1. Introduction to Stellar Arts Institute

Q1. What is Stellar Arts Institute?

Stellar Arts Institute is the name of a new college launching in 2027, formed through the integration of Dongseo University's three flagship specialized colleges: the College of Design, the College of Media Contents, and the Im Kwon-taek College of Film & Art. Its official Korean name is 스텔라예술대학, its official English name is STELLAR Arts Institute, and its core slogan is For Creative Impact.

The name "STELLAR" derives from the Latin word stella, meaning "star." With the addition of the letter r, the adjective stellar carries the meanings "of or relating to stars" and "shining like a star," as well as "exceptional," "outstanding," and "superlative." Stellar Arts Institute embodies the aspiration that each and every student will grow into a creator who radiates their own unique light, and emerge as a talent of distinguished capability in the fields of art, design, media, and content.

Q2. Is Stellar Arts Institute a separate institution from Dongseo University?

No. It is a specialized college in the fields of culture and arts, film, media, content, and design that will be newly launched within Dongseo University. Upon its integrated launch, it will become the largest college of its kind in the southeastern region of Korea. All matters of admission, enrollment, coursework, graduation, and degree conferral are conducted within the academic framework of Dongseo University.

2. Background of Integration and Educational Direction

Q3. Why is the integration into Stellar Arts Institute taking place?

The creative industries are being profoundly and rapidly affected by the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the advent of the AI era. Many experts and researchers emphasize that the majority of currently existing occupations will disappear, and these predictions are materializing faster than anticipated. As a result, an education focused solely on mastering a single tool or technique is no longer adequate preparation for future careers. Stellar Arts Institute is being launched to ensure that students maintain deep expertise in their chosen fields while simultaneously developing the convergent thinking, creative problem-solving, global communication, and practical project skills required in the age of AI.

Dongseo University's aim is not merely surface-level innovation; rather, it seeks to create a foundation in which the university's most competitive colleges converge, enabling students to cultivate broader competencies and prepare for future industries.

Q4. What is Minerva?

The Minerva Project is a globally recognized institution for higher education innovation, and has been in a strategic partnership with Dongseo University since 2025. All curricula at Stellar Arts Institute are being researched and developed in collaboration with the Minerva Project. This collaboration is not a simple introduction to an overseas institution or a one-time lecture series; rather, it is integrated into the design of the first-year common curriculum, instructional methods, and the development of a thinking-centered learning model. Students will learn through discussion, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication rather than through rote memorization.

For reference, Minerva University is the innovative university originally founded by the Minerva Project and is recognized as one of the most selective universities in the world.

Q5. Is it still worthwhile to pursue an arts or design major in the age of AI?

In the AI era, routine task-based and tool-centered skills are subject to rapid obsolescence. However, the role of the creator — identifying problems, proposing new perspectives, designing human experiences and sensibilities, and generating social meaning — is becoming increasingly vital. Stellar Arts Institute educates students to treat AI not as a threat, but as a tool for creative expression and an opportunity for expansion.

3. Admissions for the 2027 Academic Year(For Korean incoming students)

Q6. How do incoming students in the 2027 academic year choose their major?

Beginning in the 2027 academic year, first-year students at Stellar Arts Institute will no longer be recruited by individual department; instead, all 770 students will be admitted through a single unified intake. Students will be admitted according to the entrance requirements of one of five academic tracks. During their first year, students will not be immediately affiliated with a specific major. Instead, they will complete the common curriculum — meticulously developed in collaboration with the Minerva Project — alongside a range of major exploration courses, through which they will clarify their areas of interest and career direction. Upon advancing to their second year, students will select one major from among seventeen available programs.

The five admission tracks are as follows:

• Track 1 — Film, Acting, Musical Entertainment (Arts & Physical Education)

• Track 2 — Broadcasting & Media, Advertising & Public Relations (Humanities & Social Sciences)

• Track 3 — Game Design, Animation, Webtoon (Arts & Physical Education)

• Track 4 — Architecture (5-Year Accredited Program) (Engineering)

• Track 5 — Design, Fashion (Arts & Physical Education)

Major selection will prioritize each student's individual interests and career goals, and will be administered in a manner that maximizes student choice. Furthermore, regardless of the track through which a student is admitted, they are free to explore and select any major within Stellar Arts Institute.

