Willamette University

Japanese Program

Program Information

Japanese Studies Major

The Japanese Studies major is an interdisciplinary major combining language study with cultural studies. Students majoring in Japanese Studies are required to take courses in Japanese language at all levels and courses on the history, literature, art, religion and culture of Japan. Majors students are strongly recommended to study abroad in Japan for one or two semesters through the Japan Study Program (JSP) at our sister university, Tokyo International University, Kawagoe, Japan. The majors are also encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities fro language and cultural exchange offered by Tokyo International University of America (TIUA) on our campus.

The Japanese Studies major is structured to include: (1) a broad introduction to East Asian civilization (one credit); (2) the study of Japanese language through the fourth year (four credits); (3) courses on Japanese literature, culture and history (three credits); (4) an elective concentration consisting of courses on history, religion, art and culture of Japan and/or China (three credits); and 5) a Senior Year Experience (one credit) involving a writing project which will integrate and consolidate knowledge and understanding of Japan which the student has gained through the program's course of studies. Credits from study in Japan will be transferred upon faculty approval.

A variety of career opportunities are available to students who graduate with a strong grounding in the study of Japanese. These include the JET program, foreign service, international trade, graduate study, and teaching of English as a second language.

Requirements for the Japanese Studies Major (12 Credits)

Two credits from the following Core courses (2)

  • ASIA 201 Gateway to East Asian Studies (1) OR
  • JAPN 201 (W) Modern Japanese Society and Culture (1)
  • JAPN 499 (W) Senior Seminar (1)

Four credits from the following (4)

  • JAPN 331 Third Year Japanese (1)
  • JAPN 332 Third Year Japanese II (1)
  • JAPN 430 Japanese Reading and Composition I (1)
  • JAPN 431 Japanese Reading and Composition II (1)
  • JAPN 432 Conversational Japanese I (1)
  • JAPN 434 Conversational Japanese II (1)
  • JAPN 490 Reading and Conference (.5 or 1)
  • JAPN 491 Reading and Conference (.5 or 1)

Two credits from the following (2)

  • JAPN 314 (IT; W; 4th Sem Lang Req) Japanese Literature in Translation (1)
  • JAPN 340 The Japanese Cinema (1)
  • HIST 380 History of Traditional Japan (1)
  • HIST 381 (TH) History of Modern Japan (1)
  • HIST 445 Postwar Japan (1)

Four credits from the following (4)

  • ARTH 113 (IT) Introduction to Chinese Art History (1)
  • ARTH 114 (IT) Introduction to Japanese Art History (1)
  • ASIA 258 Topics in Asian Studies (1)
  • ASIA 352 Field Study in Asia (1)
  • CHNSE 232 Intermediate Chinese II (1)
  • CHNSE 254 Language, Ethnicity, and Folklore in China (1)
  • CHNSE 332 Third Year Chinese II (1)
  • CHNSE 431 Reading the Humanities (1)
  • CHNS 432 Introduction to Classical Chinese Texts and Thoughts (1)
  • HIST 117 (TH) East Asian Civilization to 1800 (1)
  • HIST 118 (TH) East Asian Civilizagtion Since 1800 (1)
  • HIST 383 Mao's China (1)
  • IDS 230 Rites of Passage in Japan and US (1)
  • JAPN 201 (W) Modern Japanese Society & Culture (1)
  • JAPN 240 Japanese Language and Culture (1)
  • REL 135 Religions of Asia (1)
  • REL 262 Japanese Religions (1)

* Only one of these China-focused courses may be counted toward Japanese Studies Major.

Requirements for the Japanese Minor (5 Credits)

Five courses from the following (5)

  • JAPN 232 Intermediate Japanese II (1)
  • JAPN 331 Third Year Japanese I (1)
  • JAPN 332 Third Year Japanese II (1)
  • JAPN 430 Japanese Reading and Composition I (1)
  • JAPN 431 Japanese Reading and Composition II (1)
  • JAPN 432 Conversational Japanese I (1)
  • JAPN 434 Conversational Japanese II (1)
  • JAPN 490 Reading and Conference (.5 or 1)
  • JAPN 491 Reading and Conference (.5 or 1)