FAQ

It is the Service Management major within the Department of Business Administration at Sogang University Graduate School. There is no distinction between specialized sub-majors.

Upon completion of the Master’s program, you will receive a Master of Science (MS) in Business Administration. Upon completion of the Doctoral program, you will receive a Ph.D. in Business Administration. Both degrees are issued in the name of the Dean of the Graduate School and the President of Sogang University.

The Master’s program requires 27 credits, and the Doctoral program requires 36 credits. For further details, please refer to the curriculum section on the website.

The Master’s program takes 3 semesters if choosing Professional Topic Research, and 4 semesters if choosing a Master’s Thesis. The Doctoral program consists of 4 semesters of coursework, followed by 4 semesters of research and dissertation writing (3 semesters for early graduation), totaling 8 semesters (7 semesters for early graduation).

Based on the 2025 academic year, tuition for new students is as follows: The Master’s program is approximately 7.5 million KRW per semester during regular semesters (1st–3rd). The Doctoral program is approximately 8.5 million KRW per semester during the coursework period (1st–4th). For Master’s students choosing the thesis track, registration for the final 4th semester (thesis semester) is possible by paying approximately 12% of the regular tuition. For Doctoral students, the tuition is approximately 50% during research semesters (5th–7th) and approximately 12% during the dissertation semester (8th). These amounts exclude the admission fee and may be adjusted according to future tuition changes.

Policies regarding leaves of absence and reinstatement are the same as those of the Sogang University Graduate School. Detailed information can be found in the "Handbook" section of the Sogang University Graduate School website. For new students, a leave of absence in the first semester is not permitted, except for cases of overseas or provincial transfer, military enlistment, medical treatment requiring more than two months, or childbirth.

The Service Management major belongs to the Department of Business Administration at Sogang University Graduate School. We offer specialized courses in service management that are rarely available in other graduate departments, focusing on both practical applications and in-depth theoretical study. Classes are held on Wednesday nights and Saturdays to accommodate working professionals. Master's students benefit from flexibility in choosing between a thesis or Professional Topic Research in consultation with their advisor. While the program requires some practical experience in the service industry or a basic understanding of business administration, it does not strictly require the completion of general economics or business core courses typically mandated in traditional MS or MBA programs.

Master's students may either write a graduation thesis (theoretical, empirical, or case study) or conduct Professional Topic Research independently with an advisor. This choice is made in consultation with the assigned advisor at the end of the first semester. To write a graduation thesis, students must take Special Research in Service Management 1 & 2 and register for the Thesis course (0 credits) in the 4th semester. The thesis must be defended before a committee of three, including the advisor. For Professional Topic Research, students must take the Professional Topic Research in SM (1.5 credits) and the Thesis course (0 credits) in the 3rd semester. Students must submit a report of publishable quality and receive approval from a three-member committee. This track typically involves taking 1–2 more elective courses than the thesis track.

Ph.D. students write a dissertation in the form of a theoretical, empirical, or case study. Dissertations are written after completing all coursework, qualification exams, and major field exams under the guidance of an advisor assigned before the 3rd semester. Students must complete Independent Research in Service Management 1–3 and the Dissertation course (0 credits) to graduate. The dissertation is evaluated by a committee of five, including the advisor.

Both exams require approval from the advisor and a passing score of 70 or higher per subject. The Qualification Exam covers Service Management Research Methodology and Service Management Analytics; students can take it after the 2nd semester if they earn a B+ or higher in both courses. The Major Field Exam involves selecting 4 subjects from among the Service Management or general graduate school courses taken during the program. Generally, students take these 4 exam subjects after completing the 4th semester. For both exams, one retake per subject is permitted in the following semester.

Class times are as follows: Wednesdays 19:00–21:45, and Saturdays 09:00–11:45 (Period 1), 13:00–15:45 (Period 2), and 16:00–18:45 (Period 3). Wednesday classes are generally conducted as non-face-to-face online sessions (subject to change), while Saturday classes are generally held in person on the Sogang University Shinchon campus.

The maximum number of allowed absences per course is 1/4 of the total class hours per semester. If absences exceed this limit, the grade for that semester automatically becomes an FA.

Offered courses can be found in the Curriculum menu. In addition to these courses, both Master's and Doctoral students may take up to 6 credits from other majors or graduate schools upon consultation with their advisor.