Video summary

고1 과목선택 완벽 가이드 | 대학별 지정과목 + 계열별 필수과목 총정리

Main summary

Key takeaways

Educational

Main ideas / lessons conveyed

  • Subject selection is a high-stakes decision after midterms for Korean high school students (especially 1st/2nd-year students planning ahead).
  • Choosing electives affects your “career path” and the student record (used in later screening/admissions), so decisions should not be rushed or based on guesswork.
  • The speaker frames subject choice as matching a university’s required/recommended subject patterns, plus your intended major/career track.
  • Even when a course is described as an “elective,” CSAT/standard test scope and university requirements can effectively force certain subjects.
  • The guide distinguishes between:
    • Common subjects (mandatory)
    • Electives that students must choose:
      • General Electives
      • Career Electives
      • Convergence Electives
  • For top universities, the availability/precision of “recommended subject lists” varies:
    • Some universities clearly specify recommended subjects by recruitment unit/department.
    • Sogang University is presented as unique: it does not designate recommended elective subjects, but instead evaluates “growth potential” based on how students handle challenging coursework.

Curriculum structure (how the high school course system is presented)

1) Common subjects (do not require “elective choosing”)

  • Common subjects exist and are taken as part of the standard high school curriculum.
  • Examples (as described):
    • Common Korean
    • Common Mathematics
    • Common English
    • Integrated Social Studies
    • Integrated Science
  • These are mandatory once you reach high school level.

2) Electives students must choose

Students choose among:

  • General Electives
  • Career Electives
  • Convergence Electives

3) “Electives” that are effectively forced by the CSAT (as stated)

  • For Korean/Math, some “elective” options are treated as CSAT scope, so students are basically required to take them.
  • English 1 & 2 are also described as unconditionally included in the CSAT, so they are taken in semesters 1 and 2.
  • Social Studies and Science:
    • Presented as part of the CSAT training via Integrated Social Studies / Integrated Science in the early grade structure.
    • Later parts (2nd/3rd year) are described as getting “temporarily forgotten,” but students should still prepare for CSAT alongside school grading.

University-by-university guidance (key points mentioned)

Seoul National University (SNU)

  • All departments: require at least one foreign language or Classical Chinese.
  • For Natural Sciences:
    • The university designates specific science subjects per recruitment unit.
  • For career selection (as stated):
    • “Korean” / “Kia” and Calculus are mentioned as musts for career selection.
  • For science subjects in career-related categories:
    • Must take at least three in that set.
  • For Medical school:
    • Must unconditionally take Cell & Metabolism and Biological Genetics.
  • Speaker’s note: SNU’s guidance seems relatively roughly reflected in student-record signals, with limited public information on subject selection details.

Kyung Hee University

  • Described as meticulous:
    • Separates math/science into core vs recommended subjects.
  • Modified in August of the previous year (speaker references updated counts).
  • “Common” requirement described as:
    • Students must take all math classes (listed generally as Algebra, Calculus, Probability/Statistics, etc.).
  • For AI/software paths:
    • Speaker recommends focusing on certain math subjects (mentions “Gia” in the subtitles; likely a specific course name).
  • Physics is usually selected as the top priority for science electives.

Hanyang University

  • Shows mainly Natural Sciences category information.
  • For Natural Sciences:
    • Choose between Calculus and “Starvation” (likely a misrecognition of another course name).
  • For science section:
    • Must take at least one subject from a listed set (“Murasana” in subtitles, likely a course grouping name).
  • Career tracks:
    • Must select career elective subjects according to track and subject hierarchy.

Konkuk University

  • Provides information for humanities and some science details.
  • Introductory course emphasis:
    • Korean, English, Social Studies are important.
  • For humanities/social science:
    • Good to take Korean and Social Studies.
  • For business:
    • Math is highly important, with examples:
      • Algebra, Calculus, Probability & Statistics
  • For science track:
    • Recommended: Algebra, Calculus I & II, “Final Calculus”
  • Engineering college:
    • Recommends: Calculus 1–2 and “Kia”, plus Physics
  • Liberal arts major:
    • “Doesn’t matter anymore” (per subtitles): complete according to career/aptitude.

Dongguk University

  • Humanities curriculum is described as detailed.
  • Speaker suggests checking the humanities/social science breakdown materials.

Sogang University (unique feature + evaluation philosophy)

  • Presented as the only top university in Seoul that does not designate recommended elective subjects.
  • They announced:
    • No recommended courses by recruitment unit.
    • Essentially, students must set their own major/career goals and complete coursework.
  • Growth potential is described as an evaluation criterion:
    • For science students, later course options can narrow due to required “two-subject courses.”
    • Sogang appears to look at whether students continue challenging required/elective content even if grades are uncertain, as evidence of growth.

“Must listen to” subject selection recommendations (organized by genre/track)

A) Introductory / Humanities-related track

Core subjects to do well in

  • Korean
  • English
  • Social Studies (especially for history/philosophy-related departments)

Social Studies subtype emphasis (examples mentioned)

  • Studying Korean + history + English
  • Add ethics (as a small additional focus)

Math note for social science departments

  • Even in social-science departments:
    • If you are good at math, the speaker claims students can get into colleges via comprehensive admissions more effectively.
  • Therefore:
    • Don’t ignore Math
    • Do at least basic math

B) Business field

Core

  • English
  • Math

Recommended math baseline

  • Take:
    • Algebra
    • Calculus
    • Probability & Statistics

For career-path selection

  • Strongly recommends:
    • Calculus II or Mathematics for Economics
  • Not necessarily both, but taking at least one is framed as valuable.

