Objectives
Sheffield is one of only two universities in the UK to offer a single honours Korean Studies degree. In the Single Honours Korean Studies degree, you will take a balanced programme of both language and lecture-based modules to give a critical understanding of Korea. The School of East Asian Studies also offers dual degrees in Korean Studies with Japanese, Management, Music (see Music Department website) and Linguistics (see School of English website). In the first year, the language modules cover all skills, from reading and writing to speaking and listening. There is no need for any prior knowledge of the Korean language. Korean language classes are small, and you will use the Korean language and script (called Han'g?l) from day one. The core non-language modules for the programme are specific to Korea, but you are also able to take modules that cover East Asia as a region, highlighting the significance of Korean issues in a regional or global context. China-specific and Japan-specific option modules are also available. In your second year, you will take one year of intensive language study at Yonsei University in Seoul. The Year Abroad is a great opportunity to expand both your language skills and your understanding of Korean society and culture. Yonsei University has the best known institute of Korean language education for foreign students. Seoul has been the capital of Korea since the fourteenth century and is now at the centre of the radical socio-political changes sweeping East Asia. After your return from Korea, the focus of Korean language modules in the final two years shifts to more advanced and vocational skills in writing, summary, precision translation, debate and oral presentation. You will study Chinese characters as used in Korean in years three and four. The lecture-based core modules cover both traditional culture and contemporary Korean society. The lecture-based option modules cover a wide range of subjects, such as business and economics, film and cultural studies, politics, sociology, history, linguistics, literature, religion, and philosophy.
