The Global College of Humanities and Area Studies is an integrated college established in 2017, following the reform of the school system, by combining the former College of Humanities with the School of International and Area Studies, which have produced over 10,000 graduates since the foundation of Kookmin University (KMU) and played a central role in preserving the tradition and culture of the university and developing students 'humanistic spirit and global capacity'. The Global College of Humanities and Area Studies was established to provide comprehensive education on the humanities, which serve as the foundation of all learning and knowledge, and area studies, which is necessary for the production of experts in global affairs. The college aims to train students to become talented professionals equipped with a good command of foreign languages and professional knowledge of specific regions on the basis of creativity, humanistic knowledge, and critical thinking skills. The college consists of two schools (School of Korean Language and Literature, School of English Language and Literature) and two departments (Department of Chinese Literature and Linguistics, Department of Korean History), offering six majors (Korean Language and Literature, Korean as a Global Language, English Literature and Linguistics, English for Global Communication, Chinese Literature and Linguistics, Korean History). Students here join the best humanistic and practical educational programs in Korea, allowing them to develop their critical thinking skills and acquire higher levels of knowledge in diverse areas of the humanities, including languages, literature, history, and philosophy, on the one hand, and gain in-depth knowledge of specific regions around the world, such as the United States, China, on the other.
School of Korean Language and Literature
The School of Korean Language and Literature boasts a long history of conducting research on the Korean language and literature and producing professionals in related areas. Established in March 1972 as the Department of Korean Language and Literature in the School of Literature and renamed in 2017, the School of Korean Language and Literature offers degrees in two concentrations: Korean Language and Literature and Korean as a Global Language. The school aims to turn out talented individuals with independently established, future-oriented perspectives of the world who are capable of preserving cultures, both their own and those of others, based on their professional knowledge of the Korean language and Korean literature.
- Korean Language and Literature
- Korean as a Global Language
School of English Language and Literature
More than 50 years since its beginning in 1968, the School of English Language and Literature has produced outstanding graduates who proved themselves to be important members of society. In 2014, the school reformed its academic programs and divided its major into two new majors, i.e., English Literature and Linguistics and English for Global Communication. The aim was to provide the students with more opportunities for gaining not just in-depth knowledge of English language and literature but a better command of practical English.
The undergraduate program of The School of English Language and Literature provides various courses of English literature, English linguistics, and practical English. Students can pick up courses for their particular needs and majors. Enrolled students can choose their majors after the sophomore year on condition that they have successfully completed their mandatory undergraduate courses. In the two years and after, students in the department are supposed to deepen their humanistic knowledge on the one hand, and gain more fluency in practical English, on the other.
- English Literature and Linguistics
- English for Global Communication
Department of Chinese Literature and Linguistics
With China's growing international influence and increasingly close Korea-China relations, a deep understanding of Chinese language and culture is an essential skill. The department of Chinese Literature and Linguistics aims to cultivate global professionals who possess comprehensive knowledge of China and the world, humanistic insights, and practical skills through the study of Chinese literature and linguistics. Students enhance their intellectual capabilities by reading and analyzing ancient and modern Chinese literary works, and improve their Chinese communication skills by taking various language courses taught by native-speaking professors. Every semester, many students study Chinese language at our partner universities in China and Taiwan.
Department of Korean History
The Department of Korean History is committed to conducting systematic research on Korean history, from the ancient past to the present day, so that students can learn about the wisdom that created Korea's outstanding tradition and national culture. To that end, students delve into each period of Korean history through fieldwork and research on ruins and relics and receive history education that encompasses both theory and practice without relying too heavily on literature, which is achieved by designating fieldwork at historical and cultural sites as a mandatory course necessary for graduation. The only history-related department in Korea that publishes fieldwork sourcebooks, the KMU's Department of Korean History aims to prepare students to become visionary leaders with deep insight into the future gained through systematic learning and research designed to develop historical thinking and impart professional knowledge.
