Why Learn Korean?

Temple’s Korean language program offers four semesters of language study, from the beginning through intermediate levels.  Classes feature a highly interactive learning environment, enabling students to develop their skills in cross-cultural communication. Korean classes can fulfill the language requirement for the Asian Studies, Global Studies, and International Business majors as well as several other programs, including the Asian Studies minor.   

The College of Liberal Arts offers the first four semesters in Korean, ranging from introductory to advanced courses, putting students on the path toward fluency in an increasingly global language. Please see the Korean courses page in the College of Liberal Arts undergraduate bulletin for a full list of Korean course offerings.

In recent years, the number of students in the United States studying Korean has more than tripled. Popular language learning app Duolingo places Korean in the top ten (and rising!) of the most studied languages worldwide. The US Department of State lists Korean as one of 15 Critical Need Languages—languages less commonly taught in schools that will be increasingly essential to the global workforce of the 21st century.

Study Abroad

Many students of Korean from a wide range of majors take advantage of university-based study-abroad programs. Temple has exchange programs with the following universities in South Korea: Ewha Womans Universiy, Hanyang University, Sejong University, Sogang University, and Yonsei University. The courses you take at these universities can earn Temple transfer credit. An exchange semester offers students a once-in-a-lifetime, full-immersion experience! To learn more about Temple’s exchange programs in South Korea, visit our Study Abroad page to learn more.

If you are interested in taking a course as a non-matriculated student, please contact the Office of Continuing Education.

Engage With Korean Art and Culture

Learning a new language offers so much more than the ability to communicate with foreign speakers. It provides new levels of context and understanding of entire cultures. In the United States, there has been a huge surge of interest in Korean art and pop culture, whether it’s K-Pop artists filling stadiums, K-Dramas topping the streaming charts or Korean films winning Academy Awards. Learning Korean makes for a more meaningful engagement with its art and culture.