Credits Required for Graduation/Degree Candidacy
[Required General Education Courses]
1. Thoughts & Expressions/Liberty Justice Truth/College Writing/Freshmen Seminar
*For Thoughts & Expressions, Liberty Justice Truth, College Writing and Freshmen Seminar, specific requirements for graduation or degree candidacy may differ depending on the year of admission. Check the curriculum designated for each admission year and the announcements on the Institute for General Education website for more information.
2. Academic English: 4 credits (Academic English I + Academic English II)
*Only 2 credits for students who are assigned to an advanced class (Academic English II) after an English proficiency test.
**Students intending to take Academic English I or II for the first time must take the course during regular semesters. Academic English I or II offered during summer or winter semesters are for students who have already taken the course.
3. Core General Education Courses: Students who entered KU either in or before 2016 must take at least one subject from each of the three selected subject fields (out of seven subject fields).
*Students who entered KU in 2017 must take at least one subject from each of the three selected subject fields. At least two of such subjects must be humanities-related subjects (courses from World Cultures, History, Literature & Art, or Ethics & Philosophy).
**Students who entered KU either in or after 2018 must take at least one subject from each of the two selected subject fields. At least one of such subjects must be a humanities-related subject (courses from World Cultures, History, Literature & Art, or Ethics & Philosophy).
►Course code and syllabus for required general education courses (courses specified in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 above) may differ depending on the year of admission. Check the curriculum designated for each admission year and the announcements on the Institute for General Education website for more information.
[Common Requirements for the Division of International Languages and Literature, College of Liberal Arts]
4-1. Major-Related General Education Course (English): Students must acquire 3 credits from Advanced English (ENGL155).
4-2. Major-Related General Education Course (Second Foreign language): Students must acquire 6 credits from one of the six foreign language courses (German, Russian, French, Spanish, Japanese or Chinese) (beginner + intermediate courses or course I + course II for the same language).
[Major-Related Courses for the Department of English Language and Literature]
4-3. Major-Related General Education Courses Required for the Department of English Language and Literature: 6 credits (Introduction to English Linguistics + Introduction to British and American Literature)
※ The above courses are required courses for students who entered KU between 2014 and 2018; students who entered KU either in or after 2019 are no longer required to take these courses.
5. Basic Major Course Credits Required for the Department of English Language and Literature: 42 credits
*There are no major elective courses designated for Department of English Language and Literature students. However, a maximum of 12 credits (4 subjects) from courses with course code ENGL200–299 will be acknowledged as major courses, and additional credits acquired by taking courses with course code ENGL200–299 will not be counted toward the 42 credits from major courses required for graduation. The same restriction applies to students pursuing an intensive major.
[Credits Required for Second Major]
» Double Major: Students must acquire the credits required by the relevant department offering the double major (approximately 36–42 credits).
» Interdisciplinary Major: Students must acquire the credits required by the relevant department offering the interdisciplinary major.
» Student-Designed Major: Students must acquire the credits required by the relevant department offering the student-designed major.
» Intensive Major: Students must acquire 24 additional credits by taking major courses offered by the Department of English Language and Literature.
*Pursuing a dual major or minor is not equivalent to pursuing a second major.
**Unlike a double, interdisciplinary or student-designed major, there is no separate application process for pursuing an intensive major.
***A student’s degree specialization will be automatically changed to intensive major in the following cases:
1) If the student graduates without applying for a double, interdisciplinary or student-designed major;
2) If the student fails to pass the screening for a double, interdisciplinary or student-designed major for two consecutive times;
3) If the student who has withdrawn from applying for a double, interdisciplinary or student-designed major fails to pass the screening for another double, interdisciplinary or student-designed major;
4) If the student who has withdrawn from applying for a double, interdisciplinary or student-designed major does not apply for another double, interdisciplinary or student-designed major.
<Requirements for Graduation>
- Total required credits: at least 130 credits
1. Chinese Character Test
Students must score at least a level 2 on a nationally-recognized Chinese character test or pass the Chinese character comprehension test offered by KU.
*Students who have scored at least a level 2 on a nationally-recognized Chinese character test must submit their test score to the Administration Office of the Department of English Language and Literature. Students who have taken the Chinese character comprehension test offered by KU will have their test score automatically reported to the Administration Office of the Department of English Language and Literature.
2. English Proficiency Test
Students who entered KU either in or after 2016 are no longer required to submit an English proficiency test score. Students who entered KU either in or before 2015 must submit either their English proficiency test score or an Application for Exemption from English Proficiency Test Requirement.
*Students who entered KU either in or after 2016: Students no longer required to submit their English proficiency test score.
*Students who entered KU before 2016
- Students must either submit their English proficiency test score (TOEIC score of at least 800 or TOEFL score of at least 94 on the iBT) acquired during their enrollment at KU, pass an English exam for graduation qualification offered by KU, or submit an Application for Exemption from English Proficiency Test Requirement.
- Students who have acquired a TOEIC or TOEFL score must submit their score to the Administration Office of the Department of English Language and Literature. Students who have taken an English exam for graduation qualification offered by KU will have their test score automatically reported to the Administration Office of the Department of English Language and Literature.
- Submission of English proficiency test score is optional; students intending to graduate without submitting their English proficiency test score must submit an Application for Exemption from English Proficiency Test Requirement to the Administration Office of the Department of English Language and Literature, which can be downloaded from “Reference” on the Department of English Language and Literature website.
3. TOPIK (for international students and Koreans residing abroad who have completed their primary and secondary-level education in foreign countries)
*International students: Students who are admitted to KU via admission for international students or whose nationality is not Korean.
*Students who have taken the TOPIK must submit their score to the Administration Office of the Department of English Language and Literature. Students who have taken and passed the Korean language exam offered by the Korea University Korean Language Center upon admission to KU will have their score automatically reported to the Administration Office of the Department of English Language and Literature.
Students must attain at least TOPIK level 4 during their enrollment at KU or level 4 from the regular Korean language program offered by the Korea University Korean Language Center.