A Critical Study on Curriculum Types of Liberal arts Education at Universities in Korea

Paek, Seung Su

Korean Journal of General Education 2019;13(6):101-122.
Published online December 30, 2019.

Seung Su Paek

한국 대학의 교양교육과정 유형에 대한 비판적 고찰

백승수

Abstract

It is fundamentally necessary to think over curriculum types of liberal arts education. This paper is to analyze common problems lying in curriculum types of liberal arts education at Universities in Korea, which hopefully contributes to newly reestablishing curriculum types of liberal arts education. The study (i) examines backgrounds and principles in basic types of general education curriculum which are prescribed subjects system, free electives, distribution requirements and core curricula; (ii) draws consequent implications; (iii) classifies historical backgrounds of curriculum types of liberal arts education at different universities in Korea as formative, confused and seeking years; (iv) presents relevant tasks; (v) explores ‘curriculum focusing on themes and disciplines’ which is a new curriculum type of liberal arts education in order for balanced completion for four years at college. It is expected to resolve structural and conventional problems of liberal arts education in terms of the curriculum types of liberal arts education and to contribute to clarifying the identity of liberal arts education.

Key Words: liberal arts Education, liberal arts Education Curriculum, Curriculum Types of liberal arts Education, Curriculum, Curriculum Type