The Korean minor provides students with opportunities to develop proficiency in the Korean language while gaining a broad understanding of Korean culture and society. Through language study, students develop the abilities needed to communicate in Korean in a range of everyday contexts and to engage more deeply with Korean-speaking communities and cultures.
The interdisciplinary curriculum also allows students to explore specialized areas of Korean studies, including popular culture, translation, linguistics, history, and religion. Through these experiences, students develop intercultural understanding, analytical skills, and global competence that complement a wide variety of academic and professional interests.
Why Iowa?
The University of Iowa is the only institution in the state of Iowa that offers a Korean language program, providing students with a distinctive opportunity to pursue sustained study of Korean language and culture. The program offers a comprehensive Korean curriculum that combines language study with interdisciplinary coursework in Korean culture and society. Students can study Korean through the advanced level while exploring topics such as Korean popular culture, linguistics, translation, history, and religion.
Students from a wide range of majors and cultural and linguistic backgrounds take Korean-related courses, creating a diverse learning environment in which they can learn not only from faculty but also from one another. The Korean minor can complement programs in areas such as international studies, linguistics, translation, business, communication studies, history, and the health professions.
Information
Careers and Outcomes
Within six months of graduating, 95 percent of Iowa graduates are employed, continuing education, or not seeking work. Our Pomerantz Career Center offers multiple resources to help students find internships and jobs.
The Korean minor can complement a wide range of academic and professional paths. Students may use their Korean language skills and cultural knowledge in careers related to international business, government and public service, education, translation and interpreting, communication and media, international relations, and nonprofit organizations.
Graduates may also pursue advanced study in Korean studies, Asian studies, linguistics, language education, translation, or related fields. Some students continue developing their Korean proficiency through study, research, teaching, or other professional experiences in Korea.
Student Opportunities
In addition to having more than 600 Student Organizations, Iowa students choose from more than 100 study abroad programs and multiple undergraduate research opportunities.
Students benefit from dynamic extracurriculars such as Seollal and Chuseok celebrations, K-pop and speech contests, and special lectures on Korean studies, all designed to bring Korea’s vibrant traditions and contemporary culture to life on campus. Language learners can also sharpen their skills through conversation groups and peer tutoring, ensuring they build both fluency and confidence.
Students studying Korean at Iowa have opportunities to expand their learning beyond the classroom. The University of Iowa maintains relationships with universities in Seoul and offers access to a variety of study abroad opportunities in Korea. Students may also be eligible for university and external scholarships supporting language study and international experiences.
Previous Iowa students have participated in nationally competitive programs such as the Fulbright U.S. Student Program, the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) Program, and the Boren Awards, pursuing intensive language study, teaching, and research opportunities in Korea.
Scholarships
The University of Iowa provides a variety of scholarships to eligible undergraduate students through the Iowa Scholarship Portal. Scholarships are available to first-year, transfer, and currently enrolled students. For additional details on scholarships for your program of study, check directly with the department or college.
The Office of Admissions and the Office of Student Financial Aid are great resources for students seeking scholarships.
Coursework
The Korean minor combines sustained language study with interdisciplinary coursework in Korean studies. Students develop their Korean proficiency through a sequence of language courses extending through third-year Korean.
In addition to language study, students select courses that allow them to explore Korea from different disciplinary perspectives. Offerings may include Korean popular culture in a global context, Korean linguistics, Korean-English translation, Korean history, and Korean religion. This combination of language and content-based study enables students to develop both communicative proficiency and a deeper understanding of contemporary and historical Korea.
Students pursuing the BA in translation may also choose a Korean concentration, combining advanced Korean language study with coursework in translation and Korean culture.