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Korean & Korean Studies

Korean & Korean Studies Program

Korean is the official language of both South Korea (The Republic of Korea) and North Korea (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). It is spoken by 72 million people on the Korean peninsula, and another 3 million around the world. Korean is listed as a Critical Language by the US government. Some scholars classify Korean as one of the few “language isolates” in the world—a language that has no clear connection to any other language. Others link it to Japanese and to the Altaic languages, which include Turkish and Mongolian. Korean has a unique alphabet that was invented in the fifteenth century and is still used today.

The structure of Korean is complex but logical, and the formality levels that contribute to this complexity create a type of linguistic and social richness unique to languages like Korean and Japanese. The alphabet is easy to learn—within a matter of hours you can be writing and sounding out Korean words.

The rewards of learning Korean are great. Knowledge of Korean will not only enhance your career options and your access to a dynamic part of the cultural, economic, and political landscape of Asia, but being able to express yourself in this unique language will let you discover new modes of thought, communication, and culture to enrich who you are.

About the WLC Major: Korean Emphasis

A major in World Languages and Cultures: Korean includes 21-22 credits in the Korean emphasis, combined with 9 core credits, 6 perspective elective credits, and a 3-credit practicum for a total of 39-40 credits. This comparative approach allows students to gain a depth of knowledge in their chosen emphasis, while also exploring a breadth of topics in global cultural studies.

WLC Major: Korean Emphasis Curriculum Degree Requirements

Total credits required for degree: 39-40 credits

WLC Core Courses
Complete all of the following (9 credits)

WLC 2010: Introduction to Literature and Culture (3 credits)

CLCS 3610: Thinking Comparatively (3 credits)

CLCS 4610: What Matters (3 credits)

Comparative Perspectives Electives
Complete 6 credits of the following

Comparative electives are designed to provide students with wide global perspectives and thus cannot come from the languages/regions used in their emphasis.

CL CV4550: Ancient Myth and Religion (taught in English)

CLCS 3720: Empathy, Medicine, and the Human Condition (taught in English)

CLCS 3900: African Cinema (taught in English)

CLCS 4900: Special Topics (taught in English)

HINDI 4630: Bollywood - Seeing India through Indo-Pakistani Film

HINDI 4610: Indo-Pakistan Literature and Media

JAPAN 4570: Multicultural Japan (taught in English)

JAPAN/KOREA 4580: Japanese Empire to Korean Wave: Popular Culture in Motion (taught in English)

PERS 4325: Hyphenated Lives: Muslim-Americans in the U.S. (taught in English)

PTGSE 4710: Luso-Brazilian Cinema (taught in English)

RUSS 3580: Russia and Asia (taught in English)

ANTH 3110: Women Cross Culturally

ANTH 3134: Language, Thought and Culture: Anthropology of the Human Mind

COMM 3770: Cross Cultural Documentary

COMM 5620: International Communication

ENGL 3600: Introduction to Critical Theory

ENGL 3780: Global/Transnational Literature

ENGL 5775: Holocaust Literature

ETHNC 5350: Diaspora, Transnationalism & US Community

FILM 3110: History of Film until 1952

FILM 3120: History of Film from 1952

FILM 3270: The Foreign Eye: Exilic, Diasporic, and Border Cinema

LING 3470: Language and Culture

LING 3600: Cross Cultural Communication

MUSC 3600: World Music 

PHIL 3640: World Religions

SOC 3741: Migrants & Communities 

THEA 4701: Gender on the Global Stage

WRTG 4010: Writing across Borders

WRTG 4050: Writing & Cultural Rhetorics  

Required Courses
Complete all of the following (15-16 credits)

KOREA 2020*: Intermediate Korean II (4 credits)

KOREA 3060**: Third-Year Korean I (3 credits)

KOREA 3200: Intermediate High Applied Korean Communication (3 credits)

KOREA 4060: Advanced Korean Reading and Composition (3 credits)

KOREA 3100: Korean Culture through Literature and Film (3 credits)

*Depending on placement, students may replace KOREA 2020 with KOREA 3070. 

**For students who completed KOREA 2020 or have 1.5 years experience in a Korean-speaking environment.

WLC Electives
Complete 6 credits of the following

KOREA 3070: Third-Year Korean II

KOREA 3700: Communication Through Korean Media

KOREA 3903: Cultures & Languages Across the Curriculum: Korean (CLAC; 1 credit)

KOREA 4580: Japanese Empire to Korean Wave: Popular Culture in Motion

KOREA 4810: Korean Class Learning Assistantship (2-3 credits)

KOREA 4900: Special Topics (1-4 credits)

ARTH 3060: Arts of Buddhism

COMM 3775: Korean Media and Culture (1-4 credits)

ETHNC 3880: Asian Pacific American Women

ETHNC 4600: Asian Pacific American History

HIST 4510: Asia in the World

HIST 4560: Asian American History

HIST 4780: The Korean War

HIST 4865: Gender, Race, and Empire in Asia

POLS 3510: Politics of Asia

POLS 5480: International Relations of East Asia

POLS 5960: Asian American Politics

WLC Practicum Experience
Complete the following (3 credits)

WLC Signature Practicum Experience (3 credits)

  WLC MAJOR - KOREAN EMPHASIS Worksheet     WLC PracticuM OPTIONS


Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level.

