Japanese (B.A.)

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Student Learning Outcomes for Japanese:

Students will be able to:

Communicate (speak and comprehend) at the Intermediate level according to ACTFL guidelines.
Write at the Intermediate level according to ACTFL guidelines.
Write a research project in English using primary sources in Japanese.
Receive a passing grade in the JLPT Level 3 (in-house version).
Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the perspectives and products of the cultures studied in themselves and in comparison with their own culture.
Read, analyze and interpret literary texts in terms of themes, characters, structure, style, and overall textual strategies, and situate those texts in their cultural contexts.

Japanese majors are expected to complete a minimum of 40 credits in the language, 12 of which may be earned in one of the department-approved study-abroad programs in Japan.

Students with no formal instruction in Japanese are advised to enroll in this program at the first semester of their study at the College. Those with a previous background in Japanese must take a placement test to determine their proficiency level in the language.

Japanese majors must study abroad for two semesters, and the courses taken abroad may be substituted for two of the courses listed below. However, in exceptional cases, certain double majors who can prove that they cannot otherwise satisfy all requirements of both majors may apply for a substitution of one semester for the two-semester, study-abroad requirement, in which case the courses taken abroad would count for one of the courses listed below. Any double majors granted this exception must pass an exit exam, equivalent to the Level 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (in-house version).

Students are advised to study abroad in their junior year.

After completing the required course work, Japanese majors must pass an exit exam, equivalent to the Level 3 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services.

Modern language majors in Japanese must complete:

First Year Suggested Courses:

FYS 100 - First-Year Seminar
EN 100 - PLE Writing and Language or
EN 150 - PLE Advanced Writing and Language
JA 111 - PLO First Year Japanese 1
JA 112 - PLO First Year Japanese 2
Four Core/Elective courses (16 credits)

Notes:

Students with more than two years of Japanese must take the language placement exam administered by the Japanese program advisor before registering in a language course for academic credit. Appointments may be scheduled with Dr. Mahua Bhattacharya or Dr. Nobuaki Takahashi.

Language Incentive Placement Policy: Students who place into a modern language course at the 211-level or higher and earn a B- or better are eligible to receive credit for the previous course in the sequence.