Qualifications for Major in Korean History:
Specialist-Historian in Oriental Studies, Korean Referent-Translator, English Translator

ÂÈ631. Ancient World History (2). Based on modern scientific data, a wide and objective description is given of the development of major ancient civilizations in the Old and New Worlds.

ÂÈ632. European Vs. American History (2). The course is designed to study the history of different regions. The social and cultural unity of medieval Europe is considered from social, political, cultural, and ideological viewpoints. The close interaction between the European and Oriental nations is presented as well. The course explores the role of great geographical discoveries in the historical process.

ÂÈ307. Problems of Modernization in Korean History (2). The course includes an introduction to modernization theory. Topics also include major periods of the Korean society history from 1870 through 1910. The course is designed to present students with an idea of modernization concept and elucidate modernization problems in Korea. Students are familiarized with basic problems of the Korean history of the last two centuries. Korea's role and the place in both regional and global modernization processes are explored. Topics include material culture and written texts on Korean modernization problems and the colonial period.

ÂÈ311. Structure of Korean Mentality (2). The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the peculiarities of Korean cultural values and priorities, and mentality (hierarchical thinking, collectivism, regionalism, and familism). Discussion covers understanding Korean cultural values and their psychological peculiarities.

ÂÈ306. Topical Problems of Korean History (3).
1. A Modern Korean History (Colonial Period) course includes an introduction to modern history, as well as the main issues of the Korean society and political state before World War II. The course is designed to familiarize the students with the main problems and events of the colonial period including the Japanese colonial rule, communistic and national liberation movement, the foreign actions of Provisional Government, the armed struggle against the Japanese colonizers and the peculiarities of Korea's economic development.
2. A Modern History of North and South Koreas course explores the general problems of the Korean society and political state after World War II. The course is designed for studying the main problems of and events in both the Korean People's Democratic Republic of and the Republic of Korea. The course presents students with knowledge of the postcolonial period of the country's development including true reasons for Korea's split in two separate states, the war of 1950-1953 and its causes, as well as the political, economic, and cultural development of both North and South Koreas. The course helps students to study the general problems of modern Korean history and the prospects of reunion.

ÂÈ637. Religion Studies (2). A psychological approach is used to characterize religion. Topics include interaction between religion and historical types of religious practice, and an individual's religious experience as a specific type of reality. Emphasis is placed on Zen Buddhism and its place in the culture of Japan and Korea. Students are also introduced to the essentials of Christianity and Islam.

ÂÈ309. Democratic Process Development in the Republic of Korea (2). This course is designed to assist students in tracing phases of democratic process development in South Korea and describing the current situation within the country.

ÂÈ312. Historical Text Translation (2). This course includes practical training in the translation of various historical texts.

ÂÈ634. Korean Historiography and Source Studies (3). This course considers general trends in Korean studies in the USSR and Modern Russia, the USA, Japan, South and North Koreas. It includes critical analysis of historical concepts of ancient, medieval, new, and modern history. Emphasis is placed on interpreting the history of South Korea in terms of the development of Korean Historiography.

ÂÈ638. Historical Philosophy (1). This course is designed to present students with ideas of space and time in terms of Judaic-Christian history concept. Students are familiarized with German and French historical schools' most outstanding representatives and their viewpoints on historical philosophy. Topics addressed include basics of modern global history concepts and historical cognition problems.

ÂÈ310. Authoritarianism to Democracy Transition Period Typology (1). This course explores foundations of the theory of democracy and some problems of South Korea's political history.