Hello, I would like some advice. I am applying to college next year in 2016, I a plan on majoring in a BS but I want to minor in something else which will help me secure a job internationally, Japan or Korea preferably. I was thinking about minoring in Korean or Japanese, but I heard pursuing a degree in a language is a waste of time unless you plan on making that language your bread and butter - which I do not. the question really boils down to, can I get a BS at UC, study Japanese or Korean language without having to pursue a minor in it? if so, that could potentially open up my minor for something more marketable or useful- but ultimately the goal is to work in the Bioengineering field and secure a job or pursue my masters degree in Japan or Korea. any advice and guidance would be highly appreciated!
U can either speak the language, or u can’t. If u can speak it, then simply state so on your resume. No degree or minor in that language is required.
Lots of people can speak a second language w/o having a degree/minor in it. And lots of people have a degree/minor in a language but still can’t confidently order a meal in a restaurant in that language.
Realistically, what kind of job do u envisage getting in Korea or Japan that a local Korean or Japanese national can’t do, which will get u a work visa there?
What I am saying is that I am willing to study both languages- but will it require a minor in either in order to have study abroad opportunities there? For example if I am simply a biology major, and I want to study abroad in Korea at Yonsei university- do I need to have an academic degree plan in Korean studies or can I go without one? My major is going to be a BS but I also plan on attaining fluency in Korean AND Japanese (one after the other)- I want to know if to do that I have to make it a minor to include it on my degree plan, or if I can simply study the language at university without having to minor in it. I have never been to a real college before so I am not quite sure how things work.
It depends on your degree and school, Matros. Often with engineering degrees, your ability to study abroad at all anywhere can be severely hampered. (If you can study abroad, it’s usually done as a semester of general LAC coursework, with few engineering major items, from what I’ve read. Even that seems uncommon, though. This is because engineering is deeply sequential and uses up every last semester to complete on time.) However, most schools seem to allow anyone to study abroad that wants to - regardless if you’re majoring in a language or culture or not.
I also have yet to research a school that required you to be majoring in anything specific to take foreign language courses.
Again, review your school’s policy, but you’re probably going to be A-OK.
good luck finding an engineer program you can afford with one of those languages on offer, though, if you go that route.
It probably depends on your school, but in my experience, you don’t have to have a minor or a major in a language to study abroad there. Most students I knew who studied abroad didn’t major or minor in another language. The issue is just finding classes that will transfer from the foreign university to your home university. I know many students tended to plan out their schedules so that they would be taking GE courses abroad and took more important major classes at their home university. I don’t see why you would need to major or minor in a foreign language in order to study abroad in that country. There are likely some countries that students study abroad in that their school’s don’t even have an option to major or minor in that language.
Many students may minor or major in something like Korean Studies and then study abroad there incidentally because of interest or because they are learning the language so are already racking up enough courses to get a minor or something in the language. It doesn’t necessarily mean they are doing so because they have to in order to study abroad, but again, it may be school specific.
What I would recommend since you know that you want to study abroad is to look into study abroad options when choosing schools. Look for schools that provide a lot of support and encouragement to students who would like to study abroad and take a look at what resources they have for students who wish to do so. Schools can make it easier or harder to study abroad, and they will have different requirements to do so.
Thanks guys, most of you have been awesome and brilliant @Enchantressa actually UC (where I am applying to) offers study abroad in Biology and Bioengineering in Korea and Japan at Yonsei and Osaka universities respectively so thankfully I have that end covered (well, it seems that way, fingers crossed) Thanks again, you guys really addressed a big issue concern of mine!