Korean, B.A.

Program Code: KORBA_BA

Program Description

The major in Korean provides students with an opportunity to concentrate on acquiring expertise in an important modern language and culture and strengthens students' overall skills in internationalism and global perspectives. The Korean major is designed for students who want to develop proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in Korean, and acquire profound knowledge of Korean culture, history, tradition, and civilization in the context of the Asian region.

The Korean major encourages students to study abroad in order to deepen their understanding of the language, culture and contemporary society, and to develop intercultural and comparative perspectives.

The major can also help students prepare for graduate study in Korea-related fields, for work in contexts where the language and culture are pertinent, or to live and work in Korea.

Students planning to teach in public schools should schedule the appropriate courses leading to certification in consultation with an adviser in the College of Education.

What is Korean?

The Korean program provides students with an opportunity to concentrate on acquiring expertise in an important modern language and its culture. Giving students a strong working knowledge of the Korean language and understanding of Korean culture, the program can help prepare students for work in contexts where the language and culture are pertinent, to live and work in Korea as informed and capable individuals equipped with appropriate intercultural skills and awareness, or for graduate study in Korea-related fields. Graduates may work in government service, domestic and foreign offices, or international agencies. Many go on to teach English in Korea or to do translation work. Employment may also be available with trade organizations, international banking houses, or U.S. companies abroad. Domestic and multinational companies are increasingly seeking employees with backgrounds in multicultural studies as a way of dealing with the global market.

You Might Like This Program If...

  • You are interested in Korean language, culture, history, or society.
  • You want to live or work in Korea.
  • You are aiming for a career involving travel to Korea and interaction with native speakers of Korean.

Entrance to Major

In order to be eligible for entrance to this major, a student must:

  1. attain at least a C (2.00) cumulative grade-point average for all courses taken at the University; and
  2. have at least third-semester classification.

READ SENATE POLICY 37-30: ENTRANCE TO AND CHANGES IN MAJOR PROGRAMS OF STUDY

Degree Requirements

For the Bachelor of Arts degree in Korean, a minimum of 124 credits is required:

Requirement Credits
General Education 45
Electives 20
Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements 24
Requirements for the Major 35

3 of the 24 credits for Bachelor of Arts Degree Requirements are included in the Requirements for the Major, General Education, or Electives and 0-12 credits are included in Electives if foreign language proficiency is demonstrated by examination.

Per Senate Policy 83-80.5, the college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

Requirements for the Major

At least 22 credits must be at the 400 level.

Students are strongly encouraged to take at least 12 of their credits in Korea, either in a Penn State Education Abroad program or another program subject to departmental approval. For curricular sequencing, the program encourages students to purse this Education Abroad experience in the fall semester of the junior year, unless the host institution runs on the Korean academic schedule, in which case study abroad should be in the spring semester, or for the entire year.

A grade of C or better is required for all courses in the major. To graduate, a student enrolled in the major must earn at least a C grade in each course designated by the major as a C-required course, as specified by Senate Policy 82-44.

Prescribed Courses
Prescribed Courses: Require a grade of C or better
KOR 110Level Two Korean B 14
KOR 401Level 3 Korean A 14
KOR 402Level 3 Korean B 14
KOR 403YLevel 4 Korean A 14
KOR 404Level 4 Korean B 14
Additional Courses
Additional Courses: Require a grade of C or better
Select one the following:3
Introduction to Korean Culture Keystone/General Education Course 1
Korean Popular Culture Keystone/General Education Course 1
Special Topics 1
Select one the following:3
Introduction to Korean Linguistics 1
Korean Media and Communication 1
Transnational Korean Literature 1
Global Korean Cinema 1
Special Topics 1
Select one the following:3
Korean Cultures in Global Contexts 1
Food and Foodways in Korea 1
Korean Language and Culture 1
Supporting Courses and Related Areas
Supporting Courses and Related Areas: Require a grade of C or better
Select 6 credits pertaining to Korea, such as courses in Korean, Asian Studies, Art History, Comparative Literature, Economics, Geography, History, Philosophy, Political Science, Religious Studies, Theatre Arts, or other fields. Courses in related fields may count with the approval from the Korean adviser. 6
1

A grade of C or better per course is required for teacher certification.

