HUFSHankuk University of Foreign StudiesSeoul CampusGlobal CampusInterpretation and Translation

HUFS Academic Structure: Colleges and Graduate Programs

HUFS Academic Structure: Colleges and Graduate Programs

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) is organized into a comprehensive network of colleges and graduate schools designed to foster global communication and interdisciplinary expertise. The university operates across two primary locations—the Seoul Campus and the Global Campus—each offering a distinct array of academic specializations ranging from linguistics and social sciences to engineering and natural sciences.

Key Facts

  • Dual Campus System: Academic offerings are split between the Seoul Campus and the Global Campus.
  • Language Specialization: Extensive departments covering English, Occidental, Asian, Chinese, and Japanese languages.
  • Professional Training: The Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation (GSIT) provides specialized postgraduate training in eight languages.
  • Interdisciplinary Research: The Graduate School of International and Area Studies (GSIAS) focuses on regional politics, economy, and culture.
  • Diverse STEM Offerings: The Global Campus hosts dedicated colleges for Natural Science and Engineering.

Seoul Campus Academic Divisions

The Seoul Campus serves as a hub for language studies, social sciences, and education. It is structured into several specialized colleges that blend linguistic mastery with professional application.

Language and Culture Colleges

  • College of English: Includes departments for English Linguistics and Language Technology (ELLT), English Literature and Culture, and English for International Conferences and Communication (EICC).
  • College of Occidental Languages: Covers French (including FATI and European Studies), German, Russian, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, and Scandinavian Languages.
  • College of Asian Languages & Cultures: Offers programs in Malay-Indonesian, Arabic, Thai, Vietnamese, Hindi, Turkish and Azerbaijani, Persian, and Mongolian.
  • College of Chinese: Divided into Chinese Language, Literature and Culture, and Chinese Foreign Affairs and Commerce.
  • College of Japanese: Divided into Japanese Language, Literature and Culture, and Integrated Japanese Studies.

Professional and Social Sciences

  • College of Social Sciences: Features Political Science and Diplomacy, Public Administration, and a Division of Media & Communication (Journalism, Broadcasting/Film/New Media, and Advertising/PR).
  • College of Business and Economics: Includes International Economics & Law, Economics, and the Business School.
  • College of Education: Provides teacher training in English, French, German, Korean, and Chinese education.
  • Division of International Studies: Focuses on Language & Diplomacy, Language & Trade, and Korean as a Foreign Language.

Additionally, the Seoul Campus hosts Minerva College, which includes the Center for Writing & International Ethics. This non-diploma center provides mandatory liberal arts lectures for undergraduates, covering humanities topics such as philosophy, politics, and debate.

[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]

Global Campus Academic Divisions

The Global Campus expands the university's scope by integrating professional translation services with STEM fields and deep-dive area studies.

Specialized Language and Area Studies

  • College of Interpretation and Translation: Offers specialized tracks in English (including TESOL and English Linguistics), German, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Arabic, and Malay-Indonesian.
  • College of Central and East European Studies: Focuses on Polish, Romanian, Czech and Slovak, Hungarian, South Slavic, and Ukrainian studies.
  • College of International and Area Studies: Covers French, Brazilian, Greek and Bulgarian, Indian, Central Asian, Russian, and Korean studies, as well as a comprehensive Division of African Studies.

Humanities, Science, and Engineering

  • College of Humanities: Includes Linguistics and Cognitive Science, Philosophy, History, and Knowledge and Contents.
  • College of Economics and Business: Features Global Business and Technology, International Finance, and Management Information Systems.
  • College of Natural Science: Offers degrees in Mathematics, Statistics, Electronic Physics, Environmental Science, Bioscience and Biotechnology, and Chemistry.
  • College of Engineering: Includes Computer Engineering, Information Communications Engineering, Semiconductor and Electronics Engineering, Industrial and Management Engineering, and Biomedical Engineering.

[ไม่มีภาพประกอบ]

Graduate Education

HUFS provides advanced academic pathways through its general graduate school and two highly specialized professional schools.

General Graduate School

The general graduate school is divided into four primary pillars:

  • Humanities: Covers various language literatures, TESOL, Comparative Literature, Philosophy, and History.
  • Social Science: Focuses on International Affairs, Law, Public Administration, and International Business.
  • Natural Science: Includes Physics, Chemistry, and Environmental Science and Engineering.
  • Engineering: Specializes in Electronics, Computer and Electronic Systems, and Industrial Engineering.

Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation (GSIT)

Founded in 1979, GSIT is a premier institution for training professional conference interpreters. It offers master's degrees in eight languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic. In 1999, it established Korea's first doctoral program in this field. GSIT is a member of CIUTI and maintains high-tech facilities, including simultaneous interpretation booths and a satellite broadcast resources center.

Graduate School of International and Area Studies (GSIAS)

GSIAS provides multidisciplinary graduate education with a focus on regional expertise. Key departments include:

  • European Union Studies: Politics, security, and economy of EU member states.
  • Latin American Studies: Divided into political development, economy/business, and society/culture tracks.
  • Southeast Asia and India: An interdisciplinary program covering 11 countries, with strengths in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and India.
  • U.S. and Canadian Studies: A multidisciplinary program conducted entirely in English, focusing on diplomacy, management, and culture.
  • Other Regional Studies: Including Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Russian and CIS, Middle East and African, and United Nations Peace Studies.

GSIAS also operates the Center for International Cooperation and Strategy (CICS), a think-tank that facilitates policy research and international forums.

Academic Summary Table

HUFS Campus and Graduate School Overview
Entity Primary Focus Key Feature
Seoul Campus Languages & Social Sciences Diverse Occidental and Asian language colleges
Global Campus STEM & Professional Translation Integration of Engineering and Natural Sciences
GSIT Professional Interpretation First doctoral program in interpretation/translation in Korea
GSIAS International Area Studies Multidisciplinary regional research and CICS think-tank

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Seoul and Global campuses?

The Seoul Campus focuses heavily on language, literature, social sciences, and education. The Global Campus, while also offering language and area studies, includes comprehensive colleges for Natural Science and Engineering, as well as a specialized College of Interpretation and Translation.

What languages are taught at the Graduate School of Interpretation and Translation (GSIT)?

GSIT offers master's degree courses in eight languages: English, French, German, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic.

What is Minerva College?

Minerva College is a non-diploma entity that provides mandatory liberal arts lectures for undergraduates. These courses cover essential humanities topics such as history, philosophy, and communication to fulfill graduation requirements.

What does the GSIAS Southeast Asia and India department cover?

This department covers eleven countries across mainland Southeast Asia (e.g., Thailand, Vietnam), island Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia, Philippines), and South Asia (e.g., India, Pakistan). Students can specialize in politics, economy, or society and culture.

Is the U.S. and Canadian Studies program taught in Korean?

No, all coursework in the U.S. and Canadian Studies Department at GSIAS is conducted in English.