Japanese Major Requirements (Declared Autumn 2018 or Earlier)

The Japanese Language & Literature major has a requirement of 75 credits, with a choice of disciplinary concentration in linguistics or literature. Newly admitted majors should choose one or the other option early in their program of study.

LITERATURE OPTION

I. LANGUAGE COURSES:

A minimum of 45 credits, at least 30 credits from courses beyond the second year:

  • Second-Year Japanese: JAPAN 211, 212, 213
  • Third-Year Japanese: JAPAN 311, 312, 313
  • Fourth-Year Japanese: Select three from the list below (prerequisite for all Fourth-Year courses: a minimum grade of 2.5 in Japan 313 or Japan 334)
    • JAPAN 431, 432, 433 Readings in Modern Japanese Literature (May be taken in any order; prerequisite: JAPAN 313)
    • JAPAN 445 Foreign Study: Fourth-Year Japanese (prerequisite: JAPAN 313)
    • JAPAN 460 Readings in Japanese Culture (prerequisite: 2.5 in JAPAN 313 or JAPAN 334)
    • JAPAN 471 Introduction to Classical Japanese (prerequisite: 2.5 in JAPAN 313 or JAPAN 334)
    • JAPAN 472 Readings in Classical Japanese Literature (prerequisite: JAPAN 471)
    • JAPAN 473 Readings in Classical Japanese Literature II (prerequisite: JAPAN 472)

Advanced students who enter at the 200-level or above may meet the 45-credit language requirement by taking additional 400-level courses from those listed above. Other language-related courses may be used to fulfill this requirement with the written approval of the coordinator of the Japanese program.

II. LITERATURE COURSES:

A minimum of 20 credits:

  • The following 15 credits are required: JAPAN 321, 322, 323 Japanese Literature I, II, III (no prerequisites. Taking these courses in sequence is recommended, but not required.) **Please note that JAPAN 323 is not currently offered. Substitute either JAPAN 434 or 435 in lieu of JAPAN 323.
  • 5 credits may be selected from:
    • JAPAN 360 Topics in Japanese Culture
    • JAPAN 395 Foreign Study: Japanese Literature (couse taken during study abroad)
    • JAPAN 431, 432, 433 Readings in Modern Japanese Literature
    • JAPAN 460 Readings in Japanese Culture
    • JAPAN 471 Introduction to Classical Japanese
    • JAPAN 472 Readings in Classical Japanese Literature I (prerequisite: JAPAN 471)
    • JAPAN 473 Readings in Classical Japanese Literature II (prerequisite: JAPAN 472)

III. JAPAN-RELATED HUMANITIES OR SOCIAL SCIENCE COURSES:

A minimum of 10 credits, all of which must be at the 300 level or above; at least 5 credits must be earned outside the Department of Asian Languages and Literature:

  • Appropriate courses include:

    • ASIAN 498 Special Topics (Content varies; appropriate only if related to Japan)
    • JAPAN 342 The Japanese Language
    • JAPAN 343 The Japanese Language in Society
    • JAPAN 360 Topics in Japanese Culture
    • JAPAN 440 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (prerequisite: JAPAN 312 which may be taken concurrently; JAPAN 342)
    • JAPAN 441 The Acquisition of Japanese as a Second or Foreign Language (prerequisite: either JAPAN 312, which may be taken concurrently, or JAPAN 334.)
    • JAPAN 443 Topics in Japanese Sociolinguistics (prerequisite: JAPAN 313, which may be taken concurrently, or JAPAN 334; JAPAN 343)
  • Other Japanese literature courses not used to meet the literature requirement.
  • Japan-related courses from other departments, with the written approval of the coordinator of the Japanese program.

    You can view a list of approved courses in other departments.

    Courses may not be used to satisfy more than one requirement.

LINGUISTICS OPTION

I. LANGUAGE COURSES:

45 credits, with a minimum of 30 credits beyond the second year:

  • JAPAN 211, 212, 213 Second-Year Japanese
  • JAPAN 311, 312, 313 Third-Year Japanese
  • Fourth-Year Japanese: Prerequisite for all Fourth-Year courses: a minimum grade of 2.5 in Japan 313. Select three courses from the list below:
    • JAPAN 421, 422, 423 Fourth-Year Japanese I, II, III
    • JAPAN 431, 432, 433 Readings in Modern Japanese Literature, taken in any order (prerequisite: JAPAN 313 or JAPAN 334)
    • JAPAN 445 Foreign Study: Fourth Year Japanese (couse taken during study abroad)
    • JAPAN 460 Readings in Japanese Culture (prerequisite: 2.5 in either JAPAN 313 or JAPAN 334)
    • JAPAN 471 Introduction to Classical Japanese (prerequisite: 2.5 in either JAPAN 313 or JAPAN 334)
    • JAPAN 472 Readings in Classical Japanese I (prerequisite: JAPAN 471)
    • JAPAN 473 Readings in Classical Japanese II (prerequisite: Japan 472)

Advanced students who enter at above the 200-level or higher may meet the 45 credit language requirement by taking additional 400-level courses from those listed above. Other language-related courses may be used to fulfill this requirement with the written approval of the coordinator of the Japanese program.

II. LINGUISTICS COURSES:

A minimum of 20 credits, including at least 15 from:

  • JAPAN 342 The Japanese Language (prerequisite: JAPAN 311 which may be taken concurrently)
  • JAPAN 343 Japanese Language in Society (prerequisite: JAPAN 311)
  • JAPAN 395 Foreign Study: Japanese Linguistics (course taken during study abroad)
  • JAPAN 440 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (prerequisite: JAPAN 313 which may be taken concurrently; JAPAN 342)
  • JAPAN 441 The Acquisition of Japanese as a Second or Foreign Language (prerequisite: either JAPAN 312, which may be taken concurrently, or JAPAN 334.)
  • JAPAN 442 Morphology and Syntax of Japanese (prerequisite: JAPAN 313, JAPAN 440 and Ling 400 or permission of instructor)
  • JAPAN 443 Japanese Sociolinguistics (prerequisite: JAPAN 313 which may be taken concurrently or JAPAN 334; JAPAN 343)

5 of the 20 credits may come from

  • JAPAN 321, 322, 323 Japanese Literature I, II, III **Please note that JAPAN 323 is not currently offered. 
  • JAPAN 360 Topics in Japanese Culture
  • JAPAN 471, 472, 473 Introduction to and Readings in Classical Japanese Literature
  • LING 400 Survey of Linguistic Method and Theory
  • Or related courses from other departments

III. AREA-RELATED HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES:

10 credits at the 300-level or above, at least 5 credits of which must be from outside the Department of Asian Languages and Literature may be selected from:

  • JAPAN 321, 322, 323 **Please note that JAPAN 323 is not currently offered. 
  • JAPAN 360
  • JAPAN 395
  • JAPAN 460
  • JAPAN 471, 472, 473
  • 300- or 400-level Japan-related courses from other departments

You can view a list of approved courses in other departments.

Courses used to satisfy the language requirement may NOT simultaneously be used to satisfy the literature or area-related humanities and social sciences requirements.

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