General Education

Connecting career and curiosity, the General Education curriculum provides the opportunity for students to acquire transferable skills necessary to be successful in the future and to thrive while living in interconnected contexts. General Education aids students in developing intellectual curiosity, a strengthened ability to think, and a deeper sense of aesthetic appreciation. These are requirements for all baccalaureate students and are often partially incorporated into the requirements of a program. For additional information, see the General Education Requirements section of the Bulletin and consult your academic adviser.

The keystone symbol Keystone/General Education Course appears next to the title of any course that is designated as a General Education course. Program requirements may also satisfy General Education requirements and vary for each program.

Foundations (grade of C or better is required and Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Quantification (GQ): 6 credits
  • Writing and Speaking (GWS): 9 credits

Breadth in the Knowledge Domains (Inter-Domain courses do not meet this requirement.)

  • Arts (GA): 3 credits
  • Health and Wellness (GHW): 3 credits
  • Humanities (GH): 3 credits
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (GS): 3 credits
  • Natural Sciences (GN): 3 credits

Integrative Studies

  • Inter-Domain Courses (Inter-Domain): 6 credits

Exploration

  • GN, may be completed with Inter-Domain courses: 3 credits
  • GA, GH, GN, GS, Inter-Domain courses. This may include 3 credits of World Language course work beyond the 12th credit level or the requirements for the student’s degree program, whichever is higher: 6 credits

University Degree Requirements

First Year Engagement

All students enrolled in a college or the Division of Undergraduate Studies at University Park, and the World Campus are required to take 1 to 3 credits of the First-Year Seminar, as specified by their college First-Year Engagement Plan.

Other Penn State colleges and campuses may require the First-Year Seminar; colleges and campuses that do not require a First-Year Seminar provide students with a first-year engagement experience.

First-year baccalaureate students entering Penn State should consult their academic adviser for these requirements.

Cultures Requirement

6 credits are required and may satisfy other requirements

  • United States Cultures: 3 credits
  • International Cultures: 3 credits

Writing Across the Curriculum

3 credits required from the college of graduation and likely prescribed as part of major requirements.

Total Minimum Credits

A minimum of 120 degree credits must be earned for a baccalaureate degree. The requirements for some programs may exceed 120 credits. Students should consult with their college or department adviser for information on specific credit requirements.

Quality of Work

Candidates must complete the degree requirements for their major and earn at least a 2.00 grade-point average for all courses completed within their degree program.

Limitations on Source and Time for Credit Acquisition

The college dean or campus chancellor and program faculty may require up to 24 credits of course work in the major to be taken at the location or in the college or program where the degree is earned. Credit used toward degree programs may need to be earned from a particular source or within time constraints (see Senate Policy 83-80). For more information, check the Suggested Academic Plan for your intended program.

B.A. Degree Requirements

Foreign Language (0-12 credits): Student must attain 12th credit level of proficiency in one foreign language. See the Placement Policy for Penn State Foreign Language Courses.

