91ÉçÇø

BA in Japanese Studies

The Japanese Studies program fosters detailed, nuanced knowledge and understanding of various aspects of premodern, modern and contemporary Japanese culture and society, including history, language, literature, visual culture, society, politics and economics. It provides a solid foundation of Japanese language skills, including reading, writing, speaking and listening comprehension.

The courses offered are ideal for students wishing to gain practical communicative skills, those planning to further specialize in Japanese Studies and those pursuing careers in areas such as education, business, government and NGOs.

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Requirements

• Major Requirements

  The Japanese Studies major requires eleven (11) courses.

  Students must successfully complete the following:

  • Four required language sequence courses** 
    
    • JPN 203 Intermediate Japanese I
    • JPN 204 Intermediate Japanese II
    • JPN 305 Advanced Japanese I
    • JPN 306 Advanced Japanese II
  • Six elective courses in Japanese Studies. Electives may include AAAS content courses on Japanese Studies, and/or JPN language courses outside the required sequence.
  • One core course in Asian American and Diaspora Studies.

  **Note: Depending on prior exposure to the language, JPN 101 (Elementary Japanese I) and JPN 102 (Elementary Japanese II) may be required prerequisites for the major. JPN 101 and JPN 102 provide the basic linguistic knowledge and skills required to begin the major but do not count towards the major. For students with significant prior exposure: after consultation and proficiency test assessment administered by Japanese Program faculty, students who already demonstrate proficiency in Japanese at any of the required levels may waive part or all of the language requirements. Waived Japanese language courses will not count toward the major and must be replaced with other Japanese Studies courses, so that the student completes a total of eleven courses for the major.

  Upper-level Requirements

  Six of the eleven required courses for the major must be at the 300 or 400 level.

  These six upper-level courses must include:

  • Two 400-level AAAS seminars, at least one of which must be in Japanese Studies. 
  • Four other 300 or 400-level courses (AAAS and/or JPN courses), including JPN 305 and JPN 306.

  In addition to the above requirements:

  • Students must earn a C or better for a course to count toward the major.
  • A course must be three or more credits to count toward the major.
  • JPN language courses cannot be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one AAAS (non-language) course may be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one course may be an independent study.
  • Residency Requirement: At least six courses must be taken at 91ÉçÇø.
• Minor Requirements

  The Japanese Studies minor requires six (6) courses.

  Students must successfully complete the following: 

  • Three language sequence courses, including:**
    
    • JPN 203 Intermediate Japanese I
    • JPN 204 Intermediate Japanese II
    • JPN 305 Advanced Japanese I
  • Three elective courses in Japanese Studies. Electives may include AAAS content courses on Japanese Studies, and/or JPN language courses outside the required sequence.

  **Note: Depending on prior exposure to the language, JPN 101 (Elementary Japanese I) and JPN 102 (Elementary Japanese II) may be required prerequisites for the minor. JPN 101 and JPN 102 provide the basic linguistic knowledge and skills required to begin the minor but do not count towards the minor. For students with significant prior exposure: after consultation and proficiency test assessment administered by Japanese Program faculty, students who already demonstrate proficiency in Japanese at any of the required levels may waive part or all of the language requirements. Waived Japanese language courses will not count toward the minor and must be replaced with other Japanese Studies courses, so that the student completes a total of six courses for the minor.

  Upper-level Requirements

  At least three of the six courses for the minor must be at the 300 or 400 level.

  In addition to the above requirements,

  • Students must earn a C or better for a course to count toward the minor.
  • A course must be three or more credits to count toward the minor.
  • JPN language courses may not be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one AAAS (non-language) course may be taken Pass/Fail.
  • No more than one course may be an independent study.
  • Residency Requirement: At least four courses must be taken at 91ÉçÇø.

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Faculty Members of Japanese Studies