Korean Literature and Culture
B.A. Department of East Asian Studies · UC Irvine · 2026-2027 Catalog
The curriculum for Korean Literature and Culture enables students to understand the extensive and rich literary, historical, social, and aesthetic achievements of Korea by studying its language, literature, film, religion, and other cultural accomplishments in depth.
Requirements
All students must meet the University Requirements.
All students must meet the School Requirements.
All students are subject to the Language Other Than English Placement and Progression policies.
13 courses (52 units) are required for the major.
Departmental Requirements for the Major in Korean Literature and Culture
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| A. Complete: | ||
| KOREAN 103C | Advanced Korean | |
| B. Select one of the following: | ||
| EAS 15C | Introductory Topics in Chinese Literature | |
| EAS 15J | Introductory Topics in Japanese Literature | |
| EAS 15K | Introductory Topics in Korean Literature | |
| C. Complete: | ||
| EAS 130 | Topics in Korean Society and Culture | |
| EAS 140 | Topics in Korean Literature and Society | |
| EAS 190 | Junior-Senior Colloquium | |
| D. Select four courses from the following in Korean literature, culture, history, art history, linguistics, film and media, religion, philosophy, gender studies, or comparative literature, two of which may be lower-division: | ||
| EAS 20 | Topics in Asian Religions | |
| EAS 40 | Topics in East Asian Popular Culture | |
| EAS 55 | Introduction to East Asian Cultures | |
| EAS H84 | Traveling East/West | |
| EAS 116 | Topics in East Asian Religions | |
| EAS 117 | Topics in East Asian Philosophy | |
| EAS 130 | Topics in Korean Society and Culture | |
| EAS 140 | Topics in Korean Literature and Society | |
| EAS 160 | Topics in East Asian Cinema | |
| EAS 170 | Topics in Gender in East Asia | |
| KOREAN 104A | Fourth-Year Korean | |
| E. Select two upper-division courses dealing with the literature or culture of another East Asian country from the following: | ||
| EAS 110 | Topics in Chinese Literature and Society | |
| EAS 116 | Topics in East Asian Religions | |
| EAS 120 | Topics in Japanese Literature and Society | |
| EAS 150 | Topics in East Asian Literature in Translation | |
| F. One upper-division course dealing with Korea either in Anthropology or History: | ||
| HISTORY 173G | Topics in the History of Korea | |
| G. Select one course from either EAS 155 or any upper-division course in translated literature and culture of foreign languages offered in Comparative Literature, European Languages and Studies, or Spanish and Portuguese, or courses in literature and culture offered by the English or Asian American Studies Departments. | ||
- Each course in the list may be applied only when its content is deemed suitable by the Undergraduate Faculty Director of East Asian Studies. Other courses may be applied by petition with approval from the Undergraduate Faculty Director.
Residence Requirement for the Major: At least five upper-division courses required for the major must be completed successfully at UCI. Students are encouraged, however, to complete up to a year of their language study in approved programs of study abroad.