Korean The Ohio State University

Overview

Students studying Korean program from The Ohio State University progress from an elementary working knowledge of the language to oral and written fluency. From the very beginning, students familiarize themselves with Korean phonology and orthography, thereby getting a firm understanding of how the writing system decodes the sound of Korean.

In the Korean individualized instruction track, students opt to first familiarize with basic patterns of pronunciation and language structure by use of Romanization, then swiftly transition to the Korean writing system. The rich body of Korean literature and performance tradition is first studied in English translation; as students progress in the major and develop their language skills, they perform readings and workshops in Korean.

Possible careers

Korean is applicable to a variety of settings in the United States and abroad. Mastery of Korean allows students to consider careers in such fields as education, translation and interpretation; government; international trade; banking; print or electronic media; social work; diplomatic services; broadcasting and popular entertainment; tourism; or art.

Korean majors may also continue into graduate/professional school in Korean, East Asian, Asian-American studies and related fields. Many employers are eager to hire graduates who are fluent in Korean because their businesses interact with Korean speakers. 

Careers in which Korean is the primary emphasis include teaching Korean at all levels; interpreting and translating for the United Nations, government, or for private and public organizations; and a variety of positions in the travel and hospitality industries at home or abroad, such as flight attendant, travel agent, tour guide or hotel management personnel.

Careers in which proficiency in Korean is a good secondary tool include banking and finance, business, sales, export purchasing, foreign market analysis, journalism, foreign correspondence, science and research, library science, hotel management, publishing, radio and television broadcasting, and teaching English in universities and private institutions in Korea and to employees in corporations abroad.

Possible jobs suitable for Ohio State graduates with Korean language majors include trade specialist for the Ohio Department of Development, consultant for the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, translation and interpretation services catering to the business and government sectors, and employment overseas and/or with corporations based in the Republic of Korea. Fluency in Korean language and culture prepares students for careers in international/global contexts. 

Students can explore career options by utilizing Career Connection as well as the Arts and Sciences Career Services Office. Career Connection focuses on helping students establish a career direction while the Arts and Sciences Career Services Office assists students with finding internships—experiences that are essential to testing out the suitability of career fields under consideration.