Balance, Convergence and Integration of General Education and Major Education

Son, Dong-Hyun

Korean Journal of General Education 2010;4(2):19-27.
Published online December 30, 2010.

Dong-Hyun Son

교양교육과 전공교육의 균형과 수렴에 관해

손동현

Abstract

In Korean universities the educational idea of general education is not realized in its original meaning. It s because the major education, mainly the vocational education in special area, has been emphasized. But the society of knowledge has been changed so that the general education in its original meaning is demanded more than ever, not as in the age of industrialization. To cope with the new intellectual geography the university education has to be changed accordingly so that the general education can be deepened and enhanced. Concerning the curriculum the reform has to aim at balance, convergence and eventually integration of general education and major education. Concerning the educational structure of the university, the reform has to aim at a kind of “stratification” so that the study in disciplines of applied science (vocational study) has to be carried out on the foundation of the study in those of pure sciences. In that way the research and education must be integrated organically.

Key Words: New meaning of general education, ways of enhancement of general education, reform in curriculum, balance, convergence and eventually integration of general education an