graduate degrees including the PhD, MBA, MPA and MAT.

For more information, visit the Korean Studies website.