Department of Buddhist Studies

Since the department set up in the humanities college in 1986, it has led the way in researching Buddhism and boosting Buddhist culture. As the essence of Buddhism is to teach the truth, it draws attention as an alternative culture for the current society, as well as the future generations. Therefore to research Buddhism and to practice its spirit is important. In the Buddhist studies where traditions and new trends co-exist, we nurture talents who will lead the present and help improve the future.

Objectives of Education

Buddhism is defined as teaching the truth and proving a broad understanding of human consciousness. Thus the aim of Buddhist studies is to provide students with the necessary standards to heighten awareness and judge the fundamental values of the universe, the world, nature, and human beings, and to suggest the way to practice them.
The details are as follows:

• General understanding on Buddhist studies
• Surveying historic development of Buddhism
• Developing applied Buddhist theories
• The constant practice of faith and the cultivation of service spirit
• Creative succession of nation cultures and leading spiritual cultures

Educational Contents

Freshman: Understanding Buddhist Studies, Study of Buddhist Practice 1, Understanding Seon Buddhism, Study of Buddhist Practice 2 Sophomore: Early Buddhism, History of Religion, History of Buddhism in India (or Indian Buddhism), History of Chinese Buddhism, General Understanding of Seon, History of Korean Seon Thoughts, Reading Buddhist Cannon written in Chinese, Sanskrit, Introduction to Mahayana, Manifold Schools of Buddhism, Introduction to Buddhist English, Early Buddhist Scriptures, Seon Discipline Theory, Logics of Religion and Essay Writing, Reading Buddhist Scriptures, History of Buddhism in Korea (History of Jogye-order) Junior: Study of Madhyamika, Psychology of Buddhist Counseling, Understanding Buddhist Cultural Heritages, Understanding Mahayana Sutras, Reading English Buddhist Scriptures, History of Chinese Seon, Reading Seon Quotations, Religion Education Theory, Study of the Pure Land, Study of the Celestial Platform Sect, Seon Literature, Buddhist Epistemology, Buddhism and Society, Comparative Religion, Buddhism and Psychosomatic Medicine Senior: Buddhist Ethics, Buddhist Ecology, Methodology of Teaching Seon Practice, General Introduction of Seon Scriptures, Reading the Mahayanashraddhotpada Shastra, Study of Transmission of the Dharma and Edification of People, Study of Sila and Vinaya, Study of Esoteric Buddhism, Study of Avatamsak, Study and Teaching Methodology of Religious Materials , Seon Practice

Career Path

There is a wide range of career opportunities open to the graduates: Buddhist educational institutes, Religious Affairs of Religious Body, Military Religious Officers, Teachers of Buddhist Middle and High Schools, Missionary and Social Work, Buddhist Mass Media, and Buddhist Related Businesses. Recently, due to the development of Buddhist venture business and the Internet business, Buddhist major graduates have more chances of entering the workforce.

Major in Buddhist Culture and Contents

We cultivate educational specialists who teach young people from infants to teenagers. The emphasis on child education and care makes our graduates requires specialists in this field, so our department is the best in developing their potential and contributing their ability to the society. Since 1987 when the department was established under the name of "Department of Buddhist Childhood Education", we have produced about 1,000 graduates, and about 100 students attend this department. The employment rate is over 90% and graduates hold posts as presidents of public or private kindergartens, assistant directors, or instructors. MA degree holders work in research fields or teach university students. They also lead missionary work for children and welfare work. Our department has optimal conditions for nurturing specialists who are able to combine both theory and practice by cooperating with the university affiliated kindergarten, the Institute for Buddhist Child Education, the graduate school, and the Department of Buddhist Child Psychotherapy.

Objectives of Education

Founded on Buddhist spirit, the aim of this department is to teach the theory and practice of infant and childhood education to contribute to academic development, and to cultivate teachers and counselors.

Educational Contents

The educational course is consisted of three parts. First, the curriculum contains every required course for becoming nursing teachers at daycare centers. We have more than 17 courses including child development, nursing process, teaching behavior, teaching language, math, and science to children, children art, music, and literature, and day care practice. (51 credits) Second, we provide essential courses for the teaching profession. The course titles are: instructional method and engineering, educational psychology, educational sociology, study on child education, teaching materials and methods, and essay writing. Third, our education course includes basic contents for taking the youth counselor qualifying examination. The course titles are: counseling youth, theory and practice of counseling, measurement and evaluation of psychology, and the national certificate of level three youth counselor. Three professors educate their major parts: the infant development and care, education and methodology, and child counseling and welfare.

Career Path

Graduates find employment at public or private children education institutions, Buddhist child care centers, TV broadcasting, publishing companies, counseling centers, and social welfare organs. Some graduates enter domestic or overseas graduate schools, and others run their own kindergartens and day-care centers. In conclusion, most graduates are able to get their wanting positions, so the future of the department is very prospective.

Department of Korean Traditional Music

21st century key words are globalization, knowledge-information, and the creation of cultural values. The digital information network combines countries in the world into one, so new life-styles that no one ever experienced emerge. The speed and direction of changes which happen in a broad area are unpredictable. To meet the new era, the department educates students with various programs which are developed by related academic fields and produce professionals in Buddhist and traditional music. A lot of graduates dedicate their talents for the development of traditional music. The department strives to preserve traditional music and to produce talents who will inherit Buddhist culture.

Objectives of Education

The curriculum includes courses for researching Korean traditional music, practicing performance technique, and producing Buddhist music specialists. Students study not only Korean and western classical music but also Buddhist music, including Buddhist chanting, and they contribute their talents to the development of Buddhist music.

Educational Contents

* Instrumental music (gayageum, geomungo, pipe, seven-stringed instrument, haegeum) Freshman: Through accompanying performance, students feel the essence of Korean classical music. Sophomore and Junior: Students cultivate skills in order to play Sanjo. Senior: Students are able to compose songs and to play them. * Instrumental music (percussion) Freshman: Students learn how to sing pansori. Sophomore: Students study pansori, Sanjo, and the rhythms of creative music systems. Junior: Students learn samulnori. Senior: Students learn Buddhist music and learn ways to play various instruments. * Vocal Songs: Students practice songs and learn the meaning of lyrics. In the last semester, they perform their creative Buddhist songs. Gayageum and Song, and Pansori: Students practice Heungbu-ga, Shimcheung-ga, Chunhwang-ga, and Sugung-ga, including short songs. In the last semester, students also play their own Buddhist songs in public. Beumpae: Students train in various techniques. * Composition, Theology Buddhist music theory: Students learn how to read ancient music and folk music, and in the last semester, students should write a dissertation on music. Buddhist music composition: Students analyze western musical composition, compose solo or ensemble music, and then in the last semester, they compose Buddhist music.

Career Path

Music related institutions and organizations will be graduates in working fields. There are various other fields they can enter.