Japanese Studies (BA in Japanese Studies)
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 major and a minor in Japanese Studies.
The Japanese Studies major consists of 33 credits, including
- at least 24 credits from JAPN courses, at least 9 of those credits must be taught in Japanese; and
- 6 credits from outside the program.
Majors are encouraged to study abroad in Japan after completing at least JAPN 102 Elementary Japanese II; up to 9 credits may be counted from courses taken at universities in Japan and applied toward continuing language study, JAPN electives and/or Interdisciplinary electives, with approval.
Required Credit Hours: 33
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Language Courses | ||
| JAPN 101 | Elementary Japanese I | 4 |
| JAPN 102 | Elementary Japanese II | 4 |
| JAPN 201 | Intermediate Japanese I | 4 |
| Core Requirements | ||
| Methods Class: | ||
| JAPN 205 | Introduction to Japanese Studies | 3 |
| Literature or Cinema Survey: | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Classical Japanese Literature in Translation | ||
| Modern and Contemporary Japanese Literature | ||
| Japanese Cinema | ||
| History Survey: | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 3 | |
| Survey of East Asian Civilization to 1600 | ||
| Survey of East Asian Civilization since 1600 | ||
| Modern Japanese History | ||
| Continuing Japanese-Language Study: | ||
| Select nine credits taught in Japanese beyond 201 from the following: | 9 | |
| Intermediate Japanese II | ||
| Upper Interm Japanese I | ||
| Upper Interm Japanese II | ||
| Topics in Japanese Culture | ||
| Advanced Japanese I | ||
| Advanced Japanese II | ||
| Advanced Topics in Japanese Literature and Culture | ||
| Electives | ||
| Japanese Electives: | ||
| Select two or three additional JAPN courses 2 | 6-9 | |
| Interdisciplinary Elective: | ||
| Select three credits from a course outside JAPN that includes significant Japan-related content, with advisor’s approval. Appropriate courses include (but are not limited to): 3 | 3 | |
| Topics in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (Japanese/East Asian topics only) | ||
| Governments and Politics of China and Japan | ||
| Postwar Japan | ||
| History of Religion in East Asia | ||
| Capstone Experience and Major Writing/Computing Requirement | ||
| JAPN 450 | Advanced Seminar in Japanese Studies | 3 |
| Total Hours | 42-46 | |
- 1
One other may be counted as an interdisciplinary elective.
- 2
ExcludingJAPN 101 Elementary Japanese I, JAPN 102 Elementary Japanese II, JAPN 201 Intermediate Japanese I, JAPN 202 Intermediate Japanese II. JAPN 100 Big Ideas in Japanese Stds and JAPN 150 First-Year Seminar may be counted.
- 3
Approved study abroad courses may also be counted