The Center for Korean Studies does not confer degrees directly. Its mission is to provide administrative support for Korea-related programs within the instructional system of the University of Hawai‘i. Those wishing to pursue Korean studies at the University of Hawai‘i do so within one of the University's regular departments or programs.
There is no academic degree in "Korean Studies" per se, but some two dozen disciplinary fields confer bachelor's, master's, and Ph.D. degrees with a complete or partial Korean component in the curricula, theses, and dissertations. The following list is not exhaustive but highlights the most common fields of study.
Some other fields of study offer Korea-related courses but too few to constitute a Korea focus for degree purposes. These include:
Of particular interest to many students interested in Korea are the University's Asian Studies Program, which offers a multidisciplinary curriculum, and the Korean language and literature curricula in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.
The undergraduate program in Asian studies is designed for students desiring a liberal arts education and a broad background in traditional and contemporary Asian cultures. Students seeking a B.A. in Asian studies must meet all the requirements for admission established by the School of Pacific and Asian Studies. Asian studies is normally declared as a major at the end of the sophomore year or beginning of the junior year though students may apply for admission to the program at any time. The formal declaration is made through the school's Student Academic Services Office.
1. Total of at least 36 credit hours of Asia-related course work
2. ASAN 201 and 202 (Introduction to Asian Studies), ASAN 310 (Asian Humanities) or 312 (Contemporary Asian Civilization), and 6 additional credit hours of ASAN courses at the 300 or 400 level
3. Two years of an Asian language (excluding conversation or aural comprehension courses), or demonstration of the equivalent level
Majors must also complete one of the following study plans:
Plan 1:
1. 12 credit hours of Asia-related course work from one of the following disciplines or areas: anthropology, art, economics, geography, history, linguistics, literature, music, philosophy, political science, religion, sociology, speech, or theater and dance
2. 9 credit hours of Asia-related courses outside the primary field of concentration, as approved by the adviser
Plan 2:
1. 12 credit hours of course work on one Asian country or region (e.g., Japan, Southeast Asia)
2. 9 credit hours focused on one or more additional Asian countries or regions
ASAN courses used to satisfy General Education Core requirements may not be used to satisfy major requirements or vice versa. Language study beyond the required level may count toward the major and is encouraged for Asian studies majors.
There are no required courses for acceptance into the Asian Studies minor program. Attendance in ASAN 201202 (Introduction to Asian Studies) is recommended. Students must complete 15 credit hours including:
1. 3 Credits: ASAN 310 (Asian Humanities) or ASAN 312 (Contemporary Asian Civilization)
2. ASAN courses numbered 300 and above (minimum 6 credits)
3. Asia-related courses in disciplines other than the major field numbered300 and above (maximum 6 credits)
It is possible to focus on one particular country or region, such as China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, Southeast Asia, or South Asia. The Asian studies undergraduate adviser will identify Asia-related courses in various disciplines and assist in planning schedules and preparing minor forms.
The master's program in Asian studies is designed primarily for students who wish to focus their studies on a particular geographical/cultural region via interdisciplinary studies. The M.A. in Asian studies is offered in Plan A (thesis) and Plan B (non-thesis). Although the University of Hawai'i does not offer a Ph.D. in Asian studies, Asia-focused Ph.D. programs are available in anthropology, East Asian languages and literatures, economics, geography, history, linguistics, music, philosophy, political science, public health, sociology, theater, and tropical agriculture. Students who wish to pursue a doctoral degree in any of these fields should contact the appropriate department.
The director of Center for Korean Studies and other Center-affiliated faculty members serve as the graduate student advisers for students concentrating on Korea-related field of study. Students without sufficient academic background in Asia-related course work may be required to take certain preparatory courses to make up this deficiency without credit toward the degree.
Prospective students should note that the program requires successful completion of course work or demonstrable proficiency in Korean language at the fourth-year level. Students enrolling from Korea may have the foreign language requirement waived if they plan to concentrate on Korea. If they elect to concentrate on a country other than Korea, they must fulfill the language requirement as previously stated.
The M.A. Plan A degree in Asian studies requires the following:
1. A minimum of 36 credit hours. Of these, at least 18 must be earned in courses numbered 600 or higher (including 6 credit hours in ASAN 700 Thesis Research);
2. Full-time study for minimum of two academic semesters;
3. A minimum of 6 credit hours in Korean equivalent to the following: Korean 6 credit hours at the 401 and 402 level (entering students who have achieved this level and can equaling 6 credit hours with the consent of their adviser);
4. An introductory graduate seminar in the particular area of concentration (ASAN 600K), taken early in the student's program;
5. A graduate research seminar in the particular area of concentration (ASAN 750);
6. A minimum of 3 additional credit hours in Asian studies;
7. A minimum of 15 credit hours of interdisciplinary study related to Korea, with at least 3 credit hours each in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and arts. No more than 9 credit hours in one discipline will be counted;
8. Satisfactory completion of a master's thesis and an oral examination on the thesis given by the student's three-member faculty committee.
