Educational Objectives

The Department of Music Culture Studies focuses on the multidirectionality of music, expanding research into music culture through interdisciplinary approaches that include musicology, humanities, sociology, pedagogy, business administration, and arts engineering. At the same time, it aims to cultivate music professionals with integrated knowledge who can understand and lead structural changes in arts and culture in response to a rapidly changing environment. Based on this foundation, the department seeks to create new career opportunities and develop Korea’s music culture in a future-oriented way.

• To pursue integrative knowledge that encompasses music culture studies, popular music studies, and music therapy in addition to expertise in each field.
• To emphasize practical field experience and academic practice.
• To highlight interdisciplinary approaches in connection with the humanities, social sciences, and the arts in general.

Fields of Study

• Bachelor’s & Master’s Program : Major in Music Therapy (Master of Music Therapy)
• Master’s Program : Major in Music Culture Studies (Degree: Master of Music Culture Studies), Major in Music Therapy (Degree: Master of Music Culture Studies)
• Doctoral Program : Major in Music Culture Studies (Degree: Ph.D. in Music Culture Studies), Major in Applied Music (Degree: Ph.D. in Music Culture Studies), Major in Music Therapy (Degree: Ph.D. in Music Culture Studies)

Career Opportunities

Graduates are actively engaged in various professional fields such as research, teaching, policy making, broadcasting, and arts organizations.

Current Faculty

Department Regulations

A. Matters Related to Admission

• In principle, admissions are conducted through special admissions and regular admissions in accordance with the Graduate School’s admission regulations. However, the selection ratio between special and regular admissions is determined by the Department Faculty Council.
• Applicants for the Master’s or Doctoral programs who are international students must be proficient in either Korean or English.
• For applicants from related fields or departments other than the same department or major, the Department Faculty Council will decide whether their application is acceptable. In such cases, they must complete supplementary courses in Musicology, Applied Music, or Pedagogy (6 credits for Master’s programs, 9 credits for Doctoral programs). Other matters shall follow the Graduate School’s admission regulations.
• Matters Related to Special Admissions Applicants for the Master’s and Doctoral degree examinations are required to be tested on the mandatory readings listed below during the interview. Applicants deemed ineligible based on this test shall not be admitted.
• Matters Related to Regular Admissions Aptitude and Personality
  Professional Knowledge and Academic Ability: Applicants for the Master’s and Doctoral degree examinations shall be tested on the mandatory readings listed below separately from the entrance examination during the interview. Applicants deemed ineligible based on this assessment shall not be admitted.
• List of Mandatory Readings
  • Master’s Program (4 Books)
    • Small, Christopher; Cho, Sun-woo; Choi, Yoo-jun, Musicking, Hyo-hyung Publishing, 2004.
    • Storey, John; Yoo, Young-min, What is Popular Culture?, Taehaksa, 2011.
    • Manuel, Peter; Park, Hong-kyu; Choi, Yoo-jun, Popular Music in the Non-Western World, Acanet, 2014.
    • Choi, Byung-chul, Music Therapy, Hakjisa, 2015.
  • Doctoral Program (7 Books)
    • Small, Christopher; Cho, Sun-woo; Choi, Yoo-jun, Musicking, Hyo-hyung Publishing, 2004.
    • Storey, John; Yoo, Young-min, What is Popular Culture?, Taehaksa, 2011.
    • Manuel, Peter; Park, Hong-kyu; Choi, Yoo-jun, Popular Music in the Non-Western World, Acanet, 2014.
    • Channon, Michael; Jeong, Kyung-young, From Handel to Hendrix, Kyungsung University Press, 2008.
    • Kim, Yong-kyu, Theory of Hybrid Culture, Somyung Publishing, 2013. Choi, Byung-chul, Music Therapy, Hakjisa, 2015. Bruscia, Kenneth E.; Choi, Byung-chul (trans.), Music Therapy, Hakjisa, 2003.

