JAPN - Japanese Studies Major

Japanese Studies Major Requirements

There are three different majors in the Japanese Studies program. The Single-Language Focus major focuses solely on the Japanese language and culture, whereas the Dual-Language Focus major allows students to combine that with the study of another language and culture. All languages in the departments of Language and Culture Studies and Classical Studies can count towards the Dual-Language Focus:

1. Japanese Studies (Single-Language Focus): 10 credits in Japanese Studies beyond JAPN 101.

2. Japanese Studies (Dual-Language Focus with Japanese as the primary language): 7 credits in Japanese Studies beyond JAPN 101

3. Japanese Studies (Dual-Language Focus with Japanese as the secondary language): 5 credits in Japanese Studies beyond JAPN 101

1) Japanese Studies (Single-Language Focus): 10 credits in Japanese Studies beyond JAPN 101 (Students transcripts will read as “LACS: Japanese Studies”)

• Required language courses (5.5 credits): JAPN 102, 201, 202, 301, and 302 (or 311)

• Required culture courses (3 credits): Any three courses of JAPN 230, 234, 236, 238, and 280 (or LACS 299 and courses focusing on topics related to Japanese studies in different disciplines with the advisor’s approval).

• Required 0.5-credit course: JAPN 203, JAPN 204, or Japanese Teaching Assistant

• JAPN 497: Senior Thesis (senior year)

2) Japanese Studies (Dual-Language Focus with Japanese as the primary language): 7 credits in Japanese Studies beyond JAPN 101 (Students transcripts will read as “LACS: Japanese and X [the secondary language]”)

• Required language courses (4.5 credits): JAPN 102, 201, 202, and 301

• Required culture course (1 credit): JAPN 234, 236, or 238 (or LACS 299 and courses focusing on topics related to Japanese studies in different disciplines with the advisor’s approval).

• Required 0.5-credit course: JAPN 203, JAPN 204, or Japanese Teaching Assistant

• JAPN 497: Senior Thesis (senior year)

3) Japanese Studies (Dual-Language Focus with Japanese as the secondary language): 5 credits in Japanese Studies beyond JAPN 101 (Students transcripts will read as “LACS: X [the primary language] and Japanese”)

• Required language courses (4.5 credits): JAPN 102, 201, 202, and 301

• Required 0.5-credit course: JAPN 203 or JAPN 204

A maximum of 2 transferred credits may be approved to fulfill the requirements for both Single-Language Focus and Dual-Language Focus majors in Japanese Studies.

Capstone/senior project: The Writing Intensive Part II requirement for Single-Language Focus majors and Dual-Language Focus majors whose primary language is Japanese is fulfilled by JAPN 497: Senior Thesis. This course culminates in a 20–25-page research paper.

Additional regulations for students who start taking language courses beyond 102: When students have previous experiences learning Japanese and start beyond JAPN 102, they can fulfill their requirements for Single-Language Focus and Dual-Language Focus majors by the followings instead of the required language courses with the advisor’s approval: taking LACS 299 and additional courses related to Japanese culture at Trinity; repeating JAPN 203 and 204 up to twice; or/and working as a Teaching Assistant up to twice.

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Study away: All Single-Language Focus and Dual-Language Focus majors are encouraged to study away in an approved program in Japan. Ideally, students should communicate with their advisor in advance to ensure that courses taken during study away will count towards their major requirements, if applicable.

Honors: Students qualifying for honors in their Japanese Studies majors must attain a cumulative average of A- or better in all courses counting toward the major, including JAPN 497: Senior Thesis.