Korea University

This course covers the study and evaluation of the culture of English-speaking people, such as language behavior, values, and customs, so that students can become familiar with both cultures as well as the ability to use the two languages in a sympathetic manner. 

This offering of the course examines: What makes one an American? Underlying at the root of the concept of American is the belief in one’s ability to “make” oneself into the image of an ideal American, which is inextricably linked with the cultural myth of self-invention that underwrites the American Dream. In this course, we examine how various American texts from the founding of the nation to the early 1930s contribute to, challenge, and revise our understanding of the American self, and consider how these texts give voice to particular social and historical experiences—both individual and national—and how those voices simultaneously direct and question the way we read such experiences as “American.”  

Students explore how changing social and political conditions are reflected in various texts, and how these texts participate in or question the construction of national identity. In this process, we ponder the ways in which these cultural texts both articulate and participate in broader historical struggles to establish the meaning of “America” itself. 

The first portion of this course focuses on comprehending ideas presented by Thom Hartmann, the key author that has helped influence the discussion of key environmental and social issues of the latter 20th century and early 21st century (influencing such people as celebrity Leonardo DiCaprio and politician Bernie Sanders). 

In this process, we examine the harmful aspects of city-state culture, such as competition, domination, and excess, as well as positive tribal values such as being part of nature, cooperation, care, and sharing. Students explore knowledge and skills needed to enhance their understanding of the interconnectedness of all living things, promote environmental awareness, and create a more sustainable future. 

The second half of the semester involves practical “hands-on” discovery as students choose their own issue to research, to discover what the author may have missed and even how the world has or hasn’t changed since the author wrote his book. 

This course covers information security and alternatives for protecting secret information from malicious digital attacks. The course examines various information protection devices and the principles, mechanisms, and implementations of computer security,  

Topics include Security concepts and principles, Software security – exploits and privilege escalation, User authentication, Operating systems security, Access control, Secure design and coding exercises, Cryptographic building blocks, Malicious software, GitCTF Competition, Web and browser security, Open source security and more. 

This is a special topics course that explores the history of popular music: its significant performers, recordings, performances, and cultural identity, with the focus on the decades of the 1970s and 1980s, the two decades that shaped the "visual era" in pop. Through watching and interpreting videos, students understand the aspects, causes, and effects of these social phenomena. 

This is not a music course, per se, but we will listen to and watch a lot of audio/video material as we consider the effects of popular music on contemporary history, culture, and society. Reading assignments will introduce the distinct musical styles, performers, and works that comprise each genre and a certain time period. While the previous course "Cultural Sociology" offered in Spring 2025 emphasized the social and cultural roles of popular music, this course focuses more on visual, commercial, technological and global aspects, which parallel the social circumstances of the era. 

No prior familiarity with pop music is necessary or assumed, but "Cultural Sociology" (SOCI446) is highly encouraged and recommended. However, all are welcome to enroll if they are willing to put in time and effort. 

Human immunity plays an important role in biological defense and the control of various diseases, and this course covers the specific role and function of immune cells. In addition, this course covers the application principles of vaccine development, cancer treatment, and organ transplantation using immunomodulation. In addition, various experimental techniques that are essential in immunology are introduced to promote a broad understanding of applied immunology. 

Topics include Immunological strategies against various infections, Infectious diseases: pathological response and therapeutic options, Vaccine development and practical applications, Immunodeficiency diseases, Hypersensitive responses/allergy, Atopic diseases and practical application, Transplantation and adaptive immunity, Technical advancement in transplantation, Tumor immunology, Immunotherapy for cancer, Autoimmunity and autoimmune diseases.  

This course covers marketing concepts, terms, theories, and tools necessary for the successful development of new products from idea generation to launch. 

Topics include the role of innovation and new product development in organizations and society, Success and failure for industrial and consumer innovations, the new product development process, Strategic planning, Product concepts, New product ideas: problem-based and dimensional approaches, Concept/product evaluation, Demand and forecasting estimation, Product protocol/design, Development.  

In addition to mid-term and final exams, students complete a class project including a presentation and report. 

This course discusses the relationship between current social issues and dystopian imagination and focuses on evaluation and analysis by putting various Korean texts in dialog with other texts, including classics from around the world. The main goal of this course is to make the fictional horror-based world more culturally relevant to modern society and the world today.  

Topics include how literature is used to explore and comment on political and cultural issues, how classical literature is adapted and interpreted through contemporary cinema and mass media, and the idea of cinema as a literary art form. 

Discussion centers around several texts – films, poetry, music, and a novel - which we will analyze in detail. 

This introductory course provides a survey of Western history from the ancient period through the nineteenth century. It is designed for students who wish to pursue more specialized topics in Western history in the future and/or who plan to major in history.  Students are introduced to key historical figures and events, while the course also emphasizes how perceptions and expectations of both individuals and collectives (such as nation and religion) have evolved over time.  

Lectures proceed chronologically and are complemented by in-class activities that center on a variety of primary sources. Through these materials, the course uncovers the historical complexity of important concepts that are often simplified or taken for granted, such as liberty, equality, progress, and truth.  Ultimately, the course invites students to consider how they, as historical actors, wish to engage with knowledge and the world around them. 

This course introduces students to the world economic dimension of the Korean economy, especially focusing on its trade, investment, and financial transactions with major partners. Students learn the basic theories of microeconomics and macroeconomics, and how these theories are applied to reality using Korean examples. The course also pays special attention to Korea’s involvement with diverse international economic institutions, such as the OECD, APEC, and the WTO, etc.  

Students gain basic knowledge of the process of Korea’s economic development, where the country’s interactions with the world economy have played a decisive role  The course is designed to be an interactive course, so that students must be prepared for class discussion by reading relevant materials and documents provided. Frequently documents from the WTO and OECD, as well as other international organizations will serve as basic readings. 

This is a practical course covering the theory and practice of volunteering. The course focuses on understanding the minimum content for participating in community service and focusing on the practice of social service activities. Students learn how to plan and practice volunteer community service. Volunteer confirmation and volunteer diary must be submitted.