Korean & Korean Studies Minor

To graduate with a Korean & Korean Studies minor at the University of Utah, you must complete fifteen credits in a combination of required and elective courses. Third- and/or Fourth-year Korean and a Korean culture and literature course are required, for a total of nine credits. Two electives of three credits each complete the required fifteen credits. The required courses are currently:

  • Third-Year Korean (1st Semester): KOREA 3060 (With instructor approval, KOREA 3070 may replace this.)
  • Advanced Korean Reading and Composition: KOREA 4060 (KOREA 3070 may replace this.)
  • Korean Culture through Literature and Film: KOREA 3100 (taught in English)

Note: If your proficiency allows you to skip Third-Year, or you take only KOREA 3070 from the first two bullet points above, you must still make up 3 credits of advanced language from any of the following options: KOREA 3200, 3700, and 4810.

Required Courses

15 Total Credits

Complete all of the following

KOREA3060 Third-Year Korean I (3)
KOREA3100 Korean Culture Through Literature & Film (3)
KOREA4060 Advanced Reading and Conversation (3)

Complete at least 6 credits from the following

KOREA3070 Third-Year Korean II (3)
KOREA3200 Korean for Professional and Formal Interactions (3)
KOREA3700 Situational Communication through K-Drama (3)
KOREA3903 Cultures & Languages Across the Curriculum: Korean (1)
KOREA4580 Japanese Empire to Korean Wave: Popular Culture in Motion (3)
KOREA4810 Korean Class Learning Assistantship (2 - 3)
KOREA4900 Special Topics (1 - 4)
ARTH3060 Arts of Buddhism (3)
COMM3775 Korean Media and Culture (1 - 4)
ETHNC3880 Asian Pacific American Women (3)
ETHNC4600 Asian Pacific American History (3)
HIST4510 Asia in the World (3)
HIST4560 Asian American History (3)
HIST4780 The Korean War (3)
HIST4865 Gender, Race, and Empire in Asia (3)
POLS3510 Politics of Asia (3)
POLS3530 Peace and Conflict in Asia (3)
POLS5480 International Relations of East Asia (3)
POLS5960 Special Topics: Politics of Asia (3)

Minimum Degree Hours

15 Total Credits

  • All courses must be passed with a C or better.
  • At least 6 credits of minor requirements must be taken in residence at the University of Utah

Non-language electives can include most courses that carry a 25% or more Korean component. Some of these are listed in the chart below. For certain courses, you will need the approval of program faculty. For questions about the eligibility of courses not listed below, or of courses taken outside the U, please consult with program faculty. 

 KOREAN MINOR REQUIREMENTS


Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level. 

Courses

View courses for the WLC: Korean Emphasis Major.

Click here to view courses

Learning Abroad

Learning abroad is the opportunity to live, study and intern abroad while completing your degree here at the University of Utah. Learning Abroad helps connect you to over 500+ program options in over 50 countries, many of which are great for improving your proficiency in another language. Learn more about Learning Abroad by visiting learningabroad.utah.edu and completing Learning Abroad 101

To get started, see below for program options for Korean. 

For questions, email Learning Abroad at learningabroad@utah.edu, call them at 801-581-5849, or visit in person at Union 159.


Utah Asia Campus

The Utah Asia Campus, about an hour west of Seoul, South Korea, allows you to earn U of U credit and take coursework in English while learning abroad. The Utah Asia Campus is one of four institutions at the Incheon Global Campus (IGC)—a dynamic education model that brings prestigious universities from around the world to one location. At the Utah Asia Campus, you can fulfill general education requirements, and take courses for a range of majors. You can also take courses at other IGC institutions, including Korean language, to supplement your coursework at the UAC.


Exchanges

The U partners with universities around the world to offer you the opportunity to complete coursework in an immersive university environment alongside local students. Coursework can be quite flexible with students oftentimes completing major, minor, and general education requirements. Additionally, the cost of an exchange program is the same as paying U of U resident tuition, which makes exchanges one of our most affordable options!

  • Seoul National University
  • Sogang University
    • Korean Government Scholarship Program and Benefits for Exchange Students - The winners of this scholarship will receive a monthly stipend of around USD $500, as well as reimbursement of round-trip airfare. The nominees for this scholarship will be chosen by Sogang OIA and will be contacted individually. Approximately 8 students are chosen nationally. This is a highly competitive scholarship.
    • Sogang Global Scholarship - Students who have applied and been nominated for the Sogang University exchange will have the option to apply for this award that provides a housing fee discount for the on-campus dormitory. Students with financial need are encouraged to apply!
    • Sogang KLEC Special Scholarship - The Korean Language Education Center (KLEC) at Sogang University offers a scholarship that provides a 10% discount on tuition to students with a letter of recommendation from a director of Korean language department or his/her Korean language instructor. The application is typically due in early May.

Affiliate Programs

The U partners with external organizations (Affiliates) to expand where you can go and what you can study on a learning abroad program. Affiliates offer programs at study centers, local institutions, or a combination of both in the host country. Programs are commonly structured around a particular theme or topic, such as "Language, Culture, and Society". Program options can also include internships, service learning & community engagement opportunities.

FLAS Scholarships in Korean

The Foreign Language and Area Studies Scholarship (FLAS) is provided by the Asia Center. For FAQs, application, and other information on the FLAS scholarship, click the button below.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FLAS SCHOLARSHIP

Faculty

Tenure-Line Faculty

 

Career-Line Faculty

Hyesun Kim

Assistant Professor (Lecturer)
LNCO 12230
(801) 585-3012
aruwa97@gmail.com
 

Associate Instructor

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Last Updated: 7/21/23