Liberal Studies Programs at Kyungnam University (KU)

Liberal Studies Programs (LSP) are often mentioned as a solution to improving student choice and reducing course enrollments. So, what exactly is a Liberal Studies Program? 

1. What is LSP?

 The LSP is designed to give students the time and opportunities to explore their aptitudes. Over the course of a year, students can take various courses to discover their interests. This system benefits those who are unsure of their career paths by allowing them to experience different fields of study before making a decision. However, there are some issues: students sometimes use this major as a way to transfer to popular departments, leading to a departmental imbalance. Moreover, applying this system uniformly is challenging due to the specific characteristics of each department.

 2. Current Recruitment and Operation of LSP

 KU adopted the “fully autonomous selection” method for its LSP in 2021, replacing the previous "broad selection" method that allowed students admitted to the LSP to choose from all majors, except some departments. In their first year, students take courses like Topic Exploration Seminar and Creative Fusion Seminar, exploring various subjects from different perspectives. At the end of the first year, students can choose their major within the Colleges of Liberal Arts and Social Science, Health Science, Business, Public Services, Engineering, and AI·SW Convergence; some departments like the College of Education are excluded. In their sophomore year, students can either continue in a specific department or design their own degree program.

 KU plans to admit about 70 students to the program in 2025 and will assign 10 fulltime professors to support it. For more details, visit the KU’s LSP website: (https:// www.kyungnam.ac.kr/sites/sols/index.do)

3. KU's Efforts in the LSP

 Before choosing a major, KU students focus on career exploration through curricular and extracurricular programs. KU offers discussion-based classes on various topics, helping students develop their ability to analyze and synthesize information creatively. Career guidance professors are assigned to offer personalized support in career and major planning. They offer aptitude tests, career exploration programs, and one-onone counseling sessions to assist students in making informed decisions.

 KU is continually researching ways to enhance its LSP by developing self-designed major options, establishing transferable departments, and expanding liberal arts courses. Won Ji-hyun, a student currently majoring in psychology after entering KU through the LSP, said, “The LSP allows you to take the initiative in exploring your major interests. I highly recommend it for those who want to design their college life with guidance from professors across various disciplines.”