However, in consideration of the academic characteristics of each major and students' readiness for practical coursework, guidance will be provided during the first year regarding prerequisite courses, foundational requirements, portfolio preparation, and practical skill development specific to each major. Students will receive support in identifying the most suitable major through consultations with their academic advisor, major information sessions, and career exploration programs.

Q7. Is it disadvantageous not to declare a major at the time of admission?

Not at all. In fact, the program is specifically designed so that students can experience foundational coursework across multiple majors during their first year, gain a clearer understanding of their aptitudes and career goals, and then make a more informed major declaration. To support this, the university plans to operate major exploration courses, career counseling, faculty mentoring, and portfolio advising concurrently.

Q8. Can students admitted through a non-practical track still choose a practice-based major?

Yes. Stellar Arts Institute will be administered in a manner that ensures the distinction between practical and non-practical admissions tracks does not restrict major selection. Regardless of their admission pathway, students may attend major exploration courses during their first year and select any major of their choosing based on their interests and level of preparation.

However, for majors in which practical ability is particularly important — such as Film, Acting, Musical Entertainment, Design, Fashion, Animation, and Webtoon — students will be provided with guidance on the foundational studio courses, prerequisites, portfolio preparation, and methods for developing practical proficiency required during the first year.

4. Major Selection and Administration

Q9. By what criteria is a second-year major selected?

The most important criteria in major selection are the student's own interests, aptitudes, and career goals. During their first year, students will experience a range of creative disciplines through the common curriculum and major exploration courses, and will select the most suitable major based on academic advisor consultations and major-specific career guidance.

The guiding principle of the major selection process is to ensure that students have ample opportunity to reflect on their goals and growth potential before making their decision.

Q10. What happens if too many students choose the same popular major?

Stellar Arts Institute operates on the principle of respecting students' freedom in major selection to the fullest extent possible. To this end, the university will administer major exploration activities, career counseling, major information sessions, and preference surveys during the first year, and will use advance data on demand to prepare class sections, faculty assignments, studio spaces, and equipment allocation accordingly. However, in cases where a major has specific educational characteristics, practical space limitations, safety requirements, or accreditation conditions, separate operational guidelines will be established and communicated in advance.

Q11. Can students choose a major outside the track through which they were admitted?

Yes. Stellar Arts Institute will not restrict major selection based on admission track, and will be administered to allow students to freely choose a major in accordance with their interests and career goals.

For example, a student admitted through the Film, Acting, and Musical Entertainment track may explore a wide range of majors during the first year and, based on their aptitudes and objectives, choose a major in a different field such as Design, Game Design, Animation, Broadcasting & Media, or Advertising & Public Relations.

This fully open major selection structure is intended to allow students to explore broader possibilities after enrollment and to design their own career paths in alignment with the evolving landscape of the creative industries.

Q12. Is it possible that a student may not be able to enroll in their desired major?

Stellar Arts Institute is administered with the principle of ensuring that students are able to select their desired major. Accordingly, students can engage in thorough exploration and consultation throughout the first year before selecting a major that aligns with their interests and career goals.

Even in cases where preference is concentrated in a particular major, measures such as advance preference surveys, demand forecasting by major, preliminary assignment simulations, and class scheduling adjustments will be implemented to ensure that student choice is respected to the greatest extent possible.

Q13. Can a student change their major after it has been declared?

Yes. Stellar Arts Institute is designed to allow students to discover their aptitudes and career paths through diverse experiences after enrollment. Therefore, even after a student declares a major upon advancing to the second year, a flexible academic framework will be established to accommodate major changes should a student's interests or career goals evolve.

Stellar Arts Institute does not operate on the premise that a single choice permanently determines one's academic trajectory; rather, it is structured so that students can adjust and expand their direction through the ongoing process of learning and experience. Students wishing to change their major will receive support through academic advisor consultations, guidance on the required coursework for the new major, and career counseling to help them adjust their academic plan with minimal disruption.

Q14. Is it still possible to pursue a single major in depth, as in the traditional model?

Yes. Stellar Arts Institute is not a university that emphasizes convergence exclusively; rather, it is structured to reinforce specialization within existing majors while simultaneously broadening the possibilities for interdisciplinary engagement. From the second year onward, students can systematically build expertise through advanced coursework in their chosen major, project-based courses, graduation exhibitions, and industry collaboration programs.

