Master's Degree
General Information
KU GSIS students can choose among five MA programs, i.e. International Commerce, International Development & Cooperation, International Peace & Security, Area Studies, and Korean Studies. Students engage an all-English curriculum that offers a mixture of theoretical frameworks for defining the pressing issues facing firms, cities, nations, regions, and the globe and the practical tools required to formulate policies and strategies to address those issues.
After two years of study, students are being awarded one of the following degrees depending on their choice:
- Master of Arts in International Studies (International Commerce) | 국제학 석사(국제통상)
- Master of Arts in International Studies (International Development and Cooperation) | 국제학 석사(국제개발협력)
- Master of Arts in International Studies (International Peace and Security) | 국제학 석사(국제평화안보)
- Master of Arts in International Studies (East Asian Area) | 국제학 석사(동아시아지역학)
- Master of Arts in International Studies (European Area) | 국제학 석사(유럽지역학)
- Master of Arts in International Studies (Korean Studies) | 국제학 석사(한국학)
International Studies
| Major | Introduction |
|---|---|
| International Commerce | The goal of this two-year program is to provide students with an enhanced understanding of international commerce within the process of globalization. Relevant courses will equip students with the skills, knowledge and experiences necessary in the fields of Trade, Finance, Business and Marketing. A wide range of relevant courses include: Macroeconomics, Strategic Management, Electronic Commerce, Multilateral and Regional Cooperation for Economic Development, Foreign Direct Investment, and Money and Banking. |
| International Development & Cooperation | This two-year program deals with relevant issues in international development. Students will explore various aspects of interactions among states, international organizations, aid agencies, and individuals in reducing poverty & inequality, achieving sustainable development, and addressing climate change. IDC professors at GSIS specialize in the following topics: education, climate change, human rights, water, environment, urban studies, gender, poverty and inequality, international trade and FDI, international law, and human development. |
| International Peace & Security | This two-year program provides students with rigorous knowledge on the occurrence of violence across national borders, the means available to states for advancing their strategic interests, and the sources of (in)stability in the international system. Upon successful completion of the course, students will be equipped with a foundation for independently pursuing academic and policy questions in international peace and security that are of special interest to them. |
| Area Studies | This two-year program offers students the opportunity to develop a deep and broad understanding of issues related to various world regions. Area studies at GSIS has a focus on three regions: Europe, Northeast Asia, and Southeast Asia. However, further expertise among GSIS faculty allows the (limited) study of other regions such as North America (Canada & US), Sub-Saharan Africa, and Russia. |
Korean Studies
| Major | Introduction |
|---|---|
| Korean Studies | The Department of Korean Studies at GSIS aims to equip international and domestic students with an enhanced understanding of Korea, including its contemporary social modernization, and economic development. GSIS offers a two-year Master’s degree program. All the courses in the program are taught in English. In addition, high-level Korean language and reading classes are available in Korean for students who want to have intensive training in the Korean language. Current courses include: Modern History of Korea, Social Movement and Political Change, Social Problems in Korea, Korean Economy, Korean Cinema in the Global Context, and Dynamics of Korean Management. |
Two Options: Thesis Track vs. Non-Thesis Track
Students who seek to receive a Master’s Degree must choose either the Thesis or the Non-Thesis Track, and fulfill all the criteria accordingly.
Thesis Track
Thesis track students must obtain a minimum of 39 credits (including Thesis Research I). Since they have to prepare and submit a thesis for completion, they are obliged to take Thesis Research I with their thesis supervisor (3 credits) in their 3rd semester. Thesis track students should contact the professor they are interested to work with for Thesis Research I before the start of the third semester.
Curriculum Structure & Credits (Thesis Track)
| Department |
Core Compulsory |
Core Elective |
Major Elective |
Area Studies* |
General Elective | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Studies | 6 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 3 | 39 |
| Korean Studies | 21 | 9 | 9 | 39 |
For Area Studies major, choose courses from other majors (IC, IDC, IPS)
Process of thesis writing:
- 3rd Semester: Thesis Research I course, Thesis Proposal Presentation
- 4th Semester: Thesis Defense
Non-Thesis Track
Non-thesis track students do not need to submit a thesis and thus do not take Thesis Research I. Instead, they must obtain 6 additional Major Elective credits.
