Japanese

The Japanese Minor enables students to acquire intermediate proficiency in the Japanese language and to develop critical thinking skills in their analysis of these literary, filmic, and social texts. Students are encouraged to study in Japan through the University of California’s numerous Education Abroad Programs.

Minor Requirements

  1. Lower-division requirements (4 units plus language proficiency)
    1. Proficiency in Japanese through the intermediate level (JPN 006 or its equivalent)
    2. Four (4) units from lower-division lecture courses on Japanese literature and culture: JPN 022/AST 022/MCS 022, JPN 023/AST 023/CPLT 023, JPN 034/AST 034, JPN 035, JPN 056/AST 056/CPLT 056, and any other lower-division lecture courses on Japanese literature, culture, and film chosen in consultation with the student’s adviser.
  2. Upper-division requirements (20 units)
    1. Eight (8) upper-division units in Japanese language from: JPN 101A, JPN 101B, JPN 101C, JPN 110. Students whose proficiency exceeds the 101 series should take the 8 required units by taking JPN 110 more than once, by using EAP language courses, or, under the JPN 190 rubric, by converting an existing “content” course into a language course with the instructor’s help.
    2. Twelve (12) units in Japanese literature and culture from: AST 190, CPLT 142J/GSST 142J, JPN 110, JPN 134/CPLT 134/GER 134/MCS 114, JPN 145/CPLT 145, JPN 150/AST 150, JPN 152 (E-Z)/AST 152 (E-Z), JPN 153 (E-Z)/AST 153 (E-Z), JPN 154 (E-Z)/AST 154 (E-Z), JPN 184/AST 184/MCS 184, JPN 190, and any other upper-division lecture courses on Japanese literature, culture, and film chosen in consultation with the student’s advisor.

Language Placement:

For information about placement exams contact Suzy Sharweed.

Committee in Charge

  • Yenna Wu, Ph.D., Director, Chinese/Civilizations/Comparative Literature
  • Kelly Jeong, Ph.D. Korean Literature and Culture
  • John N. Kim, Ph.D., German/Japanese/Comparative Literature
  • Mariam Beevi Lam, Ph.D. Vietnamese/Comparative Literature
  • Perry Link, Ph.D. Chinese Literature, Language and Culture
  • Hendrik M.J. Maier, Ph.D. Southeast Asian Literature/Comparative Literature
  • Daryle Williams, Ph.D., Dean, College of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, ex officio