Q15. Will double majors and minors become more accessible?

Yes. Stellar Arts Institute plans to strengthen not only major changes, but also a range of multi-major pathways, including minors, double majors, micro-degrees, and interdisciplinary convergence majors.

Through these options, students will be able to pursue deep specialization in a primary major while simultaneously connecting areas of interest to design their own unique academic domains and career tracks.

For example, a Design major who also studies AI content, game design, media, and advertising could develop into an AI-based brand experience designer or a game UX designer. A student in film and media who incorporates webtoon, performance, and branding could expand into a career as a transmedia storyteller or a convergence content producer.

Stellar Arts Institute will provide continuous advising and academic support to help students flexibly design their major and career path in accordance with the evolving creative industries landscape.

Q16. Will completing the first-year common curriculum interfere with the 5-year accredited Architecture program?

No. The Architecture major at Stellar Arts Institute will be administered systematically to ensure full compliance with the requirements of the existing 5-year accreditation curriculum.

For students entering in the 2027 academic year, the program is designed so that, after completing the first-year common curriculum and major exploration courses at Stellar Arts Institute, students will proceed step by step through the coursework required for the Architecture major from the second year onward. Therefore, completing the first-year common curriculum does not delay or disadvantage the academic path for the 5-year accredited Architecture program. On the contrary, the first-year curriculum at Stellar Arts Institute may represent a distinctive advantage compared to other universities offering a 5-year accredited Architecture program.

In particular, the Minerva-model Foundation courses offered in the first year provide a vital basis for developing the critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, systems thinking, collaborative, and AI and data literacy skills that architects need. Architecture is a convergent professional discipline that extends far beyond the design of buildings; it requires a comprehensive understanding of and engagement with human life, urban environments, ecology, technology, and social issues.

Students at Stellar Arts Institute will follow the established pathway of the 5-year accredited Architecture program with confidence, while also gaining stronger future competencies through the distinctive first-year education that sets Stellar Arts Institute apart.

Q17. How does this differ from a "Liberal Major" or "Open Major" program at other universities?

Stellar Arts Institute is distinct from a conventional open major program. While a general open major is a system designed for broad exploration across multiple fields, Stellar Arts Institute is a future-oriented arts education model specialized in the creative disciplines of film, performance, media, content, design, and architecture.

In particular, the first-year integrated common curriculum is not merely a major exploration program. Stellar Arts Institute operates an intensive series of foundational courses specifically tailored to future-oriented creative arts education in the first year, designed to ensure that students develop sustainable creative competencies that remain resilient through changes in the times, industries, and technologies.

Through this process, students will develop competencies in AI and digital technology, creative thinking, convergent problem-solving, research, storytelling, expression and communication, and self-directed career planning. This constitutes Stellar Arts Institute's signature curriculum and represents the defining differentiator that clearly distinguishes it from conventional open major programs.

Accordingly, the first year at Stellar Arts Institute is not "a time when one has not yet decided on a major," nor "a time to postpone major selection," nor "an ambiguous free major." It is a period of strategic foundational education essential for growth into a future creator. Students will then select a major suited to them on the basis of thorough exploration and advising, and from the second year onward will begin to develop genuine specialization in earnest.

5. Curriculum

Q18. What does the first-year common curriculum consist of?

The first-year common curriculum at Stellar Arts Institute provides the foundational competencies (Durable Skills) most essential for future creators as required general education courses. Through Stellar's signature courses — Stellar Spark and Stellar Foundation 1 through 4 — students engage in concentrated study of critical thinking, communication, and systems thinking, which form the basis of all creative practice. In addition, first-year major elective courses are offered with the goal of developing core creative competencies (Creative Core). Students may also freely select foundational studio courses from all seventeen majors within Stellar Arts Institute, within the prescribed credit framework.

Durable Skills refers to core competencies that remain enduring and transferable regardless of how specific technologies evolve — including, for example, critical thinking, creative problem-solving, collaboration, presentation and writing, and the ability to utilize data and AI.

Creative Core refers to the foundational studio competencies commonly required across diverse creative disciplines such as design, video, film, performance, game design, and animation.