B. Matters Related to Credit Requirements

• For the Master’s and Doctoral programs, students must complete at least 3 core required courses for the Master’s program and 4 core required courses for the Doctoral program from the designated common required courses. Elective courses may be taken from any of the three majors—Music Culture Studies, Applied Music, or Music Therapy—without distinction. In other words, Master’s students must earn a total of 24 credits including core and elective courses, and Doctoral students must earn at least 36 credits.
• Designation of Supplementary Courses : For Master’s and Doctoral students from other majors, supplementary courses are determined by the Department Faculty Council, and courses completed in related fields may be recognized at the discretion of the Faculty Council.
• Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the Department of Music Culture Studies, students are encouraged by departmental regulations to continue attending relevant courses on- and off-campus until the submission of their thesis.

C. Matters Related to Foreign Language Examinations

The foreign language examination for both the Master’s and Doctoral programs shall consist of one English course, and eligibility to take the examination shall follow the Graduate School regulations.

D. Matters Related to Comprehensive Examinations

The comprehensive examination shall consist of two major courses for the Master’s program and three major courses for the Doctoral program. (The courses for the comprehensive examination shall be designated by the Department Chair from among the courses completed during the program.)

E. Matters Related to Thesis Submission and Evaluation

Requirements for Thesis Submission: Students who meet the following requirements are eligible to submit their thesis.

• Master’s Program
  • Common Requirements : Graduate School Regulations for Degree Thesis
    • Completion of at least 24 credits required for the program with an average grade of 80 or above across all courses.
    • Completion of all designated supplementary courses.
    • Regular registration for at least four semesters.
    • Submission of the thesis research proposal and at least one semester of guidance under the supervising professor.
    • Passing the foreign language examination (English) and the comprehensive examination (two major courses).
    • Payment of the research registration fee once at the beginning of the semester in which the student intends to apply for the degree after completing the program.
    • Presentation of the thesis plan in the affiliated department at least one semester before the preliminary and final examinations.
  • Departmental Standards
    • Master’s Thesis Supervisors Since the Department of Music Culture Studies operates as an interdepartmental cooperative program, it is possible, depending on the case, to have two thesis supervisors. Supervisors are divided into a primary supervisor and a co-supervisor. The primary supervisor shall be a faculty member of the department, while the co-supervisor may be another faculty member of the department, a professor from another department, or an external expert in the relevant field. Other necessary matters shall be decided by the Department Faculty Council. All other relevant matters shall follow the Graduate School regulations, and issues not specified therein shall be determined by the Department Faculty Council.
• Doctoral Program
  • Common Requirements : Graduate School Regulations for Degree Thesis
    • Completion of at least 36 credits required for the program with an average grade of 80 or above across all courses.
    • Completion of all designated supplementary courses (for students whose supplementary credits exceed 12, completion of 9 credits is required).
    • Regular registration for at least four semesters.
    • Completion of 4 credits of thesis research.
    • At least two semesters of guidance under the supervising professor, including at least one departmental public presentation, and receipt of recommendation from the supervisor.
    • Passing the foreign language examination (English).
    • Passing the comprehensive examination (three major courses).
    • Payment of the research registration fee once at the beginning of the semester in which the student intends to apply for the degree after completing the program.
    • Presentation of the thesis plan in the affiliated department at least one semester before the preliminary and final examinations.
    • Completion of required research achievements determined by the department under the guidance of the supervisor after admission.
  • Departmental Standards
    • The following requirements must be simultaneously fulfilled:
      • Research conducted after admission to the Doctoral program must account for 100% of the research paper achievements.
      • Research paper achievements should, in principle, include at least one publication in domestic or international journals (such as journals indexed by the Korea Research Foundation or higher). In cases of joint research or publications in foreign journals, the matter shall be reviewed and decided by the Department Faculty Council.
      • Doctoral Thesis Supervisors Since the Department of Music Culture Studies operates as an interdepartmental cooperative program, it is possible, depending on the case, to have two thesis supervisors. Supervisors are divided into a primary supervisor and a co-supervisor. The primary supervisor shall be a faculty member of the department, while the co-supervisor may be another faculty member of the department, a professor from another department, or an external expert in the relevant field. Other necessary matters shall be decided by the Department Faculty Council. All other relevant matters shall follow the Graduate School regulations, and issues not specified therein shall be determined by the Department Faculty Council.

Curriculum