MA Korean Studies and Intensive Language SOAS University of London

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time

This two-year full-time (or four-year part-time) programme is designed to provide Intensive Language training at different proficiency levels - depending on entry-level - within a Masters programme in Korean Studies.

It allows students:

• to cultivate or further develop a basic expertise in particular aspects of Korean Studies.
• to choose modules that meet their own needs, with respect to their interest in Korea and future career plans.
• to develop their abilities to synthesize information, to think critically, to manage a complex research project and to present their results in verbal and written form.
• to achieve a high level of language proficiency.
• to master transferable language and analytical skills in order to prepare for a variety of potential future professional or research careers.

May be combined with:

The following Intensive Language pathways are available with the MA Korean Studies

• Japanese
• Korean

Structure

Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation as outlined below.

In their first year, students on the two-year Intensive Language programmes take 60 credits of intensive language instruction and 60 credits in the discipline. During the summer, they participate in a Summer School abroad. In the second year, they take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline; they also complete their dissertation in the discipline.

Please note that on all Area Studies degrees, including Korean Studies:

• a maximum of 60 credits can be taken in any one subject area
• a minimum of three subject areas must be covered.

Year 1 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

• Connections and Intersections: Core Aspects of East Asian Studies

Plus

• Modules from the list below to the value of 45 credits.

Language Component

• Students take 60 credits in the selected language.

Summer Abroad

Students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language.

Year 2 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

• Modules from the list below to the value of 60 credits.

Language Component

• Students take 30 credits in the selected language.

Dissertation

• Dissertation in Korea Studies

List of modules (subject to availability)

Majors

Students must take 30 credits from the same discipline for this to be considered a major.

• History
  • The Two Koreas since 1953 (PG)
  • The Making of Modern Korea, 1864-1953
• Literature
  • Readings in Korean Literature (PG)
  • Translating Korean Literature (PG)
  • Literary Traditions and Culture of Korea (PG)
  • Trajectories of Modernity in Korean Literature (PG)
• Politics
  • International politics of East Asia
  • Northeast Asian politics: Japan, Korea and Taiwan
• Art
  • Arts of Koryo and Chosen Korea
  • Modern and Contemporary Korean Art
• Music
  • Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters)
  • Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters)

Minors only

• Module
  • Directed readings in Korean Studies A
  • Directed readings in Korean Studies B
  • Advanced Korean Readings (PG)
  • Media Spectacle and Urban Space in East Asia
  • Practical Translation: English into Korean
• Language
  • Chinese 1 A (PG)
  • Chinese 1 B (PG)
  • Reading Classical and Literary Chinese (PG)
• Media

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.