B.A. Fields (9 credits): Humanities, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Arts, Foreign Languages, Natural Sciences, Quantification (may not be taken in the area of the student's primary major; foreign language credits in this category must be in a second foreign language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the first language)

Other Cultures (0-3 credits): Select 3 credits from approved list. Students may count courses in this category in order to meet other major, minor, elective, or General Education requirements, except for the General Education US/IL requirement.​

Program Learning Objectives

  • Familiarity with Language Style: Familiarity with language style: Students will be able to choose and maintain the appropriate speech and writing styles based on purpose, formality of setting, and interlocutor/audience.  
  • Familiarity with Resources in Language and Culture: Familiarity with resources in language and culture: Students will be able to choose and use resources in Korean language and culture that would effectively improve their skills.   
  • Knowledge of Major Cultural and Historical Events: Students will be able to analyze and discuss the influence of historical events on current Korean culture.
  • Listening Comprehension: Students will be able to listen to and watch, without aid, a variety of everyday Korean audio-visual materials and comprehend them. They demonstrate, in both a written and oral format, their comprehension by identifying and interpreting main points and some details contained in the materials.  
  • Proficiency in Speech: Students will be able to describe and explain their personal interests and familiar matters regularly encountered in everyday life as well as to deal with a social situation with an unexpected complication using connected sentences. They can also engage in conversation in a participatory manner in order to communicate information on topics of community, national, or international interest with sufficient control of basic structures and generic vocabulary to be understood by (non-)native speakers of the language.  
  • Reading Comprehension: Students will be able to read, without aid, a variety of everyday Korean texts and comprehend them. They demonstrate their comprehension by identifying and interpreting main ideas and supporting details on a variety of general interest topics in written and spoken Korean in connected discourse of paragraphs.  
  • Writing Proficiency: Students will be able to write their routine, personal interests and familiar matters, informal and some formal correspondence as well as narratives, descriptions, summaries of a factual nature with great control of frequently used structures and generic vocabulary using the major time frames of past, present, and future in connected discourse of paragraph length and structure. 

Academic Advising

The objectives of the university's academic advising program are to help advisees identify and achieve their academic goals, to promote their intellectual discovery, and to encourage students to take advantage of both in-and out-of class educational opportunities in order that they become self-directed learners and decision makers.

Both advisers and advisees share responsibility for making the advising relationship succeed. By encouraging their advisees to become engaged in their education, to meet their educational goals, and to develop the habit of learning, advisers assume a significant educational role. The advisee's unit of enrollment will provide each advisee with a primary academic adviser, the information needed to plan the chosen program of study, and referrals to other specialized resources.

READ SENATE POLICY 32-00: ADVISING POLICY

University Park

Liberal Arts Academic Advising
814-865-2545
Use the Liberal Arts Meet the Academic Advisers web page to see the contact information for the specific adviser(s) of this program

Suggested Academic Plan

The suggested academic plan(s) listed on this page are the plan(s) that are in effect during the 2023-24 academic year. To access previous years' suggested academic plans, please visit the archive to view the appropriate Undergraduate Bulletin edition (Note: the archive only contains suggested academic plans beginning with the 2018-19 edition of the Undergraduate Bulletin).

Korean, B.A. at University Park Campus and Commonwealth Campuses

The course series listed below provides only one of the many possible ways to move through this curriculum. The University may make changes in policies, procedures, educational offerings, and requirements at any time. This plan should be used in conjunction with your degree audit (accessible in LionPATH as either an Academic Requirements or What If report). Please consult with a Penn State academic adviser on a regular basis to develop and refine an academic plan that is appropriate for you.

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
KOR 1*4KOR 2*4
ENGL 15, 30H, ESL 15, ENGL 137H, or CAS 137H3CAS 100, ENGL 138T, or CAS 138T3
General Education Course3Korea related courses from KOR and Beyond Coursework*3
General Education Course3General Education Course3
First-Year Seminar3General Education Course (GQ)3
 16 16
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
KOR 3*4KOR 110*4
KOR 120 or 121*3General Education Course3
BA Knowledge Domains Course3General Education Course3
General Education Course (GQ)3BA Knowledge Domains Course3
General Education Course3Elective3
 16 16
Third Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
KOR 401*4KOR 402*4
General Education Course3KOR 450, 451, or 452*3
General Education Course3ENGL 202B3
BA Knowledge Domains Course3General Education Course3
Elective3Elective3
 16 16
Fourth Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits
KOR 403Y*4KOR 404*4
KOR 422, 423, 424, 425, or 498*3Korea related courses from KOR and Beyond Coursework*3
General Education Course (GHW)1.5General Education Course (GHW)1.5
Elective3Elective3
Elective3Elective2
 14.5 13.5
Total Credits 124
*

