Academic and Research Programs in Exercise Science, South Korea
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Academic and Research Programs in Exercise Science, South Korea KYUNG-SHIN PARK1 and WOOK SONG2 1Texas A&M International University, Texas, USA; 2Seoul National University, Seoul, SOUTH KOREA ABSTRACT Int J Exerc Sci 2(3) : 157-164, 2009. We appreciate the opportunity to review academic curriculum and current research focus of Exercise Science programs in South Korea. The information of this paper was collected by several different methods, including e-mail and phone interviews, and a discussion with Korean professors who attended the 2009 ACSM annual conference. It was agreed that exercise science programming in South Korea has improved over the last 60 years since being implemented. One of distinguishable achievement is that exercise science programs after the 1980’s has been expanded to several different directions. It does not only produce physical education teachers but also attributes more to research, sports medicine, sports, leisure and recreation. Therefore, it has produced various jobs in exercise-related fields. Some of exercise science departments do not require teacher preparation course work in their curriculum which allows students to focus more on their specialty. Secondly, we believe we South Korea has caught up with advanced countries in terms of research quality. Many Korean researchers have recently published and presented their investigations in international journals and conferences. The quality and quantity of these studies introduced to international societies indicate that Exercise Science programs in South Korea is continuing to develop and plays an important part in the world. KEY WORDS: Seoul National University, Kyung-Hee University, Kookmin University, Academic curriculum in Exercise Science, Research in Exercise Science INTRODUCTION science such as physiology, psychology, biomechanics, sociology, sports medicine, The field of Exercise Science has been etc. being deeply associated with human growing and extending for the last several life, especially health and fitness. We decades. Exercise Science programs in most celebrate our great achievement. However, countries were started under the exercise science in each country has department of Physical Education reflecting extended its programming in different to socio-economical demand for Physical directions in response to each nation’s Education teachers. As the world economy specific demand and now the academic and develops, a surplus of expendable income now research programs among countries (i.e. product) allows people to have their show many differences. We believe it is a own time and pay more attention to their timely decision by the editorial board of the health and fitness. Therefore, exercise International Journal of Exercise Science to science programs began to extend its field review exercise programs in other to satisfy a demand, which induces exercise countries. It will be a great opportunity to SOUTH KOREA EXERCISE SCIENCE ACADEMICS AND RESEARCH learn the advantages and disadvantages of ACADEMIC CURRICULUM exercise programs in various countries and to learn the future direction of exercise Dr. Park: The academic curriculum in science programs in both academics and Exercise Science programs has evolved over research. time. However, it was established originally to produce Physical Education teachers for BACKGROUND OF THE UNIVERSITIES primary and secondary education at the beginning, which is still one of the major Dr. Park: The Department of Physical purposes of Exercise Science programming Education at Seoul National University was in South Korea. Even though we offer established in 1946 and was the first several different academic curricula in institute to offer physical education and Exercise Science, they are very similar in exercise science programs after South Korea many points. The reason for this is that regained its sovereignty from Japan. It important issues in the University system began to offer master and doctoral in South Korea are discussed and programs in year 1952 and 1982, determined by the Korean Council for respectively. There are approximately 200 University Education. Universities do not undergraduate students and 300 graduate have any obligation to comply with Council students registered currently. Even though decisions, but they normally follow the the name of the department is Physical advice and results from the Council. For Education, it is one of the leading research example, all Exercise Science programs in institutes in the area of Exercise Science, South Korea require students to obtain 130 especially in Exercise Physiology, credit hours for graduation. Biomechanics and Motor Learning. Most Universities in South Korea offer Exercise Entrance Requirements into Academic Science programs at the departmental level. Programs A few universities provide Exercise Science programa at the College level, including: Dr. Song: Here in Seoul National Kyung-Hee University, Yong-In University, University, undergraduate students need to Kookmin University, and Korea National go for an admission test according to their Sport University. The Department of selection. For instance, in the Department of Physical Education at Kyung-Hee Physical Education, applicants need higher University was founded in 1949 but, scores on the National Scholastic advanced as the College of Physical Achievement Test (SAT) for college Education in 1955, which was the first entrance and fitness and sports skill test in College level Exercise Science program in the case of domestic students. However, South Korea. Now there are five applicants who are from other countries departments in this college, which are the need a study plan, a personal statement, Departments of: Physical Education, Sports two recommendations from teachers or Medicine, Sports Leadership, Golf, and professors, transcripts, graduation Taekwando (Martial art). certificates, and degree certificates attained previously as well as a financial certificate prior to entrance. Prospective students are International Journal of Exercise Science 158 http://www.intjexersci.com SOUTH KOREA EXERCISE SCIENCE ACADEMICS AND RESEARCH able to confirm details on the website Dr. Song : A typical program consists of a 4- admission.snu.ac.kr . Graduate courses in year course work for undergraduate the Physiological Sciences are composed of students in Seoul National University. two levels, the master course and the Students need to take at least 130 credit doctoral course. For admission to those hours for graduation. The graduate courses, applicants basically need English students in Physical Education have to take proficiency test scores of TOFEL, TEPS, more than 30 credit hours of major classes IELTS, TOEIC, etc. Also, documents which for 2 years in the case of full-time students are the same as undergraduate students are to obtain a master degree including a thesis. required as well as an interview and The doctoral students are required to take advisor acceptance. 64 credit hours of classes, to publish at least 2 articles and a dissertation for graduation. Dr. Park: The entrance requirements into It generally takes more than 4 years as a full Exercise Science academic programs are time student. very similar in most universities throughout South Korea. However, a few Dr. Park: All universities in South Korea departments started to give admission on offer two semesters with an optional the basis of SAT score and interview summer session in every academic year. without the fitness and sports skill test. One Each academic year begins with Spring of them is the Department of Sports semester at the first weekday in March and Medicine in the College of Physical ends with Fall semester in December. Each Education at Kyung Hee University. This semester is 16 weeks long. We do not have program is quite different as compared to spring and October breaks but have two other Exercise Science programs in South very long breaks in Summer and Winter. Korea. This department does not require Each break is about two and half months students to take Physical Education classes long. We celebrate Thanksgiving holiday in their academic curriculum but requires which is about 3-5day break during Fall students to take several classes from the semester. Exercise Science programs in all School of Medicine. I believe this is very universities after the year 2005 changed good idea since students can learn their curriculum therefore, the minimum advanced skills and knowledge in the given credit requirement for graduation was academic curriculum and which can reduced to 130 credit hours, down from 140 ultimately reinforce their career. However, credit hours. All Korean professors other programs such as sports leadership, attending this discussion received their leisure and recreation, and exercise science doctoral degree at different United States which do not intend to produce Physical colleges such as Purdue University and Education teachers still require students to University of Virginia, Florida, and Illinois. take physical education classes, which They all mentioned that they could not see should be reformed as soon as possible. any big difference in student life between South Korea and the United States. Korean A Typical School Year students study more but this is just due to the narrow job market in South Korea. International Journal of Exercise Science 159 http://www.intjexersci.com SOUTH KOREA EXERCISE SCIENCE ACADEMICS AND RESEARCH Exercise Science Curriculum Dr. Song : Our undergraduate and graduate students