Consumer science is a field of study that delves into the theories and methods necessary to understand consumer behavior and consumer well-being. Established in 1971, the Department of Consumer Science is committed to enhancing the state of knowledge about consumer-centric social issues and problems faced by consumers in the fourth industrial revolution and improving well-being of consumers and communities through teaching, research, and outreach.

We foster a student-centered and collaborative learning environment with a strong emphasis on problem solving through in- and out-of-classroom experiences.

Students in Consumer Science pursue diverse professional careers in the social, economic, and human service sectors in areas such as: consumer analysis, consumer policies and household finance, and data analytics.

Department in Detail

1. Courses & Curriculum

Consumer Science

The core curriculum encompasses courses related to enhancing consumers’ buying power in the market, promoting consumer protection from damages, and household budget & financial planning.

Specific topics include:

(1) Consumer Analysis

Students acquire expertise regarding consumers (subject of consumption), products (object of consumption), and markets (where products are traded), and cultivate specialized skills in consumer analysis, market analysis, and product development and planning.

(2) Household Finance

Students learn about financial planning and asset management in order to assess the current and future income and assets of households; to achieve various financial goals; and to cultivate specialized skills to perform financial planning such as investment, retirement planning, insurance, real estate, tax, gift, and inheritance. Successful completion of the coursework gives students the education requirement needed to sit for the AFPK(Associated Financial Planner Korea) certification exam.

(3) Consumer Policy

Students study how to design policy solutions to consumer problems that emerge from market changes brought about by globalization and informatization. They cultivate expertise in consumer policy, consumer information, consumer education, and relief of consumer damages and counseling.

(4) Consumer Big Data Analysis

Students are exposed to state-of-the-art data science techniques, including data storage and management, data visualization, data mining, natural language processing, and social network analysis, and learn how to integrate consumer science theories and methods into a big data ecosystem. A strong emphasis is given to understanding the nature and characteristics of consumer-oriented big data and learning analytic tools and methods that are widely used in the public and private sectors.

2. Facilities

The following PC rooms are commonly open to all students.

The following library and/or study rooms are commonly open to all students.

3. Exchanges and Partnerships

Students in our department have participated in Study Abroad Programs at 42 universities, in 16 different countries, for the past 5 years. SKKU has academic exchange agreements signed with 870 universities, over 74 countries around the world. Find more details on our University main website

Why Choose Us?

Reputation

Our department fosters students to be big-data based consumer analysts with specialized consumer insight in the fields of consumer product and service industries, financial institutions, and public sectors.

Our students gain

• Knowledge in consumer needs analysis, consumer satisfaction, product development, and market analysis
• Expertise in financial planning, investment, and asset management
• Understanding in consumer damage, consumer policy, and consumer education
• Competences in analyzing big and small data as well as interpreting the hidden meaning of these data to create consumer values

Graduates of our department find successful career opportunities in a variety of fields.

• Students with bachelor's degrees work in product planning, consumer management, and marketing in industrial fields that include manufacturing, retail, and finance. Students with master's and doctoral degrees work as professors, researchers, life educators and counselors, or consumer consultants in universities, public or private research institutes, or businesses.