Korean
Jump To:
South Korea has experienced rapid economic growth and development and is considered an Asian economic powerhouse. From K-pop to K-dramas, fashion and food, the global phenomenon known as Hallyu (Korean Wave) has taken over the world. The Korean language is also one of the fastest-growing languages in the world, reflecting the popularity of Korean culture. Korean, 한국어 (Hangugeo), is the official language of Korea and is spoken by more than 77 million people worldwide. The Korean Program at UB offers Korean language courses, which are designed to promote students’ communicative and intercultural competence, and Korean culture courses, which aim to contribute to critical cultural knowledge and understanding. The UB Korean Program is also committed to providing diverse intellectual and cultural activities for students and the wider UB community.
Linguistics BA - Korean Language and Linguistics Concentration
The Korean curriculum provides a solid foundation for an understanding and appreciation of the rich culture of Korea. The language and culture courses offered are useful to students who aspire to an East Asia-related academic or professional career in education, government, communications, business, and other fields in the United States and abroad.
Please visit the UB Undergraduate Catalog for further information about the Linguistics BA – Korean Language and Linguistics Concentration, including courses, acceptance criteria, requirements, study abroad, and career opportunities.
Current Students: Request to Add/Change to the Linguistics BA Korean Major
Submit the CAS Major/Minor Change Request form to request one of the following changes to your academic plan:
- Add a major, minor, or certificate in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Drop any major
- Drop any minor
Minor in Korean
Upon successful completion of all requirements, students with this degree are expected to acquire intermediate-level proficiency in Korean in the four skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and cultural knowledge and understanding desired for the target level of proficiency.
Please visit the UB Undergraduate Catalog for further information about the Minor in Korean, including courses, acceptance criteria, requirements, study abroad, and career opportunities.
Current Students: Request to Add/Change to the Korean Minor
Submit the CAS Major/Minor Change Request form to request one of the following changes to your academic plan:
- Add a major, minor, or certificate in the College of Arts and Sciences
- Drop any major
- Drop any minor
Korean Proficiency Test
The Korean proficiency test is designed for students who need a waiver from the language requirement.
Students who request waivers based on their scores on SAT II or AP tests or on courses taken at other institutions, OR, international students with a diploma from a non-English high school in their home country should contact the CAS Student Advisement and Services Office.
Testing Dates
The test is administered the first two weeks of every semester.
Please contact Hyein Amber Kim to make an appointment.
Korean Resources
Government-related Resources
Korean Ministry of Culture & Tourism
Korean Cultural and Arts Foundation
Information Portals
Korean Media
The Korea Herald, one of the major English newspapers in Korea
The Korea Times, one of the major English newspapers published by hankookilbo
The Korea Economic Daily (Hankyung), one of the leading economic newspapers in Korea
Study Abroad in Korea
The University at Buffalo offers exchange programs for undergraduate and graduate students with the Korea University in Seoul, Korea:
- Undergraduate students may participate in the Korea University Student Exchange Program (KUSEP)
- Graduate students may enroll in the Graduate School of International Studies (GSIS)
Please contact Hyein Amber Kim for more information about these opportunities. For further information about study abroad opportunities and resources, please visit Study Abroad Programs or contact the Study Abroad Programs Office at (716) 645-3912.
Apply Today
Incoming Students: Apply to the University at Buffalo
Contact Us
For students who are interested in learning more about Korean culture, please visit the Asian Studies Program.