Seoul National University announced Tuesday that it is creating a new major for students who want to start up venture businesses.

According to the university, the newly created “Business Venture and Entrepreneurship Management” degree program is intended to teach professional business knowledge as well as have students take humanities, social sciences and science classes. Those subjects, often overlooked by business majors in South Korea, are to help equip them with creativity and other skills required to be a successful entrepreneur, the university said.

The new major will not be operated as an independent department, but will be available for SNU students to select as a double major. Because it is not a separate department, its expenses will be covered by SNU Business School.

“We had difficulty retaining enough students for the new course,” said an SNU official. “We plan to gradually add professors and classes for the new major.”

The school said it is planning to hire businessmen as adjunct professor and provide on-the-job training for students.

By Yoon Min-sik (minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com)