Communication curricula at universities in the Republic of Korea: Evolution and challenges in the digital age

This paper examines the current status, strengths and weaknesses of media communication curricula at 95 South Korean universities. It aims to find out whether the communication departments at South Korean universities reflect the global trend towards an integrated curriculum in the communication discipline as the literature suggests. This means a curriculum that integrates the theory, practice, and inter-disciplinary philosophies of Communication Studies, Journalism, Mass Communication, Advertising, Public Relations and Digital Media. The analysis shows that overall the current curricula in South Korean universities, which lean towards liberal-professional education, are relatively lacking in inter-disciplinarity. Most lacking is in the theory and practice of Communication Studies, particularly in Speech Communication and Public/Business Speaking. This study concludes with a proposed model for an integrated liberal, practical, and inter-disciplinary communication curriculum.