Q19. What changes will occur after the integration into Stellar Arts Institute?

Stellar Arts Institute will consistently operate all 14 existing departments and majors from the three predecessor colleges, while simultaneously establishing three new future convergence majors (students entering in the 2027 academic year will choose from among 17 majors). Students will receive more multifaceted career advising than before and will have a stronger foundation for pursuing interdisciplinary knowledge as well as minors and double majors. Of course, the existing major curricula will also be upgraded to ensure that students who wish to focus deeply on a single major continue to receive comprehensive academic support.

The 17 majors are: Film, Musical Entertainment, Acting, Visual Communication Design, Digital Media Design, Product Interaction Design, Environmental Design, Architecture (5-Year Accredited Program), Fashion Design, Advertising & Public Relations, Broadcasting & Media, Game Design, Animation, Webtoon, and three new future convergence majors: Transmedia Systems, Materials & Product Environment Systems, and Brand Communication Systems.

The criteria for major selection will be communicated sequentially in accordance with the academic administration guidelines for the 2027 academic year. Academic advisor consultations and career design programs will be operated concurrently to help students choose a major based on their aptitudes, competencies, and career goals after experiencing a variety of foundational major courses during the first year.

6. For Current Students and Parents

Q20. Will the integration into Stellar Arts Institute in the 2027 academic year affect existing departments and majors?

No. Although operations will be integrated, students who enrolled prior to the 2027 academic year will not be disadvantaged with respect to the graduation requirements and major completion criteria associated with the department or major they selected at the time of enrollment. However, in line with the reorganization of the university's administrative structure, certain administrative titles and operational frameworks may be restructured in accordance with the new major system. In such cases, the academic rights and graduation pathways of current students will be clearly communicated and guaranteed.

Q21. Will the major name or graduation requirements change for students who enrolled prior to the 2026 academic year?

Current students will be able to graduate according to the graduation requirements in effect at the time of their enrollment. While certain administrative titles may change as a result of the organizational restructuring, the academic rights and graduation pathways of existing students will be managed so as not to be adversely affected.

Q22. Will the faculty and courses of existing departments be maintained?

The faculty and educational expertise of existing departments and majors will be preserved and further developed within Stellar Arts Institute. The integration does not entail the elimination of existing majors; rather, it is intended to create a broader range of educational opportunities and a more collaborative structure built upon the specialized expertise of each major.

Q23. Will departmental events and graduation exhibitions continue to be held?

Graduation exhibitions, screenings, performances, recitals, workshops, and other events that existing departments and majors have traditionally organized may continue to be held in a manner consistent with the characteristics of each major. At the same time, integrated exhibitions, festivals, and convergence projects at the Stellar Arts Institute level will be newly expanded.

Q24. Will current students (those who enrolled prior to the 2027 academic year) be unable to benefit from Stellar Arts Institute programs?

No. With the integration into Stellar Arts Institute, the scale and support across all programs will be considerably more extensive and diverse than before. All currently enrolled students may participate in all university-offered programs within the operational guidelines and enrollment capacity of each program, and programs within the existing colleges may continue to be maintained and operated under the leadership of the respective major faculty. In addition, Stellar Arts Institute will establish a dedicated Stellar Support Center to design and provide an expanded range of extracurricular programs — including global programs, workshops, and summer camps — specifically optimized for Stellar Arts Institute students.

7. Campus, Facilities, and Course Registration

Q25. Will the campuses be consolidated following the integration into Stellar Arts Institute?

No. In order to avoid disruption to the curricula of existing departments and majors, existing learning spaces will be maintained. The campus operation arrangements for the first-year common curriculum and foundational major courses will be communicated separately, taking into account instructional efficiency and student mobility.

However, the equipment and spaces previously managed independently by the three separate colleges will be made available through a more freely shared system than before. Furthermore, in order to supplement functional gaps in existing spaces, additional studio classrooms and signature spaces will be progressively expanded and renovated at both the Jurye Campus and the Centum Campus.

Q26. May students from other majors use the equipment and studios?

Stellar Arts Institute plans to establish a system for more efficient sharing of spaces and equipment previously operated on a college-by-college basis. However, usage guidelines may be established with respect to safety, class priority, equipment training requirements, and reservation procedures.