C) Humanities (overall framing)

Priority order (as stated)

  1. Korean
  2. English
  3. Social Studies
  • Also includes “liberal arts math” (math in the general elective space).
  • Doing well in humanities math is framed as giving a strong advantage in comprehensive student record screening.

If conflicted about which Social Studies subject to choose

  • Speaker’s advice:
    • Pick a Social Studies subject aligned with your career path because there isn’t an absolute “must” by the university.
    • “Best” described as choosing the Social Studies course students choose most (as a strategy when no strict requirement exists).

D) Natural Science / Engineering-related track

1) Engineering-type (electronics/mechanics/semiconductors)

Most important subject

  • Physics (speaker says teaching starts/ends with Physics)

Math recommendation (engineering general rule)

  • For engineering majors:
    • Best to take all five math courses (five named in subtitles):
      • Algebra
      • Elements of Calculus
      • Probability and Statistics
      • Calculus II
      • Irr e?ducible Calculus (course name in subtitles; likely a specific calculus course)

Physics content emphasis

  • Key topics:
    • Mechanics
    • Energy
    • Electromagnetism
    • Quantum mechanics

2) New materials / chemical engineering

  • Physics still matters.
  • Science exam emphasis:
    • Recommended to take:
      • Matter and Energy
      • The World of Chemical Reactions

3) Computer science / AI-related majors

  • Requires:
    • all math courses
  • Also strongly recommends:
    • Physics topics aligned with:
      • Mechanics & Energy
      • Electromagnetism & Quantum mechanics

4) Biotechnology / food science

  • If major is engineering-adjacent (biotech/food engineering):
    • Recommended: Physics
  • If major is life sciences but not engineering-involved (example: food science & nutrition department):
    • Math and Chemistry more important than physics.

Recommended science subjects (as named)

  • Cellular metabolism
  • Biology
  • Genetics

Speaker’s overall claim about Physics for natural sciences

  • Taking physics:
    • increases options for master’s-level pathways
  • Not taking it reduces application usefulness later.

5) Pharmacy and medical fields (top-tier / medical school track)

  • Described as requiring many subjects, including:
    • Chemistry and Life sciences as most important
    • Students in “science-centric classes” likely preparing for medical school
  • Time/sequence emphasis:
    • For the second year (per speaker):
      • focus more on Chemistry and Life sciences
  • If aiming for medical school/top tier:
    • Advice:
      • take relevant subjects in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Earth Science

Public health / nursing (as stated contrast)

  • Physics is not necessary (per speaker).
  • Chemistry + biology are most important.
  • Math emphasis:
    • choose mainly Chemical Life-type math options
    • speaker mentions selecting three subjects:
      • “Seffer’s Metabolism” and “Chemical Reactions” (course names as in subtitles)

Environmental/ecology-related fields

  • Chemistry + biology are important, and math also matters.
  • Physics requirement:
    • only need up to a certain level (as stated: “up to the circle” in subtitles)
  • Chemistry/biology advanced courses recommended:
    • cover “three chemical reactions and cell metabolism” topics (as described)

6) Teacher training colleges (education colleges)

  • No specific subject requirement mentioned.
  • Recommendation principle:
    • because virtually all subjects apply, focus on doing well in selection criteria.
  • Example preference:
    • English education: take more English subjects
    • Korean language education: take more Korean language subjects
  • Overall:
    • preparation for admissions > fine-grained subject choice.

FAQ-style instructional points (questions + answers)

Q1: “Engineering school—do I really need Physics?”

  • Physics is described as absolutely basic for engineering.
  • Claim: no valid way to avoid it for engineering majors.
  • Also stated:
    • must take Physics I and II.
  • For subject-based selection:
    • at the speaker’s admissions center, they evaluate all elective subjects broadly (limited room for a simple “bag” due to subject-based selection).

Q2: “If I’m worried I won’t get good grades, should I skip the required difficult subject?”

  • Speaker advises you must still take it.
  • Reason given:
    • you can’t “choose around” university-designated requirements.
    • avoiding it because of grades can hurt you in the student record.

Q3: “My school canceled the class because of low enrollment—what do I do?”

  • Speaker says it’s okay because:
    • there should be alternatives like joint education courses or small-group subjects.
  • Advice:
    • don’t miss the opportunity to take the course.
  • Admissions officers can see whether your school rejected the course; the risk is if you avoid it yourself.

How to find materials / next steps (as provided)

  • The speaker plans to upload downloadable elective-subject materials to YouTube.
  • Mentions a curated resource by:
    • Daegu Office of Education
  • Where to look:
    • College admission information → major subject selection
  • Notes about the materials:
    • includes resources organized for 1st and 2nd graders too
    • curriculum differs from current 3rd year
    • starts with resource books listing recommended subjects per university
    • also includes materials by academic track
  • The speaker says the video covered upgraded 2026 elective subject guidance and invites comments for further help.

Speakers / sources featured

  • Teacher Sella (main speaker/author of the guidance in the subtitles)
  • Daegu Office of Education (referenced as a source that organized materials)

Original video