Japanese, Bachelor of Arts College of Letters & Science
The department offers a core language program in Japanese, and courses in literature and culture.
The Program
Practical language skills are taught using contemporary methods and materials so that upon entering the upper division a student will have attained substantial fluency in the spoken language (listening and speaking) and the written language (reading and writing). Upper division courses balance the need to further develop language skills with the need to understand and appreciate the richness and diversity of Japanese culture. All students are encouraged to combine their study of language and literature with courses in related fields, and to study abroad through the Education Abroad Program, the UC Davis Study Abroad Program or through internships in Japan.
Career Opportunities
UC Davis graduates have learned that a major in Japanese is a meaningful, earned distinction that facilitates entrance to graduate programs and professional schools. In addition, job opportunities abound in virtually all career paths, especially for graduates who have completed study abroad.
Honors Program
To be eligible to receive high or highest honors in the Japanese major, students must complete a senior thesis project. A student interested in pursuing a senior thesis project must enroll in JPN 194H and complete a scholarly paper or similar research project under the direction of a senate faculty member. The thesis project will have a minimum duration of two quarters and carry a minimum of 6 units of credit. To qualify to undertake the senior thesis project, a student must have completed at least 135 units with a minimum GPA of 3.500 in courses counted toward the major. Interested students should consult with faculty in their field of interest by the quarter before they hope to commence work on the project (in most cases this will be the Spring Quarter of their junior year). Students who complete the senior thesis project and have an overall GPA that qualifies them for honors may be recommended by the faculty for honors, high honors, or highest honors at graduation.
Education Abroad Program
The university maintains study abroad programs in Japan. They offer excellent opportunities for students to polish their language skills and experience Asian cultures firsthand. Students are encouraged to participate. Appropriate courses taken abroad can be applied toward the major or the minor. For details, see the department's undergraduate advisor or the Global Learning Hub.
Related Courses
See East Asian Studies (EAS) course list.
Prerequisite Credit
No student may repeat a course if that course is a prerequisite for a course that has already been completed with a grade of C– or better.
Placement
JPN 001 is intended for beginning students with no prior knowledge of the Japanese language. Students who do have some knowledge but wish to improve their skills should meet with one of the advisors to discuss appropriate placement. Students must follow departmental guidelines for placement in all language courses and instructor approval is required for enrollment.
Backtracking
Satisfactory completion of a language course is evidence that a student’s language skills are beyond the level of those expected in its prerequisite courses. Accordingly, students who have completed a language course cannot go back and take its prerequisites. If the prerequisite courses are required for the major, students may substitute other courses. Students who are not sure how this requirement applies to them should speak to the undergraduate advisor.
Waived Language Courses
Students with exceptional language ability may waive required language courses. If lower division courses have been waived, students will not have to take courses in their place. If upper division courses have been waived, students can use other appropriate courses to earn the units they need to complete the major. Consult the undergraduate advisor regarding the selection of appropriate courses.
The major requirements below are in addition to meeting University Degree Requirements & College Degree Requirements; unless otherwise noted. The minimum number of units required for the Japanese Bachelor of Arts is 40.
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Preparatory Subject Matter | ||
| Choose 0-30 units: | 0-30 | |
| Elementary Japanese and Elementary Japanese and Elementary Japanese and Intermediate Japanese and Intermediate Japanese and Intermediate Japanese | ||
OR | ||
Equivalent as determined by a language placement exam. | ||
| Recommended but not required: | ||
| Modern Chinese Literature (In English) | ||
| Great Books of China (in English) | ||
| Introduction to the Literature of China & Japan | ||
| History of East Asian Civilization | ||
| Masterworks of Japanese Literature (in English) | ||
| Japanese Language & Culture (in English) | ||
| Introduction to Linguistics | ||
or LIN 001Y | Introduction to Linguistics | |
| Preparatory Subject Matter Subtotal | 0-30 | |
| Depth Subject Matter | ||
| Grading. Students may take up to two and no more than two (regular, letter-graded) courses for the major on a P/NP basis. Courses which are only offered on a P/NP basis do not count toward these limits. | ||
| JPN 101 | Japanese Literature in Translation: The Early Period | 4 |
| JPN 102 | Japanese Literature in Translation: The Middle Period | 4 |
| JPN 103 | Japanese Literature in Translation: The Modern Period | 4 |
| JPN 111 | Modern Japanese: Reading & Discussion | 4 |
| JPN 112 | Modern Japanese: Reading & Discussion | 4 |
| JPN 113 | Modern Japanese: Reading & Discussion | 4 |
| JPN 151 | Japanese Linguistics | 4 |
| Note: With prior approval of the undergraduate advisor, students already proficient in Japanese at any third-year level1 must take other upper division Japanese (JPN) courses to replace language course(s). | ||
| Choose three; at least 12 units: | 12 | |
| Modern Japanese Literature: War & Revolution | ||
| Modern Japanese Literature: Hero & Anti-Hero | ||
| Japanese Culture Through Film | ||
| Modern Japanese Autobiographies (in English) | ||
| Poetry of China & Japan (in English) | ||
| Japanese Popular Culture | ||
| Spoken Japanese | ||
| Spoken Japanese | ||
| Spoken Japanese | ||
| Japanese Composition | ||
| Culture & History in Kyoto | ||
| Advanced Japanese I | ||
| Advanced Japanese II | ||
| Advanced Japanese III | ||
| Readings in Modern Japanese Literature to 1926 | ||
| Readings in Modern Japanese Literature: 1920-1945 | ||
| Readings in Modern Japanese Literature: 1945-1970 | ||
| Readings in Modern Japanese Literature: 1970-Present | ||
| Readings in the Humanities: Traditional Culture | ||
| Readings in the Humanities: The Modern Period | ||
| Readings in Japanese Newspapers | ||
| Readings in Contemporary Japanese Literature | ||
| Readings in the Humanities: Japan Today | ||
| Introduction to Classical Japanese | ||
| Traditional Japanese Drama | ||
| Love, Sexuality & the Family in Modern Japanese Literature | ||
| Tourism & Heritage in Japan | ||
| Introduction to Japanese Folklore | ||
| Japanese Literature on Film | ||
| Japanese Women Writers | ||
| The Supernatural in Japan | ||
| The Culture of Japanese Food | ||
| Japan Travelogue: Ethnographic Writing on Japanese Culture & People | ||
Up to 4 units: | ||
| Special Thesis Honors Project | ||
Up to 4 units: | ||
| Directed Group Study and Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates | ||
or JPN 199 | Special Study for Advanced Undergraduates | |
Up to two (8 units) upper division Chinese courses 2 | ||
| The Arts of Japan | ||
| Japanese Cinema | ||
| Economy of East Asia | ||
| Aristocratic & Feudal Japan | ||
| Early Modern Japan | ||
| Modern Japan | ||
| Business & Labor in Modern Japan | ||
| Government & Politics in East Asia: Japan | ||
RST 170 | (Discontinued) | |
| Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism | ||
OR | ||
Other advanced literature and culture courses selected in consultation with the undergraduate advisor. | ||
| Depth Subject Matter Subtotal | 40 | |
| Total Units | 40-70 | |