Korea has a long history with a rich cultural heritage and dynamic political and socioeconomic changes. Situated at the crossroads of East Asia, Korea has played a significant role in shaping pre-modern and modern transformations within the region and beyond. The division of the Korean peninsula into North and South Korea since 1945 has made Korea as a strategically important player in the politics of the Cold War whose impact still remains significant in driving geopolitical and security issues. The Korean Studies major provides students with a solid foundation for developing a sophisticated understanding of the dynamics that have shaped Korea and its relationship to the world. The major consists of a wide range of courses on history, politics, society and culture, offering an interdisciplinary and transnational perspective. Students will gain nuanced understanding of the past and the present of the peninsula and great insights into current affairs related to North and South Korea.
The Korean Studies major is designed to complement Korean language major, though knowledge of Korean is not required for courses in the Korea Studies major.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
1. Understand and evaluate historical and current events and developments that have shaped Korea,
2. Identify and critique the contemporary socio-cultural and political systems of Korea,
3. Analyse developments in Korea in their regional and global contexts,
4. Understand the processes and disciplinary approaches through which current knowledge about Korean studies has developed.
Areas of Interest
- Anthropology
- Cultural Studies
- Gender Studies
- History
- Asian Studies
- Asia Pacific Studies
- Asia-Pacific Studies
- Film
- Politics
- International Security
Relevant Degrees
Requirements
This major requires the completion of 48 units, which must consist of:
A minimum of 6 units from completion of the following courses:
ASIA1025 Asia and the Pacific: Power, diversity and change
ASIA1030 Asia and the Pacific in Motion
12 units from completion of the following compulsory course(s):
ASIA2040 The Making of Modern Korea
ASIA3031 Creative Industries in Korea
A minimum of 18 units from completion of courses from the following list:
ASIA2006 Gender in Korean History
ASIA2096 North Korea: History, Culture, Politics
WARS2003 The Korean War
ASIA2049 Politics and Society in Contemporary Korea
ASIA2074 Popular Culture in East Asia
INTR2020 (In)Stability on the Korean Peninsula
A maximum of 6 units from completion of courses from the following list:
ASIA2016 The Mongol Empire in World History
ASIA2017 History of International Relations in Northeast Asia
ASIA3021 Engaging Asia: Australia and the Asian Century
ASIA2304 What is Literature? Asian Perspectives
ASIA2067 Economies of Emerging Asia
ASIA2065 Asian Politics: From Concepts to Causes
ASIA2301 Prehistoric Origins: Archaeology of Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2302 Culture and Modernity in Asia: Anthropological Perspectives
ASIA2307 History of Empire in Asia
ASIA2001 Language in Asia and the Pacific
ASIA2311 Gender and Cultural Studies in Asia and the Pacific
INTR2012 Chinese Foreign and Security Policy
INTR2010 International Relations in the Asia-Pacific
INTR2016 US Foreign and Security Policy in Asia
KORE3015 Advanced Korean: Film and Society
KORE3018 Advanced Korean: Literature and Media
STST2001 International Security issues in the Asia Pacific
WARS2002 The Vietnam Wars: 1941-1989
