Even Without Double or Minor Majors, 12 Credits in Advanced and Convergence Courses Recognized as 'Small-Scale Major'

Ministry of Education Reviews and Approves Partial Amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act

In the future, students will be able to have approximately 12 credits of advanced or convergence courses recognized as a 'small-scale major' without having to apply for a double major or minor at university.

On the 11th, the Ministry of Education announced that the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Higher Education Act, which includes this content, was passed at the Cabinet meeting held at the Yongsan Government Complex in Seoul.

According to the amendment, a basis has been established for operating 'small-scale majors' that allow students to complete curricula in multiple fields with fewer credits than existing double majors or minors at universities.

A small-scale major is a system where students complete 9 to 12 credits in detailed (advanced) courses or linked/convergent fields.

Double majors require at least 39 credits (no credit overlap with other majors allowed), minors require at least 24 credits, and there are limits on the number of times a major can be changed, making it difficult for students to challenge new fields.

However, going forward, universities will create various forms of small-scale courses in cooperation with industry, and the completion results will be issued as documents such as certificates of completion or graduation certificates.

This will enable universities to provide systematic curricula, allowing students easier access to areas of interest and expanding career paths after graduation to various convergence fields beyond their main major.

With this amendment to the enforcement decree, the number of students eligible for bachelor's degree transfer admission to nursing departments will be maintained at 30% of the admission quota until the 2028 academic year.

In response to the shortage of medical field personnel, the government temporarily expanded the number of nursing department bachelor's degree transfer admissions from 10% to 30% of the admission quota per recruitment unit for five years from the 2019 to 2023 academic years, and this measure has been extended for another five years.

Additionally, the new enforcement decree includes necessary procedures and admission requirements to allow cyber universities offering 'associate degrees' to operate advanced major courses that confer 'bachelor's degrees.'

Meanwhile, at the same Cabinet meeting, an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Special Education Act for Persons with Disabilities, which strengthens support for disabled university students and graduate students, was also approved.

According to the amendment, universities will ensure that special support committees deciding support plans for disabled students include ▲faculty and staff ▲disabled students ▲experts, with no single type of member exceeding 60% of the total, and will establish individualized support plans considering the educational needs of disabled students.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.