BA in Korean Language & Literature
Students pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Korean Language and Literature learn not just spoken and written skills but also relevant history, political science, anthropology, international affairs and culture. Through intensive language courses and electives, majors learn to read, write and speak Korean and apply their knowledge to a broader world perspective.
Elective courses available to students in the major include Korean Culture through Film, North Korean Society and Culture, Confucian Literature in East Asia, Politics in the Two Koreas and many more.
Questions about the Korean major? Contact Immanuel Kim.
Departmental Honors
Students may apply to earn special honors in Korean to be noted on their transcript. The Korean program selects no more than two students based on overall performance in the program. Department faculty will recommend the student for special honors only if they meet the requirements for eligibility:
- Meet GW's special honors requirements
- Maintain a GPA of 3.7 or higher in the major and 3.4 overall
- Achieve a minimum grade of C- in every course taken at GW
Course Requirements
The following requirements must be fulfilled:
The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.
39 credits in required courses.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite courses | ||
| These prerequisite courses are not required for students who demonstrate proficiency beyond the level of a given course. For example, a student who demonstrates proficiency beyond the first-year level can be exempted from KOR 1001 and KOR1002; a student whose proficiency exceeds that of KOR 2004 is not required to take any of the courses listed below. | ||
| KOR 1001 | Beginning Korean I | |
| KOR 1002 | Beginning Korean II | |
| KOR 2003 | Intermediate Korean I | |
| KOR 2004 | Intermediate Korean II | |
| Required for the major | ||
| KOR 3105 | Intermediate Korean III | |
| KOR 3106 | Intermediate Korean IV | |
| KOR 3111 | Korean Literature in Translation I | |
| KOR 3112 | Korean Literature in Translation II | |
| KOR 4107 | Readings in Modern Korean I | |
| KOR 4108 | Readings in Modern Korean II | |
| KOR 4121W | Advanced Korean Conversation and Composition I | |
| or KOR 4122W | Advanced Korean Conversation and Composition II | |
| Four additional upper-level courses (12 credits) selected from the following: | ||
| KOR 3123 | Introduction to Korean Linguistics | |
| KOR 3124 | Introduction to Korean Linguistics | |
| KOR 3162 | Korean Culture through Film | |
| KOR 4109 | Introduction to the History of the Korean Language | |
| KOR 4190 | North Korean Society and Culture | |
| Two courses (6 credits) related to Korea selected from the following: | ||
| AH 2190 | East Asian Art | |
| ANTH 3705 | Anthropology of East Asia | |
| CHIN 3111 | Chinese Literature in Translation I | |
| CHIN 3112 | Chinese Literature in Translation II | |
| EALL 3811 | Confucian Literature in East Asia | |
| EALL 3814 | Religion and Philosophy in East Asia | |
| ECON 2169 | Introduction to the Economy of China | |
| HIST 2630 | History of Korea | |
| HIST 3610 | Imperial China (Song-Qing) | |
| HIST 3611 | History of Modern China | |
| HIST 3614 | Writing Modern Chinese History | |
| HIST 3615 | History of Chinese Communism | |
| HIST 3621 | History of Modern Japan | |
| IAFF 2091 | East Asia-Past and Present | |
| JAPN 3111 | Japanese Literature in Translation I | |
| JAPN 3112 | Japanese Literature in Translation II | |
| JAPN 3162 | Japanese Culture Through Film | |
| PSC 2370 | Comparative Politics of China and Northeast Asia | |
| PSC 2371 | Politics and Foreign Policy of China | |
| PSC 2368 | Politics in the Two Koreas | |
| PSC 2475 | International Relations of East Asia | |
| REL 2601 | Buddhism | |
| REL 2811 | Confucian Literature in East Asia | |
| REL 2814 | Religion and Philosophy in East Asia | |
| REL 2831 | Introduction to Daoism | |
| WGSS 3136W | Chinese Women in Myth, Literature, and Film | |