Who Moved My Major?... Pukyong National University Celebrates First Graduate of 'Student-Designed Major' Program

Jun Ji-hyun Says, "I Earned My First Desired Degree by Combining Three Majors"

"There was no such major before."

A student at Pukyong National University (President: Jang Youngsoo) has drawn attention by successfully designing and completing a degree by combining three different majors and landing a job.

Pukyong National University announced on the 4th that it has decided to expand its 'Student-Designed Major' program, which allows students to design and complete their own majors, after seeing its first graduates and successful employment cases. This year, the university produced its first two graduates who completed self-designed majors.

Jeon Jihyun, an alumnus (Class of 2020) who majored in Resource Biology at Pukyong National University, was recently hired as a researcher (research inspection position) at the National Institute of Fisheries Science.

Jeon Jihyun is the first case of a student who earned a degree and found employment by utilizing the student-designed major system, which Pukyong National University began operating in earnest in 2022, to design her own major.

Unlike traditional double majors where students select and complete existing majors, the student-designed major allows students to create a new major by combining two or more existing curricula, resulting in the birth of entirely new fields of study. As of the first semester of this year, a total of 39 student-designed majors are being offered and operated.

Jeon Jihyun, who graduated last February, received a double major degree in 'Marine Fisheries Convergence Science,' which she designed herself by integrating curricula from three fields: marine, fisheries, and environment, in addition to her degree in Resource Biology.

She said, "My dream was to become a researcher in the marine field, so I entered the university as an oceanography major, but I realized I needed specialized knowledge in fisheries, so I transferred to Resource Biology." She added, "As I studied, I found that expertise in environmental fields was also necessary, and when I learned about the student-designed major system, I was able to create and complete a major that was a perfect fit for me."

Jeon is currently working in the newly established Climate Environment Research Division at the National Institute of Fisheries Science, making a significant impact even as a newcomer. She is recognized as a customized talent with integrated knowledge in marine, fisheries, and environment, conducting research to address climate and environmental changes, which have become global concerns.

Jeon Jihyun said, "I thought I would need to go to graduate school to become a researcher because of the specialized knowledge required, but I was able to build all the necessary competencies and achieve my dream early through the student-designed major. It was challenging to fill all the required credits until graduation, but I am happy to have become an irreplaceable person in a field that only I could pursue."

Pukyong National University plans to further expand the system, including considering offering the student-designed major as a primary major, to foster students' self-directed learning abilities and guarantee their freedom of choice in selecting majors.