National Humanities College Deans Call to "Stop 'No-Major Admission'... Popular Majors Will Face Increased Concentration" (Comprehensive)

Announcement of Admission on the 24th at Seoul National University
Concerns Raised Over Intensifying Popular Department Concentration
Calls for Gradual and Sequential Implementation

Humanities college deans nationwide have called for the immediate suspension of the Ministry of Education's 'undeclared major admission' policy, arguing that it could exacerbate the concentration of students in a few popular majors and undermine fundamental academic disciplines. The National Association of Deans of Humanities Colleges at National and Public Universities (Gukin-hyeop) and the National Association of Deans of Humanities Colleges at Private Universities (Sahin-hyeop) issued this stance on the 24th at Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, demanding a reconsideration of the undeclared major admission policy from the ground up.

"Concentration in Popular Majors Intensifies... No Place for Fundamental Disciplines"

The Council of Deans of Humanities Colleges at National Public Universities and the Council of Deans of Humanities Colleges at Private Universities nationwide announced on the 24th a statement urging the Ministry of Education to halt its policy of expanding admission without a declared major, arguing that it will lead to the collapse of fundamental academic disciplines.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Kang Chang-woo, Dean of the College of Humanities at Seoul National University, stated that "In the current situation where there is an extreme concentration of students choosing a few popular majors, the majority of students are very likely to follow the trend and select popular majors," adding, "It is difficult for the undeclared major system to help students find and choose majors that match their aptitude and interests, as originally intended by the Ministry of Education."

According to the draft prepared by the Ministry of Education, metropolitan universities and key national universities must expand undeclared major admissions starting from the 2025 academic year to receive incentive project funds from the government. Major universities in Seoul such as Seoul National University, Yonsei University, and Hanyang University have decided to adopt undeclared or free major admissions for freshmen starting in 2025.

The Ministry of Education is promoting the expansion of undeclared major admissions from next year, where freshmen are admitted without a declared major and decide their major afterward. The project targets 73 universities nationwide, including national universities like Seoul National University and Pusan National University, as well as private universities in the metropolitan area. However, even if students enter without a declared major, admission to health and medical fields such as medical school, pharmacy, or education colleges is not permitted.

Professor Kang said, "The undeclared major system currently promoted by the Ministry of Education is a complex mix of the European system, where medical, pharmacy, and law schools requiring licenses are all operated at the undergraduate level, and the American system, which operates through professional graduate schools," expressing concern that "various side effects may arise from mixing and transplanting these different systems."

Considering the outcomes of autonomous major systems and undergraduate systems already implemented by some universities, opinions were raised that expanding undeclared major admissions is inappropriate. Yang Jae-yong, Dean of the College of Humanities, Social Design, and Sports at Kangwon National University, criticized, "Kangwon National University already implements autonomous major and undergraduate systems, but the results show problems with inadequate management of first-year students without declared majors," adding, "Despite the inefficiency of similar systems being revealed, it is unclear why the Ministry of Education is pushing to expand undeclared major admissions."

Admissions Guidelines to Be Announced Next Month... "Premature Implementation"

There were also criticisms that the Ministry of Education hastily pushed the undeclared major plan without sufficiently gathering opinions from universities during the planning process. Universities will announce admissions guidelines for freshmen starting next month and begin education for students admitted under the undeclared major system from March.

Professor Kang stated, "If there are improvements needed in the student recruitment system, in-depth discussions, opinion gathering, and preparation of countermeasures for anticipated side effects should come first. Establishing systems and infrastructure for students admitted under the undeclared major system must precede implementation," adding, "As of late January, the Ministry of Education has yet to present concrete implementation plans or countermeasures for side effects. How can such an important educational policy change be pushed forward without at least a year of proper preparation?"

Kang Chang-woo, Dean of the College of Humanities at Seoul National University (first from the right), along with professors from the National Human Rights Association and the Sign Language Association, are attending a press conference held on the 24th at Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu, Seoul.
[Photo by Lee Seo-hee]

When asked whether the Ministry of Education had discussed detailed undeclared major plans with universities, Professor Kang explained, "Seoul National University first heard about the recruitment system from the Ministry of Education only two months ago. The documented confirmation was around mid-December," adding, "The Ministry plans to finalize and notify universities of the undeclared major plan by the end of January, but we hastened to release this statement today to urge suspension before that."

Humanities college deans nationwide demanded that the Ministry of Education halt its unilateral and hasty promotion of undeclared major admissions and reconsider the policy step by step from the beginning. Professor Kang emphasized, "At Seoul National University, all internal members are fully occupied preparing for the newly established School of Advanced Convergence starting in March next year," adding, "With the undeclared major admissions overlapping, there is physically no time to prepare. Thorough alternatives for anticipated side effects must be established before sequential and phased implementation."