Korean Studies, Minor
This is the first version of the 2026–27 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The undergraduate minor in Korean studies requires a minimum of 15 s.h., with a minimum of 9 s.h. completed at the University of Iowa. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all courses for the minor and in all UI courses for the minor. Coursework in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. CLAS minors may only be earned concurrent with or subsequent to earning a University of Iowa bachelor's degree. They cannot be granted as standalone credentials or as the sole program of study completed at the University of Iowa.
A maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer coursework may be selected out of approved study abroad coursework. See the "Study Abroad" section that follows for details.
Required Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| KORE:1135 | Cultural Fusion: Korean Pop Culture in a Globalized World | 3 |
| KORE:3100/LING:3101 | Introduction to Korean Linguistics | 3 |
| KORE:3200 | Introduction to Korean-English Translation | 3 |
| Both of these: | ||
| KORE:3101 | Third-Year Korean: First Semester | 3 |
| KORE:3102 | Third-Year Korean: Second Semester | 3 |
Electives
Students proficient through upper-level Korean language courses (more advanced than third-year Korean or with a Test of Proficiency in Korean [TOPIK] level of 3 or higher) and who have an approved waiver from the Korean program coordinator may substitute 6 s.h. of other coursework from the list below instead of completing the Korean language requirement.
Students proficient through upper-level Korean language courses who do not have a waiver must complete a minimum of 3 s.h. in a related area elective. They can select a course from the following list or consult with the Korean program coordinator for approval to take a different elective course.
All other students select 6 s.h. from the following (consult the Korean program coordinator for options involving study abroad or waivers). KORE:3070 Topics in Korean Studies is designated for Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Korean e-school courses, which are delivered via video conferencing from other Big Ten institutions.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| KORE:1135 | Cultural Fusion: Korean Pop Culture in a Globalized World (if not already taken) | 3 |
| KORE:1670/ASIA:1670/RELS:1670 | Korea in the World | 3 |
| KORE:3070 | Topics in Korean Studies | 3 |
| KORE:3100/LING:3101 | Introduction to Korean Linguistics (if not already taken) | 3 |
| KORE:3200 | Introduction to Korean-English Translation (if not already taken) | 3 |
| KORE:5102 | Individual Korean for Advanced Students (with instructor approval) | arr. |
| HIST:1607/ASIA:1607 | Civilizations of Asia: Korea | 3-4 |
| HIST:2687/ASIA:2887 | Perspectives on Korea | 3 |
| HIST:3685/ASIA:3685 | Modern Korean History | 3 |
| Study abroad options (see "Study Abroad") | arr. | |
Study Abroad
Students may select a maximum of 6 s.h. (one or two courses per year) from courses offered by Ewha Womans University, Korea University, or other universities in South Korea eligible for credit transfer. Consult the Korean program coordinator before undertaking study abroad work.
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Korean Studies, Minor
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| The undergraduate minor in Korean studies requires a minimum of 15 s.h., with a minimum of 9 s.h. completed at the University of Iowa. | ||
| Students must maintain a 2.00 GPA in all courses for the minor. | ||
| Coursework in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass. | ||
| A maximum of 6 s.h. of transfer coursework may be selected out of approved study abroad coursework. Consult the Korean program coordinator before undertaking study abroad work. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| KORE:1101 | First-Year Korean: First Semester a, b | 4 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Spring | ||
| KORE:1102 | First-Year Korean: Second Semester a, b | 4 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| KORE:3200 |
Introduction to Korean-English Translation c or Cultural Fusion: Korean Pop Culture in a Globalized World or Introduction to Korean Linguistics |
3 |
| KORE:2101 | Second-Year Korean: First Semester a, b | 4 |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| KORE:2102 | Second-Year Korean: Second Semester a, b | 4 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| KORE:3101 | Third-Year Korean: First Semester | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| KORE:3102 | Third-Year Korean: Second Semester | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Minor: Korean minor elective d | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Spring | ||
| Minor: Korean minor elective d | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 31 | |
- a
- This course is a prerequisite for the required minor courses.
- b
- Language level placement will be determined by placement exam score and/or oral interview. Students who place into the 5th semester level of the language will begin coursework at that level and will not be required to take semesters 1-4 of the language.
- c
- KORE:1135 satisfies the World Language and Cultural Exploration GE CLAS Core requirement.
- d
- See the General Catalog or consult with your advisor for a list of possible courses that can be used to fulfill this requirement.