Course requires a grade of C or better for the major

Course requires a grade of C or better for General Education

#

Course is an Entrance to Major requirement

Course satisfies General Education and degree requirement

University Requirements and General Education Notes:

US and IL are abbreviations used to designate courses that satisfy Cultural Diversity Requirements (United States and International Cultures).

W, M, X, and Y are the suffixes at the end of a course number used to designate courses that satisfy University Writing Across the Curriculum requirement.

General Education includes Foundations (GWS and GQ), Knowledge Domains (GHW, GN, GA, GH, GS) and Integrative Studies (Inter-domain) requirements. N or Q (Honors) is the suffix at the end of a course number used to help identify an Inter-domain course, but the inter-domain attribute is used to fill audit requirements. Foundations courses (GWS and GQ) require a grade of 'C' or better.

All incoming Schreyer Honors College first-year students at University Park will take ENGL 137H/CAS 137H in the fall semester and ENGL 138T/CAS 138T in the spring semester. These courses carry the GWS designation and satisfy a portion of that General Education requirement. If the student’s program prescribes GWS these courses will replace both ENGL 15/ENGL 30H and CAS 100A/CAS 100B/CAS 100C. Each course is 3 credits.

Bachelor of Arts Requirements:

Bachelor of Arts students must take 9 credits in Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Fields (Humanities; Social and Behavioral Sciences; Arts; World Languages [2nd language or beyond the 12th credit level of proficiency in the 1st]; Natural Sciences; Quantification). The B.A. Fields courses may not be taken in the area of the student’s primary major. See your adviser and the Degree Requirements section of this Bulletin.

Bachelor of Arts students must take 3 credits in Other Cultures.
See your adviser and the full list of courses approved as Other Cultures courses.

Advising Notes:

  • All incoming freshmen must take a First-Year Seminar (FYS) during Fall or Spring of their first year. Academic advisers can provide a list of FYS being offered and help the student enroll. Most FYS in the College of the Liberal Arts are worth 3 cr. and count as a General Humanities (GH) or General Social Sciences (GS) course. For this reason, the FYS is not listed separately on this eight-semester plan; most students will be able to fulfill the FYS requirement while also fulfilling a GH or GS requirement.
  • Students pursuing this major at a campus might require summer attendance, study abroad, or additional semesters to complete the major coursework. In their second semester, students should contact the University Park adviser to discuss options and plan their major courses accordingly.

Career Paths

A B.A. in Korean can be the basis for careers in the public sector (diplomatic corps, armed forces, intelligence, etc.), international law, business, public relations, journalism, travel and hospitality, careers requiring foreign travel or living abroad in Korean language specialist (translating, interpreting, teaching), etc.

Careers

With a Korean degree, you'll be prepared for a career in a wide range of industries and professions, including domestic and multinational companies and agencies who are looking for employees who possess linguistic abilities and cultural knowledge of Korea. Upon graduation, students can also work in various fields, including information technology, culture industries, diplomacy, and business. Students can also pursue graduate-level study in Korea-related fields to become qualified researchers and educators in many parts of the world. Many Korean majors/minors pursue opportunities to teach English in Korea (through the CIEE and English Program in Korea (EPIK) programs) and travel in the country after graduation.

Opportunities for Graduate Studies

International Affairs programs, law, or the study of Asia in various disciplines, such as art history, literature, history, religion, philosophy, political science, and sociology.

Contact

University Park

DEPARTMENT OF ASIAN STUDIES
102 Old Botany Building
University Park, PA 16802
814-867-3260
asianstudies@psu.edu

https://asian.la.psu.edu