Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Korean Language and Literature

GW's Korean language and literature program equips student with oral and written proficiency in Korean. Courses in language, literature, and film provide students with an understanding of Korean history, literature, and culture. Students learn not only to read, write, and speak Korean, but also to embrace the Korean way of thinking and gain the ability to view themselves and others in a broader perspective. The program works closely with other East Asian and humanities communities within and beyond GW. The annual Hahn Moo-Sook Colloquium Series provides a forum for intellectual dialogue among GW faculty and students, as well as neighboring universities and individuals from many sectors of the greater Washington, DC, area. Program graduates go on to careers in the diplomatic service, international business, intelligence, defense, journalism, and graduate studies, including law and medicine.

Visit the program website for additional information.

For information about the admission process, including deadlines, visit the Office of Undergraduate Admissions website. Applications can be submitted via the Common Application.

Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
The George Washington University
800 21st St NW Suite 100
Washington, DC 20052

For questions visit undergraduate.admissions.gwu.edu/contact-us.

The following requirements must be fulfilled:

The general requirements stated under Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Undergraduate Programs.

39 credits in required courses.

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Prerequisite courses
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

In addition to the University General Education Requirement, undergraduate students in Columbian College must complete a further, College-specific general education curriculum—Perspective, Analysis, Communication (G-PAC) as well as the course CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience. Together with the University General Education Requirement, G-PAC engages students in active intellectual inquiry across the liberal arts. Students achieve a set of learning outcomes that enhance their analytical skills, develop their communication competencies, and invite them to participate as responsible citizens who are attentive to issues of culture, diversity, and privilege.

Coursework for the University General Education Requirement is distributed as follows:

• One course in critical thinking in the humanities.

• Two courses in critical thinking, quantitative reasoning, or scientific reasoning in the social sciences.

• One course that has an approved oral communication component.

• One course in quantitative reasoning (must be in mathematics or statistics).
• One course in scientific reasoning (must be in natural and/or physical laboratory sciences).
• UW 1020 University Writing (4 credits).
• After successful completion of UW 1020, 6 credits distributed over at least two writing in the discipline (WID) courses taken in separate semesters. WID courses are designated by a "W" appended to the course number. 

Coursework for the CCAS G-PAC requirement is distributed as follows:

• Arts—one approved arts course that involves the study or creation of artwork based on an understanding or interpretation of artistic traditions or knowledge of art in a contemporary context.
• Global or cross-cultural perspective—one approved course that analyzes the ways in which institutions, practices, and problems transcend national and regional boundaries.
• Local or civic engagement—one approved course that develops the values, ethics, disciplines, and commitment to pursue responsible public action.
• Natural or physical science—one additional approved laboratory course that employs the process of scientific inquiry (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
• Humanities—one additional approved humanities course that involves critical thinking skills (in addition to the one course in this category required by the University General Education Requirement).
• CCAS 1001 First-Year Experience

Certain courses are approved to fulfill GPAC requirements in more than one category.

Courses taken in fulfillment of G-PAC requirements may also be counted toward majors or minors. Transfer courses taken prior to, but not after, admission to George Washington University may count toward the University General Education Requirement and G-PAC, if those transfer courses are equivalent to GW courses that have been approved by the University and the College.

Lists of approved courses in the above categories are included on each undergraduate major's page in this Bulletin.

Special Honors

The faculty of the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures recommends students for
departmental special honors based on the following criteria:

In addition to the general requirements stated under University Regulations, candidates for special honors must attain the following by the end of the fall semester of their senior year:

• A minimum GPA of 3.7 in courses in the major.
• A minimum overall GPA of 3.4.
• A minimum grade of C- in every course taken at GW.

The program in Korean language and literature recommends no more than two students per year for
special honors, based on the student’s overall performance in the program.