Jae-Jung Suh, Director SAIS has offered courses on Korea for many years as part of its Asia offerings. Now, in acknowledgment of the increasing political and economic significance of Korea, educational activities regarding Korea have been enlarged. In 2003, the Korea Initiative was launched as an interim program to enhance students’ understanding of the nation. In 2006, the school took a large stride forward with approval of Korea Studies as a regular program, allowing students for the first time to concentrate in this area.
Academic Requirements
Because knowledge of Korea and Korean issues is strengthened by an awareness of the two economically large countries in the region, China and Japan, requirements for a Korea Studies concentrator consider these neighbors. Students concentrating in Korea Studies are required to take three courses focused directly on Korea but also one course each from Japan Studies and China Studies and a sixth course from any of the other Asian Studies programs, including the Asia Regional course offerings. All Korea Studies concentrators are required to pass the Korean language proficiency examination.
Research Opportunities
Students in Korea Studies are encouraged to work as research assistants for visiting scholars at the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS.
Co-curricular Activities
Each fall semester, a faculty member conducts independent research on current issues in U.S.-Korean relations under the title, “The Two Koreas: Contemporary Research and Record.” At a time to be determined, the faculty member leads students on a research and fact-checking trip to Seoul to deepen their research and enrich their knowledge. The findings are compiled into a book published by SAIS online as a U.S.-Korea yearbook.
Other Opportunities
Korea Studies students are encouraged to apply for Korea Studies fellowships from the U.S.-Korea Institute at SAIS. Application procedures are announced every January, and applications usually are due to be submitted in early February.
Typical Korea Studies Courses
(See www.sais-jhu.edu/courses for course descriptions.)
- Challenges of North Korea
- Contemporary Korea in Historical Perspective
- Human Rights in North Korea and South Korea: Past and Present
- International Relations of Northeast Asia
- Survey of the South Korean Economy
- The Two Koreas: Contemporary Research and Record
- U.S. Diplomacy Toward the Two Koreas
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