Major structure
Overview
Your course structure
The Bachelor of Arts requires the successful completion of 24 subjects (300 points), including at least one major. Most students study eight subjects each year (usually four subjects in each semester) for three years full-time, or the part-time equivalent.
Most Arts majors require 75 points of study (usually six subjects) for attainment. Arts minors require 50 points of study (usually four subjects) for attainment. This means you have the opportunity to achieve two majors or one major and one minor in your course. You will also complete breadth studies and other complimentary Arts subjects.
Completing your studies
Example major and minor structures for Entry Point 1
If you are taking Korean Studies as a major, you must complete:
- 25 credit points (two subjects) of Level 2 major core subjects (usually in second year)
- 12.5 credit points (one subject) of Level 2 major elective subjects (usually in second year)
- 12.5 credit points (one subject) of Level 3 major core subjects (usually in third year)
- One (12.5 credit point) level 3 capstone subject (usually in third year)
- 12.5 credit points of Level 3 major elective subject (usually in third year)
Please note - Foundation Subjects:
A Major begins at second year. Each discipline has one or more first-year Foundation subjects which provide excellent preparation for the Major. The Level 2 language subjects in this Major require the completion of two first-year discipline Foundation language subjects as a pre-requisite.
For more information on required subjects, view the Handbookentry for this major .
If you are taking Korean Studies as a minor, you must complete:
- 25 credit points (two subjects) of Level 2 minor core subjects (usually in second year)
- 25 credit points (two subjects) of Level 3 minor core subjects (usually in third year)
Please note - Foundation Subjects:
A Minor begins at second year. Each discipline has one or more first-year Foundation subjects which provide excellent preparation for the Minor. It is recommended students take two foundation subjects in the discipline.
For more information on required subjects, view the Handbookentry for this minor.
Breadth studies
Breadth is a unique feature of the Melbourne curriculum. It gives you the chance to explore subjects outside of Arts, developing new perspectives and learning to collaborate with others who have different strengths and interests — just as you will in your future career.
Some of our students use breadth to explore creative interests or topics they have always been curious about. Others used breadth to improve their career prospects by complementing their major with a language, communication skills or business expertise.
Explore this major
Explore the subjects you could choose as part of this major.
Foundation subjects
A Major begins at second year. Each discipline has one or more first-year Foundation subjects which provide excellent preparation for the Major. Please note that the Level 2 language subjects in this Major require the completion of two first-year discipline Foundation language subjects as a pre-requisite.
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Korean 1 · 12.5 pts |
This subject is designed for students with no Korean language background. Students will develop essential Korean language skills in order to be able to engage in basic social conversation. The subject will introduce the Korean writing system, Hangeul, and Korean romanisation. Students will also develop inter-personal skills and business manners in contemporary Korea. In addition, they will develop intercultural understanding of traditions, names, honorifics, rituals and societal conversation in everyday practice and the media. |
| Korean 2 · 12.5 pts |
This subject is a continuation of Korean 1, designed for students with some prior knowledge, or experience, of the language, spoken and written. Students will extend their knowledge of the basic structures of the Korean language and will learn to converse in different situations which are progressively less personal and more related to the world around them. In this subject, students will develop intercultural understanding through identifying and reflecting on Korean norms and customs from a comparative cultural perspective. In addition, a range of authentic media will be used to explore key themes in modern Korean society. By the end of the semester, students should be equipped with more sophisticated language and intercultural skills to be able to express and situate themselves within a wider socio-cultural context. |
Major core subjects
-
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Contemporary Korea · 12.5 pts |
This subject is designed for students who are new to Korean studies. It covers a broad range of contemporary Korean affairs, including history, philosophy, politics, security, economy and socio-cultural issues since its independence from Japan in 1945. Each lecture will introduce one thematic issue in contemporary Korea, both South and North, ranging from its colonial and post-colonial experiences, the Korean War, national division and Pyongyang’s nuclear programs to K-pop and multiculturalism in South Korea. |
| Korean 3 · 12.5 pts |
This subject is designed for students who have successfully completed Korean 2, or equivalent. Students develop their ability to communicate in Korean and their understanding of Korea by engaging with key themes in contemporary Korean cultures and society such as popular cultures, food, fashion, design, literature and social issues. Students’ knowledge and ability to use linguistic resources are expanded by reading authentic materials from magazines and newspapers, watching and discussing video clips of music and dramas, producing short summaries, and engaging in informal discussion. |
| Korean 4 · 12.5 pts |
This subject is designed for students who have successfully completed Korean 3 or passed an equivalent level test. Students develop their ability to communicate in Korean and engage in discussion to express understanding of Korea with key themes such as history, economic development, career and gender issues. Students’ knowledge and ability to use linguistic and cultural resources are expanded by reading articles from newspapers, watching various media sources, producing short critical essays, and participating in informal and formal discussion. |
