BA in Korean Language & Literature

The Korean Language & Literature major provides students with broad and deep knowledge and critical understanding of Korea’s rich literary and cultural traditions and contemporary culture, along with a high level of proficiency in the Korean written (both premodern and modern) and spoken language. The program also enables students to explore Korea’s cultural and historical connections with the rest of East Asia and the world, preparing them to function effectively in cross-cultural contexts and to contribute meaningfully to the global challenges of today’s world. Majors leave the program as critically informed and discerning readers with the ability to communicate their ideas in well-structured and persuasive writing in Korean and in English. We expect graduates to pursue careers in translation, law, journalism, government, education, international business, and other fields.

Like all WLL majors, Korean Language & Literature majors begin with CAS XL 100: Leaving Home: Explorations in World Literature, a team-taught course in which students meet the WLL faculty through guest lectures and are oriented in the rich diversity of the world’s literary traditions. They begin Korean language study as early as possible and complete at least three language courses beyond the third-term level (CAS LK 211). Introduction to Korean Literature (CAS LK 250) or Classics of Korean Literature (CAS LK 251) introduce students to major texts in English translation, and we encourage students to take at least one of them but preferably both courses early in the student’s program. Two additional courses in Korean language, literature, and/or culture provide greater depth in areas of special interest to the student. (If a student takes both CAS LK 250 and CAS LK 251, the second one will be counted as one of the LK language and literature course requirements.)

Korean majors reconvene with other WLL majors in the department’s CAS XL 379 Writing about Literature course which will improve students’ writing in the discipline of literary studies and prepare them for their senior project. They join other WLL majors again in the senior capstone seminar CAS XL 479, where they share the expertise they have gained and work with a faculty mentor on a final project—a scholarly paper, a translation, a creative work, or other project at a similar level—using Korean language materials.

Learning Outcomes

• Advanced knowledge of major themes and genres in Korean literature and culture in their historical contexts, including links to other East Asian and world literary traditions.
• Critical thinking, communication, and methodological skills within areas of content and cultural knowledge.
• Familiarity with fundamental research skills for Korean studies, including use of traditional and electronic sources.
• Proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension in contemporary Korean at a minimum of the intermediate-mid level as measured by ACTFL guidelines.

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Korean will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in AEX, HCO, ETR, IIC (through prerequisite language courses CAS LK 111, LK 112, and LK 211), GCI, DME, OSC, WIN, TWC, CRT, and RIL. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major or, in some cases, cocurricular experiences. The major requires 3 prerequisites plus 10 principal courses, as outlined below.

Prerequisites

• CAS LK 111, CAS LK 112, and CAS LK 211
  OR
• equivalent placement test results

Principal Courses

A minimum of ten 4-unit courses, all completed with a grade of C or higher and distributed as follows:

• CAS XL 100 Explorations in World Literature: Leaving Home
• Either CAS LK 250 Intro to Korean Literature OR CAS LK 251 Classics of Korean Literature
• Three upper-level Korean language courses above CAS LK 211, such as CAS LK 212, LK 216, LK 311, LK 312, LK 313, LK 316, LK 317, LK 319, LK 322, LK 410, LK 440, LK 450, or LK 460*
• Two courses in Korean language, literature, and/or culture (including CAS LK 260, LK 383, LK 375, LK 470, LK 475, LK 480, and LK 485) (if a student takes both CAS LK 250 and CAS LK 251, one of them will be counted as one of the four LK language and literature course requirements)
• CAS XL 379 Writing about Literature
• CAS XL 479 WLL Senior Seminar

*Students placed higher in the language sequence, according to placement test results, should begin with the appropriate level for them.

Honors in the Major

To graduate with honors, students will maintain a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and will take two additional 4-unit courses beyond the 10 required for the major: one additional LK or XL course chosen with approval of the advisor and one from CAS TL 540 (translation seminar), CAS TL 541 (Translation Today), CAS LK 401, or 402 (continuation of the thesis begun in the capstone seminar). Note that CAS TL 540 and 541 require a zero-unit corequisite, CAS TL 542.