Current Status of General Education Related to Dance and Physical Education at Korean Universities

Abstract

This study aims to analyze general education subjects to improve the common core competencies required of college students through general education in the fields of dance and physical education. To this end, the current status of general education related to dance and physical education in 15 four-year colleges with dance departments among universities in Seoul was examined using the objective sampling method. First, the information disclosed on each university’s website was mainly investigated, then supplementary data were obtained from the person in charge of the general education department of each university. As a result of the analysis, the general education courses offered at 15 universities can be broadly divided into the following three categories: First, common compulsory subjects that all students must complete; second, core and central subjects that are characteristic courses to be completed by all students and that contain the values pursued by each university; and third, general subjects that can be freely selected and completed. Most of the dance and physical education subjects are offered as elective subjects, rather than compulsory or core subjects. In addition, many universities that have dance departments do not offer any general education subjects related to dance at all. Overall, general education related to dance and physical education was biased toward theory classes or operated mainly on simple practice.