Minor in Japanese

By earning a minor in Japanese, students learn to read, write, and converse in a language that has been the vehicle for some of the world’s most imaginative, influential storytellers. Modern Japanese pop culture touchstones known the world over, including books, films, and anime, flourish on the surface of a literary tradition that spans 13 centuries. Students explore this tradition and analyze the features of the Japanese language in order to understand its use. They benefit from distinctive courses in modern and classical Japanese, language-intensive study abroad opportunities, and on-campus resources such as the East Asia Library. By pairing the minor with a major in the College of Arts and Sciences or a professional field, students find an advantage after graduation as they enter business and nonprofit work, STEM fields, graduate programs, and more across the globe.

Introductory Japanese language courses are available in the fall or summer quarters. Students should sign up for introductory courses as early as possible in order to fulfill the minor’s language requirement. If you have previous experience with Japanese, see the department's information on proficiency exams and placement interviews.

Declaring a Minor in Japanese

Students in good academic standing may declare the minor at any time by meeting with their major adviser. Please see Undergraduate Advising’s Minor page for additional considerations about earning a minor.

Minor Requirements

NOTE: The below requirements apply to students who declare the Japanese minor in Spring Quarter 2019 or later. The previous requirements will still apply to those who declared the Japanese minor before Spring Quarter 2019, unless special provision is made. Please contact the Humanities Academic Services Center if you are interested in this option. You can see the previous Japanese minor requirements here.

The department offers a 30 credit undergraduate minor in Japanese. Courses taken for the minor must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA . At least 15 credits must be taken in residence at UW.

I. Language Courses

Maximum 15 credits of modern Japanese language, which may include any of the 300 or 400 level Japanese courses listed below. First and second-year Japanese courses may not apply to the minor. Students must take at least JAPAN 303, unless waived because of advanced skills.

  • Third-Year Japanese: JAPAN 301, 302, 303, 304, 334, 343, 345
  • Fourth-Year Japanese:
    • JAPAN 401, 402, 403 Fourth Year Japanese
    • JAPAN 411 Practical Japanese Through Dramas
    • JAPAN 412 Virtual Tokyo
    • JAPAN 413 Japanese Conversation Through Movies
    • JAPAN 418 Advanced Japanese Through Content (prerequisite: minimum grade of 2.5 in JAPAN 303 or JAPAN 334) (NOTE: Can be repeated for credit.)
    • 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 303)
    • JAPAN 451, JAPAN 453 Fifth Year Japanese
    • JAPAN 452 Project Work in Advanced Japanese
    • JAPAN 471 Introduction to Classical Japanese (prerequisite: 2.5 in JAPAN 303 or JAPAN 334)
    • JAPAN 472 Readings in Classical Japanese Literature I (prerequisite: JAPAN 471)
    • JAPAN 473 Readings in Classical Japanese Literature II (prerequisite: JAPAN 472)

 II. Japan-Related Humanities Courses

15 credits in additional language, literature, or linguistics courses, from a list including:

  • JAPAN 321 Survey of Japanese Literature I
  • JAPAN 322 Survey of Japanese Literature II
  • JAPAN 325 Introduction to Japanese Film
  • JAPAN 343 Language in Society
  • JAPAN 344 Foreign Language Teaching in the Japanese Context
  • JAPAN 395 Linguistics or Literature, Foreign Study
  • JAPAN 360 Special Topics in Japanese Culture
  • JAPAN 361 Special Topics in Japanese Film
  • JAPAN 380 Modernism, Avant-Garde, Contemporary and Pop Art and Culture
  • JAPAN 434 Undergraduate seminar in premodern Japanese literature
  • JAPAN 435 Undergraduate seminar in modern Japanese literature
  • JAPAN 441 Acquisition of a Second or Foreign Language
  • JAPAN 442 Japanese Syntax and Semantics
  • JAPAN 443 Topics in Sociolinguistics
  • JAPAN 460 Advanced Study in Japanese Literature
  • JAPAN 471-472-473 Classical Japanese

 Please note: For the Japanese minor, no credits may be applied for classes taken outside the Asian L&L department.

Last updated Autumn 2025.

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