Major in Korean (1160A)

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 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 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 fourth-semester level (LK 212). Introduction to Korean Literature (LK 250) or Classics of Korean Literature (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. Three or four additional courses in Korean language, literature, and/or culture provide greater depth in areas of special interest to the student. One elective chosen among all WLL courses on languages, literatures, and cultures from around the world outside of Korea enhances understanding of Korea’s place in the world through regional, global and/or historical comparison. Students wishing to explore more of WLL’s course offerings outside of Korea may substitute an additional elective for one of their four courses in Korean language, literature, or culture. Finally, Korean majors reconvene with all WLL majors in the senior capstone seminar XL 479, where they share the expertise they have gained and work with a faculty mentor on a final project using Korean language materials: a scholarly paper, a translation, a creative work, or other project at a similar level.

Requirements

A total of 11 four-credit courses is required, all completed with a grade of C or higher.

  • CAS XL 100 Explorations in World Literature: Leaving Home
  • EITHER LK 250 Intro to Korean Literature OR LK 251 Classics of Korean Literature
  • THREE upper-level Korean language courses above LK 212 (including LK 311, LK 312, LK 313, LK 316, LK 317, LK 319, LK 322, LK 410, LK 430, LK 440, LK 450, and LK 460)
  • FOUR courses in Korean language, literature, and/ or culture (including LK 260, LK 383, LK 375, LK470, LK 475, LK 480, and LK 485)
    • If a student takes both LK 250 and LK 251, one of them will be counted as one of the four LK language and literature course requirements.
  • ONE WLL elective, chosen with approval of the advisor. Chosen from all courses in WLL. May also be satisfied by taking both CAS CC 101 and CAS CC 102, by LX250 Introduction to Linguistics or a higher-level linguistics course, or by a literature course in Romance Studies, English, or Classics. Option to increase to two courses, substituting for one of four courses in the Korean language, literature, and/or culture.
  • XL 479 senior seminar.

Honors in the Major

To graduate with Honors in the Major, students must maintain a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and take two additional courses above the 11 required for the major:

  • one additional Korean focus or WLL breadth course
  • either CAS XL 540 (Theory and Practice of Literary Translation) or LK 401 or 402 (continuation of the thesis begun in the capstone seminar)

While pursuing a Korean major, you may be able to fulfill up to 20 BU Hub requirements out of 26.

Minor in Korean (1129B)

Prerequisite Requirements

  • CAS LK 212 (Fourth-Term Korean) or LK 216 (Second-Year Korean for Heritage Speakers) or equivalent proficiency.Students interested in minors who have no prior knowledge or study of Korean are advised to take LK 111 (First-Term Korean) in their first term at BU.

Program Requirements

Six 4-unit courses are required, all completed with a grade of C or higher and distributed as follows:

  • Two language courses chosen from CAS LK 311, LK 312, LK 313, LK 316, LK 317, LK 319, and LK 322 (or equivalent proficiency and a substitute course chosen in consultation with the advisor)
  • Two Korean literature, culture, or film courses chosen from: (LK 250, LK 251, LK 260, LK 375, LK 383, LK 470, LK 475, LK 480, and LK 485)
  • Two electives chosen from additional Korean language courses numbered above CAS LK 300 (any 300-level Korean language courses listed above and/or 400-level Korean language courses such as LK 410, LK 440, LK 441, LK 445, LK 450, and LK 460) and/or courses in Chinese, Japanese, and Comparative Literature.

    Other East Asian courses, such as those offered by the departments of the History of Anthropology, Art and Architecture, Music, or Religion, may be selected with advisor’s prior approval.

    Except for LK 470, all LK Courses fulfill BU Hub Requirements.

    Have questions? Contact the convenor of Korean, Professor Yoon Sun Yang (yyoonsun@bu.edu).