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The Japanese Studies Program

As the world’s third largest economy and one of the United States’ most important allies and trading partners, Japan is critical to an understanding of global issues. Japanese is spoken by 120 million people world-wide. It is also a language in which the US State Department has identified a critical need. In addition, Japanese writers and artists have long exerted an influence over popular culture internationally-an influence evident in the borderless appeal of Japanese film, manga, and anime.

The Japanese Studies Program enables students to explore all aspects of language and culture. We offer four levels of language instruction. We have summer, one-semester, and year-long study-abroad programs at several top universities in Japan. We also offer courses in English on Japanese literature, film, and popular culture. We encourage students to develop individual research projects, which can focus on anime, music, fashion, foodways, politics, and more.  Students also enjoy opportunities to teach in closely-mentored relationship with faculty in both language and content courses.

Our program offers a minor in Japanese Studies. Students can also pursue a self-designed major through the Charles Center or a Global Studies major with an East Asian concentration through the interdisciplinary Asian and Middle-Eastern Studies program.

Programs

• Japanese Studies, Minor

Courses

• JAPN 100 - Big Ideas in Japanese Studies
• JAPN 101 - Elementary Japanese I
• JAPN 102 - Elementary Japanese II
• JAPN 150 - First year Seminar
• JAPN 201 - Intermediate Japanese I
• JAPN 202 - Intermediate Japanese II
• JAPN 208 - Introductory Topics in Japanese Literature and Culture (in English)
• JAPN 209 - Classical Japanese Literature in Translation
• JAPN 210 - Modern and Contemporary Japanese Literature (Taught in English)
• JAPN 220 - Japan’s Ghosts and Demons
• JAPN 280 - East Asian Cultures Through Film
• JAPN 300 - Topics in Japanese Language
• JAPN 301 - Upper Intermediate Japanese I
• JAPN 302 - Upper Intermediate Japanese II
• JAPN 305 - Directed Readings in Japanese Literature
• JAPN 307 - Topics in Japanese Culture
• JAPN 308 - Topics in Japanese Literature and Culture (Taught in English)
• JAPN 311 - Japanese Cinema
• JAPN 320 - The Japanese City
• JAPN 330 - Japanese Popular Culture
• JAPN 401 - Advanced Japanese I
• JAPN 402 - Advanced Japanese II
• JAPN 410 - Advanced Topics in Japanese Literature and Culture
• JAPN 411 - Independent Study
• JAPN 412 - Teaching Practicum