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 successfulcompletion, 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:
12 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA1025 | Asia and the Pacific: Power, diversity and change | 6 |
| ASIA1030 | Asia and the Pacific in Motion | 6 |
A minimum of 6 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA2040 | The Making of Modern Korea | 6 |
| ASIA3031 | Creative Industries in Korea | 6 |
A minimum of 18 units must come from completion of courses from the following list:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA2006 | Gender in Korean History | 6 |
| ASIA2096 | North Korea: History, Culture, Politics | 6 |
| WARS2003 | The Korean War | 6 |
| ASIA2049 | Politics and Society in Contemporary Korea | 6 |
| ASIA2074 | Popular Culture in East Asia | 6 |
| INTR2020 | (In)Stability on the Korean Peninsula | 6 |
6 units from completion of the following course(s):
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| ASIA2016 | The Mongol Empire in World History | 6 |
| ASIA2017 | History of International Relations in Northeast Asia | 6 |
| ASIA3021 | Engaging Asia: Australia and the Asian Century | 6 |
| ASIA2304 | What is Literature? Asian Perspectives | 6 |
| ASIA2067 | Economies of Emerging Asia | 6 |
| ASIA2065 | Asian Politics: From Concepts to Causes | 6 |
| ASIA2301 | Human Migration and Expansion in the Rise of the Asia-Pacific | 6 |
| ASIA2302 | Culture and Modernity in Asia: Anthropological Perspectives | 6 |
| ASIA2307 | History of Empire in Asia | 6 |
| ASIA2001 | Language in Asia and the Pacific | 6 |
| ASIA2311 | Gender and Cultural Studies in Asia and the Pacific | 6 |
| INTR2012 | Chinese Foreign and Security Policy | 6 |
| INTR2010 | International Relations in the Asia-Pacific | 6 |
| INTR2016 | US Foreign and Security Policy in Asia | 6 |
| KORE3015 | Advanced Korean: Film and Society | 6 |
| KORE3018 | Advanced Korean: Literature and Media | 6 |
| STST2001 | Security Concepts in the Asia-Pacific | 6 |
| WARS2002 | The Vietnam Wars: 1941-1989 | 6 |
