Japanese Studies (JPN)

The Japanese Studies major and minor offer students the opportunity to become familiar with various aspects of Japanese culture: language, literature, history, politics, art, and religion. Students majoring in Japanese Studies are required to study in Japan for at least one semester. The major culminates in the production of a scholarly paper on some aspect of Japanese culture, written in the senior year under the guidance of one of the participating faculty members.

Major: (10 courses)

1. Courses in Japanese
   1. Elementary and Intermediate Japanese: JPN-101, JPN-102, JPN-201, JPN-202, or equivalent.
   2. One Japanese language course beyond JPN-202 taken at an approved institution in Japan.
2. Courses in English
   1. Four of the following (or other courses studied in Japan): ENG-127, HIS-170, HIS-278, POL-255, REL-235, REL-355.
   2. Senior paper.
3. A minimum of one semester of full-time study in Japan.

Courses for the major (including any transfer courses) and the proposal for the senior paper must be selected in consultation with a Japanese Studies advisor and be approved by the program director. No more than two courses per semester of work done in another institution will be accepted as a part of the major, and the coursework in Japan must be approved by the program director prior to departure.

Courses must be graded C or better to fulfill the requirement for the major. This grade requirement does not include courses taken in Japan.

Minor: (7 courses)

1. Courses in Japanese: JPN-101, JPN-102, JPN-201, JPN-202, or equivalent.
2. Courses in English: Three of the following (or other courses studied in Japan), selected in consultation with a Japanese Studies advisor: ENG-127, HIS-170, HIS-278, POL-255, REL-235, REL-355.

At least three of the courses presented for the minor must be taken at the College, including at least two language courses. No more than two courses per semester taken in another program will be accepted. The study abroad curriculum must be approved by the program director prior to departure.

Courses must be graded C or better to fulfill the requirement for the minor. This grade requirement does not include courses taken in Japan.

Courses

101, 102 Beginning Japanese I, II (1 course, 1 course) Intensive study of basic skills in Japanese for beginners. Emphasis will be on oral-aural practice of the language. Reading and writing will be practiced also using Japanese syllabaries and selected Chinese characters. NWEST, offered annually.

201, 202 Intermediate Japanese I, II (1 course, 1 course) A continuation of both oral-aural and reading-writing skills development with expanded use of grammatical forms and Chinese characters. Prerequisite: JPN-102 and JPN-201 respectively. NWEST, offered annually.

251, 252 Conversation and Composition I, II (1 course, 1 course) These courses are designed to give students the opportunity to further develop skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing. Prerequisite: JPN-202/JPN-251. Offered occasionally.

270 Modern Japanese Literature and Culture In English Translation (1 course) The first half of the course offers a survey of representative works of modern Japanese literature (1868-the present) with a focus on short stories. We will explore important themes, such as modernity and Westernization, self, desire, women and gender, and war and memory. The second half introduces several major topics on Japanese culture/samurai culture, the image of geisha, transnational popularity of anime, the kawaii (cuteness) culture through popular images and icons, such as Hello Kitty. The goal of this course is to familiarize students with Japan’s modern history and culture and to help students develop critical thinking and writing skills through reading, discussing, and writing about literary texts and films. LARS, NWEST, offered Fall and Spring semesters.