Major elective subjects
-
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Contemporary Korea · 12.5 pts |
This subject is designed for students who are new to Korean studies. It covers a broad range of contemporary Korean affairs, including history, philosophy, politics, security, economy and socio-cultural issues since its independence from Japan in 1945. Each lecture will introduce one thematic issue in contemporary Korea, both South and North, ranging from its colonial and post-colonial experiences, the Korean War, national division and Pyongyang’s nuclear programs to K-pop and multiculturalism in South Korea. |
| Korean Popular Culture · 12.5 pts |
Korean Popular Culture explores the many facets of Korean popular culture through the examination of its developments both at home and overseas. The subject introduces theoretical frameworks commonly applied in Korean Studies and critically supports the discussion of topics such as the global diffusion of the Korean wave, K-pop and K-dramas, fandom and celebrities, Korean cultural policies, and cultural diplomacy. This subject will investigate beyond the surface of contemporary “K-culture” and situate Korean creative industries and the domestic and international circulation of their products within Korean political, social, and economic reality. Overall, it provides a comprehensive understanding of contemporary Korean society through the lens of popular culture. This subject is taught in English. |
Capstone
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Korean Culture through Film and Drama · 12.5 pts |
The subject “Korean Culture through Film and Drama” provides a comprehensive understanding of the diachronic developments inherent to Korean culture and society in the 20th and 21st centuries through the lens of films, dramas and other visual media products. This subject provides the students majoring in Korean Studies the opportunity to reflect on their language and culture achievements and to engage in a guided program which uses Korean films and dramas as a vehicle for in-depth cultural and linguistic understanding. Through the lens of films and dramas, this subject applies theoretical tools of Korean Studies to analyse how Korean culture and social identity are narrated, represented, constructed, and performed. The subject touches important concepts such as cultural nationalism, identity, invented traditions, social inequality, gender dynamics, aesthetics, and beauty. This subject uses audio/visual material in Korean language, and it is partially taught in Korean. |
Major core subject
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Korean 5 · 12.5 pts |
Korean 5 is suitable for students who have successfully completed Korean 4 or who possess an equivalent level of Korean language proficiency. The subject aims to improve written and spoken skills in formal and professional settings, and to broaden linguistic exposure to various socio-cultural contexts. Students will have opportunities to practice upper-intermediate language functions, and to be able to communicate on a wide range of topics in politics, economy, and society. They will acquire Sino-Korean idioms, proverbs and newly-coined terms in contemporary Korea. Through class activities, students will master to utilise various forms of multimedia and web contents. In addition, students will develop interpersonal skills and cultural awareness to understand others and to present themselves appropriately in cross-cultural situations. |
Major elective subjects
-
| Accordion | |
|---|---|
| Korean Politics and Society · 12.5 pts |
This subject prepares students in their final year for the next stages of study or work, utilising the skills learned in previous years to deal with contemporary problems on the Korean peninsula. The subject directly engages with experts in the fields of politics, society and international relations, both in Korea and Australia, and offers real-life interactions with practitioners on the ground, such as diplomats, journalists or human rights activists in Korea. Topics vary every year, ranging from domestic party politics, national division, divided families, North Korean defectors, youth unemployment, gender-based violence, migrant workers and multicultural families. The subject is designed around project-based learning in which students have hands-on experiences on a project, co-supervised by experts in Korea and Australia. Seminars are offered in English but students are expected to possess working-knowledge degree of Korean, i.e., they are expected to be able to use resources and references in Korean language (consonant with a level 3 language proficiency). |
| Two Koreas in the World · 12.5 pts |
The subject covers both South and North Koreas’ international relations since the establishment of the governments in 1948 until today. It deals with two Koreas’ political and ideological divergence since the end of WWII and how two Koreas have formed two totally different diplomatic, economic and cultural relations with the rest of the world. While the focus is on two Koreas’ relations with Japan, China, the US and Russia, their respective relations with other Asian, European, African and American states will also be discussed. Two Koreas’ relations with Australia will have special attention. |
| Korean 6 · 12.5 pts |
Korean 6 is suitable for students who have successfully completed Korean 5 or who possess an equivalent level of Korean language proficiency. This subject prepares students to engage in academic settings in Korean. It trains students to communicate on a wide range of topics in history, political economy, society and technology. Students will refine their communication skills on discipline-specific vocabulary and functionality. Students will also broaden the grammatical understanding and applications of Hanja and technical terminology for academic performance. Through class activities, students will master to utilise various forms of multimedia and field-specific texts to grasp the specialisation of language function, practical translation and scholarly composition. In addition, students will develop interpersonal skills and cultural awareness to understand others and to present themselves appropriately in cross-cultural situations. |