Since 2004, Korea University (KU) has mandated that all students undertake additional majors. Additional majors include an intensive as part of the first major, a secondary major, and a fusion major. Their purpose is to promote consilience and convergence among different disciplines. It can, the KU administration claims, increase not only the options regarding majors but also enhance students' competitiveness in the job market. Baek Wan Jong (Academic Affairs Department), in Godae Today, said, “The obligation of additional majors is a specialized curriculum reform of KU to meet social needs. Those are interdisciplinary research, cultivation of a generous character, promotion of an international mindset and training of talented individuals."

 

Many students think the second major system is a good idea because it is a chance for an in-depth study of other areas in addition to their first major. Lee Byeong Yeob (’13, English Language and Literature) said, “Due to the characteristics of Korea’s education system, students often select majors irrelevant to their interests, talents, or future plans when they enter universities. Moreover, as students think about and plan what to do after graduation, they sometimes need to study in fields other than their original majors." He and other students claim that the double major system can offer great convenience in these cases.

 

 

 

Many students choose a secondary major. A student with a secondary major has to meet the requirements of their first major while completing another major as a second major at the same time. Degrees in both are awarded at graduation but on a single certificate. On the other hand, to receive a double major, students have to finish work in their first major and then take their second major classes, deferring graduation. Such students will receive two certificates for each degree. Meanwhile, in the case of a minor, only a “completed minor” is recorded as part of the degree, and such recording is only optional.

 

Fusion major is a system that allows students to take a separately organized curriculum that is a combination of two or more majors. A student-designed major is when three or more majors are organized by the student including major courses, and he or she must earn the minimum required credits in each. Students trying to create their own major have to receive the recommendation of a student-designed major professor after deliberation by the Education Progress Deliberation Committee. They must finally receive the permission of the president. The degrees for fusion majors and student-designed majors are the same as secondary major’s. Students on a leave of absence and transfer students, however, cannot apply for a secondary or student-designed major.

 

 

 

 

Despite the school’s good intentions, students and professors are dissatisfied with the additional major system. They seemed particularly discontented about the secondary major system and want it to be more developed. Professor Kim Jin Kyu (Russian Language and Literature) said, Due to the second major system, the competition for registration of the course is more overheated and students find it difficult to concentrate on their majors.” He suggests that the university should respect students’ right of choice. This, however, is not the only limitation of the system.

 

A serious problem is that grade point average(GPA) is of great importance in evaluating who qualifies for many secondary majors. Kwon Soon Min (’13, Sociology) said, “Because our university does not allow students to change majors, the second major plays an important role in solving the problem of those who do not fit into their first majors. However, judging someone’s qualification for a second major based on their GPA is not a good way to evaluate whether a student is capable of taking an additional major.” He added, “Sogang University (SU) has no GPA-cutoff and respects students’ right of choice. KU also needs to consider adopting such a system.”

 

Lee Eun Chan (’14, Russian Language and Literature) shared a similar view. “Although GPA is numerically accurate indicators of school life, it is difficult to judge the students merely on GPA.” He suggested that other factors which should be explicitly announced by the school can show students’ interest in majors they are applying for. "It can also cause more competition for better qualitifications but it would be able to show more about a student than just his or her GPA," he said. 

 

Regarding this, Lee Il Hoon (School of Media and Communication Academic Affairs Department) said, “It is often said that the evaluating criterion is only GPA. However, in our department, there are many courses that need collaboration with others, such as practice courses and team projects. For that reason, the Media Department regards a learning ability, cooperative spirit, passion and aptitude for the media department as important factors in evaluating students who apply.” He added that it also somewhat takes into account students’ GPA, but emphasized other factors through faculty interviews.

 

 

 

 

Business School and Media and Communications Department are some of the most popular options for a second major. Since many students are set on studying business, not only competition between applicants but also conflict between secondary major students and first major students is serious, especially during the registration of the course. Kim Ji Soo (’14, Business School) said, “It is very difficult to successfully register courses, particularly for required major courses. I think that a system needs to guarantee the right for first major students to attend class.”

 

Another student, Lee Jun Yong (’14, Business School) also had trouble registering for required major courses. He said, “Many Business School students face difficulties, especially after they become sophomores, when students start to take their major classes.” He suggested that the number of lectures should be increased. Currently, Principles of Marketing and Financial Management, which are required Business School courses, have more than ten classes. However, other required courses such as Management Information System and Organizational Behavior do not have as many sections offered.

  

Most students agree that information about the second major system is insufficient and that it is difficult to find information. For example, April 15 to 17 was the application period for fusion majors, but many students were not informed about it. Students know little about the exact rules regarding secondary majors. In some cases, students do not even know that the student designed major exist.

 

Lee Do Hwan (’14, Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering) said, “When I find and visit websites of the department that I am interested in, it is sometimes hard to find up-to-date information. Also, the KU Portal to Information Depository (KUPID) has neither a high quality search engine nor quick news updates. Koreapas is the only place where I can get detailed information.” The initial purpose of an additional major is good but there are many problems regarding the system. KU administrators should listen to students’ voices. Therefore, information about the additional majors by the school should be provided.