Q27. Will course registration become more complicated?

In order to minimize confusion in course registration following the integration, the university will establish clear course registration standards and provide systematic guidance on required coursework by year, recommended enrollment pathways by major, registration priorities, and advising information. In particular, operational guidelines are being developed to ensure that students can reliably enroll in the courses they need during the first-year common curriculum and the second-year major entry process. Advanced major courses, courses requiring studio equipment, and courses with accreditation requirements will be administered with consideration for the major completion sequence. For high-demand courses, pre-enrollment surveys, expanded class sections, and schedule adjustments will be implemented to minimize student inconvenience.

8. Student Governance and Student Council

Q28. How will the student council be organized?

Upon the integration into Stellar Arts Institute, it would be desirable for the student councils of the three predecessor colleges to collaborate and operate in an integrated manner. As this matter is directly related to student self-governance, ongoing discussions are being held with the student council officers of the three colleges. Following the integration, an operational framework for a student council appropriate to the scale and character of Stellar Arts Institute will be established to ensure that students' voices are adequately represented. Importantly, this student council stands to become the largest college-level student council within Dongseo University.

9. Career and Employment

Q29. How does Stellar Arts Institute support students' career and employment prospects?

Stellar Arts Institute is designed to equip students not only with disciplinary knowledge in a single major, but also with project execution skills, a professional portfolio, collaborative ability, AI literacy, and global communication competencies. Through this foundation, the university supports students in expanding into a diverse range of career paths — including design, content creation, media production, film, game design, performance, advertising, branding, UX, AI-driven creative practice, and cultural planning — as well as into career fields yet to emerge in the future.

Q30. How will the major be indicated on the diploma?

The format for degree and academic record notation will be governed by Dongseo University's academic regulations. Even after the integration into Stellar Arts Institute, it is the current principle that the existing 14 majors will maintain their established degree framework for the time being, and detailed guidelines will be established and communicated to ensure that the major each student has selected and completed is officially reflected in their academic record.

The degree conferral framework for the existing 14 majors is as follows:

• Bachelor of Arts: Broadcasting & Media, Advertising & Public Relations

• Bachelor of Digital Contents: Game Design, Animation, Webtoon (Bachelor of Engineering: Game Design)

• Bachelor of Architecture: Architecture (5-Year Program)

• Bachelor of Design: Visual Communication Design, Digital Media Design, Environmental Design, Product Interaction Design, Fashion Design

• Bachelor of Fine Arts: Film, Acting, Musical Entertainment

The three newly established convergence majors are being prepared under the framework of the Bachelor of Science in Creative Arts. This degree framework is intended to maintain the specialized depth of existing majors while officially recognizing the convergent competencies required by future creative industries.

Accordingly, regardless of the major a student selects within Stellar Arts Institute, they will be fully informed to ensure that their completed major and degree are officially reflected in their graduation record and academic transcript. The specific notation format and degree conferral criteria will be confirmed and announced in accordance with Dongseo University's academic regulations and the 2027 academic year operational guidelines.

Q31. What is the significance of the degree title Bachelor of Science in Creative Arts for the new convergence majors?

Given that degree titles such as Bachelor of Fine Arts and Bachelor of Design are more familiar within the arts, the title Bachelor of Science in Creative Arts may seem somewhat unusual at first.

However, this title reflects an important distinguishing characteristic of Stellar Arts Institute. The new convergence majors at Stellar Arts Institute are not content to remain within the bounds of a sensory or expression-centered arts education; rather, they aim to actively apply evidence-based thinking, systematic problem-solving, an understanding of AI, data, and technology, and competency-based education to the study of art, design, and content.

In other words, Creative Arts embodies the identity of the creative arts disciplines, while Bachelor of Science signifies that the education within these programs is conducted in a manner that is more analytical, systematic, and connected to future industries.

Through this approach, Stellar Arts Institute aims to cultivate students not only in creativity and sensibility, but also in logical reasoning, systems thinking, technological literacy, and practical project skills required in the age of AI — enabling them to grow into convergent creators.

Therefore, Bachelor of Science in Creative Arts does not signify a weakening of arts education; rather, it is a degree title that symbolizes the direction of the future-oriented arts education that Stellar Arts Institute pursues.