Korean Languages and Cultures Major
The Korean Languages and Culture major offers students a rigorous and comprehensive curriculum that integrates advanced language training with in-depth study of Korea’s literature, media, and cultural history. Reflecting the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures’ longstanding commitment to Korean Studies, the major builds upon decades of pedagogical excellence and expanding course offerings. Students engage with both premodern and modern Korean texts and contexts while developing linguistic proficiency and critical insight into Korea’s dynamic cultural transformations. As part of a broader East Asian studies framework, the Korean major responds to increasing student demand and demographic shifts, promoting interdisciplinary inquiry and global engagement with Korea.
Korean Language and Culture Requirements
Prerequisite to declare the major
(must earn a letter grade of C or higher: 4–14 units)
● Korean 1A (1AX), 1B (1BX) (5 units, 5 units): Elementary Korean*
● Korean 7A or 7B (4 units each)
Lower Division Required Coursework
(must earn a letter grade of C or higher: 12–14 units)
● Korean 10A (10AX), 10B (10BX) (5 units, 5 units): Intermediate Korean*
● Korean 7A, or 7B (4 units each): (Whichever was not taken as a prerequisite)
Upper Division Required Coursework (minimum of 7 letter-graded courses and 28–30 units; minimum GPA of 2.0)
● Two Advanced Korean Courses: K100A (K100AX), K100B (K100BX)*
● Two Premodern Korean Language and Literature Courses (K130-K149) ● One Modern Korean Literature and Media Course
● Two EALC electives
*Students with prior experience in the language, either by study or heritage learning, are required to take a placement exam and begin at the level determined by the exam. Students exempted by language placement test from Intermediate or Advanced language courses must replace each exempted semester of language at the same level (lower or upper division) with a 4-unit elective.
Creating a Program Plan and Declaring the Major
To develop a program plan and declare the Major, please schedule an appointment with the departmental advisor on Calendly. For quick questions about requirements, you can email her at cassandrajj@berkeley.edu.
Language Placement Information
For questions or problems related to enrollment or placement exams, please contact Presi Diaz at diaz.mp@berkeley.edu
Table of Requirements
Requirement | Courses | Units |
Prerequisites to Declare the Major | ||
Completion of elementary Korean Language coursework as needed, grade “C” or higher | KOREAN: 1A,1AX, 1B,1BX | 0–10 |
Completion of one of the Korean Lower Division Pre-Modern and Modern Literature & Culture Survey courses (must be taken at Berkeley), grade “C” or higher | KOREAN: 7A or 7B | 4 |
Prerequisite Units: 4-14 | ||
Lower Division Requirements | ||
Intermediate Korean - two courses Note: if the student places out of one or both semesters of Intermediate Korean, each exempted semester of language at this level must be replaced by a 4-unit elective, in consultation with the major advisor. | KOREAN: 10A or 10AX and 10B or 10BX | 8 – 10 |
The Pre-Modern and Modern Literature & Culture Survey courses (must be taken at Berkeley) | KOREAN 7A or 7B (whichever was not taken as a prerequisite) | 4 |
Lower Division Units: 12–14 | ||
Upper Division Requirements | ||
Advanced Korean - two courses Note: if the student places out of one or both semesters of Intermediate Korean, each exempted semester of language at this level must be replaced by a 4-unit elective, in consultation with the major advisor. | KOREAN: 100A or 100AX and 100B or 100BX | 8 – 10 |
Premodern Korean Language and Literature – two courses | KOREAN 130s and 140s (K130- K149), or CHINESE 110A and 110B, or the combination of C110A/B and K130-K149 | 8 |
Modern Korean Literature and Media - one course | Korean 150, 153, 155 or 157; Korean 161, 171, 172; Korean 184, 185, 186, 187, 188, 189 | 4 |
(prerequisite of K100A or equivalent, may be taken concurrently) | ||
Electives - Two Courses Any Upper Division Course offered by EALC | CHINESE, EALANG, JAPANESE, KOREAN, MONGOLIAN, or TIBETAN | 8 |
Total Upper Division Units: 28 – 30 | ||
Total Major Units: 40 – 44 (excluding prerequisites) | ||
Notes:
1. Korean language courses taken at other schools and articulated to UC Berkeley will be accepted for credit. Still, students with prior experience in the language, either by study or heritage learning, are required to take a placement exam and begin at the level determined by the exam.
2. Korean language courses taken at other universities, either as a transfer or study abroad, may be used to meet language course requirements.
3. A maximum of two upper division courses may be taken outside of the department (Other than Elementary through Advanced Language) through transfer or study abroad. The undergraduate advisor (in consultation with faculty) must approve this to meet other requirements.