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 discipline-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 one semester, and the courses taken abroad may be substituted for two of the courses listed below. 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:

JA 111 - PLO First Year Japanese 1 4.00 credits.
JA 112 - PLO First Year Japanese 2 4.00 credits.
JA 211 - PLO Second Year Japanese 1 4.00 credits.
JA 212 - PLO Second Year Japanese 2 4.00 credits.
JA 245 - NCH From Anime to Zen: Japanese Society, Business, and Culture 4.00 credits.
JA 311 - Third Year Japanese 1 4.00 credits.
JA 312 - Third Year Japanese 2 4.00 credits.
JA 411 - Fourth Year Japanese 1 4.00 credits.
JA 412 - Fourth Year Japanese 2 4.00 credits.
JA 496 - Japanese Senior Research Project I 2.00 credits.
JA 497 - Japanese Senior Research Project II 2.00 credits.

One Cultural/Literature elective:

JA 114 - NCH The Way of Life, The Way of Tea: Introduction to Japanese Tea Ceremony 4.00 credits.
JA 240 - NCH History of Japanese Art and Aesthetics (ART 240) 4.00 credits.
JA 250 - NCH Discovering Contemporary Japan: A Three-Week Cultural Immersion Experience 4.00 credits.
JA 460 - From Murasaki to Murakami (EN 460) 4.00 credits.

First Year Suggested Courses:

FYS 100 - First-Year Seminar 4.00 credits.
EN 100 - PLE First Year Writing 4.00 credits.
JA 111 - PLO First Year Japanese 1 4.00 credits.
JA 112 - PLO First Year Japanese 2 4.00 credits.
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.

Language Placement Policy

Language majors are required to participate in a BCA Study Abroad or another School-approved program for one academic year or equivalent of two separate semesters. Non-majors who have completed 212 or above also are encouraged to participate in the BCA or approved study-abroad programs.

All students with more than two full years of language preparation must take courses at the 112-level or above. The appropriate language level is determined by an online placement test. In the case of Japanese placement, students must contact the Japanese faculty.

If a student places into a modern language course at the 211-level or higher and earns a B- or better, then he or she will also receive credit for the previous course in the sequence. The course must be taken before the end of the student’s second year. This policy is not applicable to native speakers who were formally educated in the language through the high school level.

Native and heritage speakers must contact their advisor if they plan to take courses in their native or heritage language.

For further information, please consult your advisor or the Dean of Arts and Humanities.