The MA Plan B degree in Asian studies requires:
1. A minimum of 36 credit hours. Of these, at least 18 credits must be earned in courses numbered 600 or higher;
2. Full-time study for minimum of two academic semesters;
3. A minimum of 6 credit hours in Korean language equivalent to the following: Korean6 credit hours at the 401 and 402 level (entering students who have achieved this level and can demonstrate proficiency through examination may select alternate courses equaling 6 credit hours with the consent of their adviser);
4. An introductory graduate seminar in the particular area of concentration (ASAN 600K), taken early in the student's program;
5. A graduate research seminar in the particular area of concentration (ASAN 750);
6. A minimum of 3 additional credit hours in Asian studies
7. A minimum of 21 credit hours of interdisciplinary study related to Korea, with at least 3 credit hours each in the fields of humanities, social sciences, and arts. No more than 9 credit hours in one discipline will be counted. Presentation of a portfolio consisting of two seminar papers, and satisfactory completion of an oral examination based on the papers given by the student's three-member faculty committee.
The School of Pacific and Asian Studies, through its Asia-focused centers, offers graduate certificates in Korean studies. Regularly enrolled graduate students in non-Asian studies disciplines receive a certificate for completing a program of study that focuses on a particular Asian country or region. M.A. students in Asian studies also receive a certificate for completing studies in their area of concentration.
Who can apply for the graduate certificate program?
1. Individuals pursuing M.A. degrees in UHM Asian Studies who desire certification of their specialization in a specific region/country of Asia.
2. Individuals who would like to combine specialized language and interdisciplinary study of a particular area of Asia with a master's, doctoral, or professional school degree program in other disciplines.
3. Individuals who already hold a master's, doctoral, or professional school degree and want to enhance their expertise with specialized language and interdisciplinary competence in a specific area of Asia.
1. 18 credits of course work, in a defined program of study, at UHM within the chosen certificate area
2. Of these, 15 credits must be at 300-level or higher from at least two major divisions (social sciences, humanities, or arts), with no more than 9 credits in a single division, and at least 9 credits in graduate level courses (600 level or higher);
3. ASAN 600K (Asian Studies Seminar: Scope and Methods-Korea);
4. A research paper in the chosen certificate area and an or a examination based on the paper; or a thesis or dissertation related to the chosen certificate area in the student's major discipline;
5. Language requirements: for Korean certificate, third-year competency (KOR 301/302). All language competency requirements can be met either through course work in or equivalency examinations in the chosen certificate area. Language courses do not count toward certificate credit requirements.
Visit the Asian Studies Program Web site for requirements for M.A. and Graduate Certificate and degree planning tools and a list of graduate courses in Asian Studies.
The Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures (EALL) at UHM is the largest department of its kind in the country and offers a curriculum unparalleled in its breadth, depth, and variety of courses.
The Korean Language Program offers students an opportunity to study Korean language and literature, emphasizing language competency. Language courses in Korean levels 1-4 integrate the four basic skills of reading, writing, speaking, and listening comprehension and are aimed at both developing a high level of proficiency and promoting Korean cultural awareness through extracurricular activities such as student clubs, video/film showinga, lectures, Korean skit presentations, Korean clinics, and study-abroad programs. While most students enroll in Korean language courses to fulfill the General Education Core requirement for foreign languages, there are many who plan to use Korean in research or graduate studies.
Degrees (B.A., M.A., and Ph.D.), minors, and certificates are available for students in Korean language. In addition to other language programs (i.e., Asian, European, African languages, etc.) in the College of Languages, Linguistics, and Literature, other courses in second language studies (SLS), second language acquisition (SLA), and linguistics are also available for graduate students in the Korean language program to enhance their understanding of the Korean language.
Students must complete a minimum of 36 credit hours, including: KOR 301, 302, 401, 402, 451, 452, and 470; EALL 281 or 282; and 12 credit hours in approved courses.
Students planning to declare a minor should have completed successfully four semesters of language skill courses or their equivalent and must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. A minimum of 15-17 credits from five courses in one of the three languages (Chinese, Japanese, Korean) will be required. At least 9 credits will be from non-language skills courses with a focus on linguistics or literature. In the case of native speakers, they will be required to take five non-language skill courses. All courses selected must have the approval of advisers in both the student's major department and the EALL Department. Only courses with a C (not C-) or above will be counted, and the student must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher for the five courses. All courses must be taken within the UH system, with minimum of at least three courses taken at UH Mānoa. A detailed description of program requirements is available at the Department Office in Moore Hall 382.
Certificates in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean are offered to eligible students. A minimum of 15 credit hours from 301 or above in the language of choice must be earned with a minimum GPA of 3.0. A detailed description of the program requirements is available from the Department Office in Moore 382.
The Korean Flagship Program at the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa (UHM) aims to prepare American students to be able to function in Korean as professionals in their chosen academic or occupational fields.
During the first year, students receive intensive, task-based Korean language instruction at UHM, along with individualized domain-specific tutoring. They also benefit from the substantial Korean heritage population and cultural activities in Honolulu as well as on the campus. This is followed by a second year of intensive immersion (Korean Flagship Overseas Program, KFOP) at Korea University in Seoul, Korea, with university courses, individualized professional internships, structured Korean living arrangements, and Korean peer tutors.
The successful completion of the program and the demonstration of the ability to use Korean at professional levels (ILR 3, ACTFL “superior”) leads to the Master of Arts in Korean for Professions (Dept. of East Asian Languages and Literature).
For additional information, guidelines, and application materials, visit the Korean Language Flagship Center Web site or send e-mail to flagship@hawaii.edu.
Admission requirements and procedures, academic regulations, tuition and fees, and curricula are set forth in the General Catalog and Graduate Catalog of the University.