BA Korean Studies major 

Confused about how the major works? Don't worry, we're here to explain.

The Korean Studies major consists of eight core (compulsory) units in your second and third year of your study, and, if you haven't learned Korean before, two prerequisite units in the first year. 'Prerequisite' means that you cannot study the second-year units unless you have first completed the first-year language units.

So how to go about enrolling?

If you're a Curtin student and have enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts program, you can just select Korean Studies as your first or second major on OASIS.

Assuming you have no Korean Studies background, you will study:

FIRST YEAR

Korean Beginners 1 (KORE1000 - offered in Semester 1 and Semester 2)

Korean Beginners 2 (KORE1001 - offered in Semester 2 only)

SECOND YEAR

Korean Intermediate 3 (KORE2000, Semester 1)

Korean Intermediate 4 (KORE2001, Semester 2)

Korean Society and Politics (KORE2002, Semester 2) - also available as a second year elective for any students at Curtin)

One of the following:

Either Asian Media in Transition (COMS2001) or Diplomacy in the Indo-Pacific (INTR2001)

THIRD YEAR:

Korean Advanced 5 (KORE3000), Semester 1

Korean Advanced 6 (KORE3001), Semester 2

Korean Popular Culture (KORE3002), Semester 1

Either WORK3006 Go Global Study or WORK3004 Internship unit

Are you an OUA student?

Make sure that you've enrolled in the major to get most benefits out of your major (including access to FEE-HELP if this is an option open to you).

People to reach out to for further advice about the major:

Dr Hea-Jin Park (Korean Studies major coordinator): hea-jin.park@curtin.edu.au

Prof Jo Elfving-Hwang (Professor of Korean Society and Culture, always happy to assist): joanna.elfving-hwang@curtin.edu.au 

Who teaches what in 2026? If you have any queries, get in touch!

Korean Beginners (Curtin Bentley), Sem 1 and Sem 2: Dr Hea-Jin Park

Korean Beginners (OUA), all study periods: Dasul Kim (dasul.kim@curtin.edu.au)

Korean Intermediate (Curtin Bentley, Sem 1 and Sem 2 : Dasul Kim (dasul.kim@curtin.edu.au)

Korean Society and Politics (OUA, SP1): Ben Jackson (ben.jackson@curtin.edu.au)

Korean Society and Politics (Curtin, Semester 2): Prof Jo Elfving-Hwang and Dr Eldin Milak (eldin.milak@curtin.edu.au)

Advanced Korean, KORE3000/KORE3001/KORE3003/KORE3004: Ben Jackson 

Korean Popular Culture (KORE3002 and KORE3005 OUA): Dr Eldin Milak and Prof Jo Elfving-Hwang