Curriculum Structure & Credits (Non-Thesis Track)
| Department |
Core Compulsory |
Core Elective |
Major Elective |
Area Studies* |
General Elective | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Studies | 3 | 9 | 21 | 6 | 3 | 42 |
| Korean Studies | 18 | 15 | 9 | 42 |
For Area Studies major, choose courses from other majors (IC, IDC, IPS)
Courses offered at GSIS
Below table shows a selection of M.A. level courses that are offered in the Graduate School of International Studies by major. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of GSIS, many courses are cross-listed across various majors.
International Studies
| Major | Course List |
|---|---|
| International Commerce | International Economics / International Business / Global Marketing / Corporate Analysis / Strategic Management / International Finance / International Financial Market / Macroeconomics / Digital Economics / Theory and Practice of Economic Integration / International Economic Organizations / Special Topics in International Commerce / Current Issues in International Commerce / International Economic Law / International Trade Policy / Korean Finance and Tax Policy / East Asian Trade and Investment / EU Economy / The Japanese Economy / Southeast Asian Economy / African Economy / Research Methods |
| International Development & Cooperation | Introduction to International Development & Cooperation / International Development Assistance: Institutions and Policies / International Organizations / Seminar on Global Governance / Comparative Societies / Dynamics of Globalization / Policy Evaluation / Gender and Development / Political Economy of Energy / Resource Management / Urban Development / Human Rights and Human Security in Asia / International Human Rights Organizations / Business and Human Rights / Special Topics in Human Rights / Special Topics in Global Environment / Law and Politics of Climate Change / Seminar on Trade and Environment / Multilateral and Regional Cooperation for Economic Development / Economic Development / International Development Organizations / International Development Program and Project / Planning for Uncertainty and Risk / Mainstreaming Risk Management in Development / Understanding Africa / Southeast Asian Economy / Environment and Development in China / Research Methods |
| International Peace & Security | World Politics / National Competitiveness Seminar / History of International Relations / Seminar in International Relations / Issues in World Politics / International Political Economy / Case Studies of International Relations / Globalization and Global Issues / Game Theory / Approaches to International Peace / Mass Media, Public Opinion and Foreign Policy / International Conflict Analysis and Management / National Security and Strategic Studies / Human Security / Future of War / North-South Korean Relations / International Relations in East Asia / Political Economy on Energy / Policy Evaluation / East Asia in War and Peace / Special Topics in International Peace and Security / Research Methods |
| Area Studies | International Relations in East Asia / East Asian Trade and Investment / Environment and Development of East Asia / ASEAN and Southeast Asia / The U.S. Foreign Policy / EU Economy / Inter-States Relations of the EU / Politics of the European Union / European Society and Culture / Special Topics in EU Studies / Korean Culture / Social Change in Korea / Korean Economy / The Japanese Economy / Japanese Foreign Policy / Japanese Society and Culture / Special Topics in Japanese Studies / Environment and Development in China / Special Topics in Chinese Studies / East Asia in War and Peace / Southeast Asian Economy / Politics of Southeast Asia / Understanding Africa / African Economy / Special Topics in Regional Studies / Research Methods |
Korean Studies
| Specialization | Course List |
|---|---|
| Korean Studies | Contemporary Korean Society / Modern History of Korea / Korean Culture / Korean Language I - III / Special Topics in Korean Society and Culture / Korean Cinema in a Global Context / History of Korean Art / Korean Aesthetics / Religion in Korea / Social Change in Korea / Korea-U.S. Relations / Korean-Japanese Relations / Korean Diaspora / Korea in the Era of Globalization / Advanced Readings in Korean / Readings in Korean / Korean Economy / Special Topics in Korean Economy / Research Methods |
For a detailed list of courses that have been offered each semester, click HERE and go on to “Graduate School Courses” under the English menu, then select “Graduate School of International Studies” in both large selection bars. This will also allow you to download the syllabus of each course. KU GSIS students further have the possibility to attend courses from other GSIS departments in Seoul (SNU, Yonsei, Ewha, Sogang, Chung-ang, HUFS, Hanyang).