Academic Programs Catalog

The Bachelor of Arts degree in Japanese is designed to equip students with functional proficiency in the language, and cultural sensitivity to and factual knowledge about Japan. Education abroad is encouraged to provide students with firsthand experience of cultures superficially different from those to which they are accustomed, but are similar in many ways at the level of human interaction.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the major should consult an undergraduate advisor in Japanese.

Requirements for the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Japanese

1. The University requirements for bachelor's degrees as described in the Undergraduate  Education section of this catalog; 120 credits, including general elective credits, are required for the Bachelor of Arts degree in Japanese.
   
   The University's Tier II writing requirement for the Japanese major is met by completing Japanese 469.  This course is referenced in item 3. b. below.
2. The  requirements of the College of Arts and Letters for the Bachelor of Arts degree. The completion of Japanese 202 satisfies the College of Arts and Letters requirement of second-year competency in a foreign language.
   1. The following requirements for the major:

      a.	All of the following courses (19 credits):
      	JPN	202	Second-Year Japanese II				5
      	JPN	301	Third-Year Japanese I				4
      	JPN	302	Third-Year Japanese II				4
      	JPN	401	Fourth-Year Japanese I				3
      	JPN	402	Fourth-Year Japanese II				3
      	Students who place out of any of these courses may take additional electives from item 3. c. below to make-up for deficient credits in this requirement. Students may also consult with the program advisor and director to determine other courses to make up for deficient credits. Course work used to make-up deficient credits must be approved by the student's academic advisor.
      b.	Both of the following courses (6 credits):
      	JPN	369	Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies I				3
      	JPN	469	Japanese Literary and Cultural Studies II (W)				3
      	Both JPN 369 and JPN 469 must be completed at MSU and cannot be replaced by courses completed through Education Abroad in Japan. Students planning to pursue Education Abroad in Japan are encouraged to complete JPN 369 before departure.
      c.	Three of the following courses with at least one course at the 300- or 400-level (9 credits):
      	JPN	260	Japanese Cinema				3
      	JPN	350	Japanese Language in Society				3
      	JPN	370	Gender and Sexuality in Japan				3
      	JPN	371	Edo Period Literature and Visual Culture				3
      	JPN	460	Media and Digital Culture in Japan				3
      	JPN	491	Topics in Japanese Studies				3
      	Students enrolled in an Education Abroad program in Japan may, with program approval, complete up to one 3-credit course (or equivalent) per term on a Japan-related topic to satisfy this requirement.
      d.	Completion of a capstone experience.
      	This requirement may be satisfied by completion of an approved education abroad or internship experience in Japan or by completion of JPN 492 Capstone Project.
      e.	Education Abroad: Students with a primary major in Japanese are strongly encouraged to participate in an education abroad experience approved by the Japanese program. Michigan State University education abroad programs are available at various sites in Japan throughout the year.
      f.	To fulfill the college cognate requirement, students are encouraged to consider a cognate in the field of East Asian Studies.