Requirements for the major are designed to give you a solid foundation in the Japanese language, as well as a broad and nuanced understanding of its culture, history and society.  In addition to completing four years of Japanese or their equivalent, majors also take courses in Japanese pre-modern, modern and contemporary culture. Majors must also complete a capstone experience and experiential education experience, which may be satisfied through education abroad or similar. 

Note on Education Abroad and Course Substitutions: The Japanese Studies Program strongly encourages and supports Education Abroad in Japan. However, note that the following required courses may NOT be replaced with courses taken outside of MSU: 1) JPN369, and 2) JPN469. 

Further, Japanese Studies majors looking to satisfy their elective requirement during Education Abroad may receive credit for the equivalent of up to one 3-credit course per semester in Japan but must first receive approval to do so. Similarly, students seeking language course credits while in Japan (with the exception of JCMU programs) may need to take a placement test upon return to determine course equivalencies. If you plan to request elective substitutions for coursework completed in Japan or have questions regarding language course equivalencies, please plan to consult with the department advisor as soon as possible when planning your Education Abroad experience in Japan.

Japanese Major (effective as of Fall 2022)

(34 credits)

  1. All of the following courses (19 credits):
    1. JPN 202: Second-Year Japanese II (5 credits)
    2. JPN 301: Third-Year Japanese I (4 credits)
    3. JPN 302: Third-Year Japanese II (4 credits)
    4. JPN 401: Fourth-Year Japanese I (3 credits)
    5. JPN 402: Fourth-Year Japanese II (3 credits) 
  2. Both of the following courses (6 credits):
    1. JPN 369: Japanese Literature and Culture I (3 credits)
    2. JPN 469: Japanese Literature and Culture II (3 credits)
  3. Three of the following elective courses (9 credits):
    1. JPN 260: Japanese Cinema (3 credits)
    2. JPN 261: Japanese Culture and Anime (3 credits)
    3. JPN 350: Japanese Language in Society (3 credits)
    4. JPN 451: Advanced Japanese for Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation (3 credits)
    5. JPN 460: Media and Culture in Japan (3 credits)
    6. JPN 461: Japanese Children’s Literature and Cultural Translation (3 credits)
    7. JPN 491: Topics in Japanese Studies (1-3 credits)
  4. Completion of a capstone experience:
    1. 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
  5. Education Abroad:
    1. 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
  6. Cognate requirement:
    1. A cognate of 15 credits, as approved by the department advisor. At least one course must be at the 300-400 level. Students are encouraged to pursue an East Asian Studies cognate to supplement major study. Cognate requirement is waived if completing a teacher certification.
  7. College of Arts & Letters Experiential Requirement:
    1. Earn a minimum of 3 credits in one of the following experiential education options through an associated course approved by the College: internship, service/community engaged service learning experience, undergraduate research or creative project directed by a faculty member, an education abroad program, or a study away program.
 
 

Old Requirements (prior to Fall 2022)

(31 credits)

  1. All of the following courses:
    1. JPN 202: Second-Year Japanese II (5 credits)
    2. JPN 301: Third-Year Japanese I (4 credits)
    3. JPN 302: Third-Year Japanese II (4 credits)
    4. JPN 401: Fourth-Year Japanese I (3 credits)
    5. JPN 402: Fourth-Year Japanese II (3 credits) 
    6. JPN 369: Japanese Literature and Culture I (3 credits)
    7. JPN 469: Japanese Literature and Culture II (3 credits)
  2. Two of the following elective courses:
    1. JPN 260: Japanese Cinema (3 credits)
    2. JPN 261: Japanese Culture and Anime (3 credits)
    3. JPN 350: Japanese Language in Society (3 credits)
    4. JPN 451: Advanced Japanese for Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation (3 credits)
    5. JPN 460: Media and Culture in Japan (3 credits)
    6. JPN 461: Japanese Children’s Literature and Cultural Translation (3 credits)
    7. JPN 491: Topics in Japanese Studies (1-3 credits)
  3. Completion of a capstone experience:
    1. This requirement may be satisfied by completing special assignments in a 400-level JPN course or approved language study or internship in Japan at the 300 or 400 level.
  4. Cognate requirement:
    1. A cognate of 15 credits in the field of East Asian Studies approved by the department advisor. Cognate requirement is waived if completing a teacher certification.
  5. College of Arts & Letters Experiential Requirement:
    1. Earn a minimum of 3 credits in one of the following experiential education options through an associated course approved by the College: internship, service/community engaged service learning experience, undergraduate research or creative project directed by a faculty member, an education abroad program, or a study away program.
 

Additional Major in Japanese (effective as of Fall 2022)

(28 credits)

This option is designed to encourage students to combine a major in Japanese with a major in another field.

  1. All of the following courses (19 credits):
    1. JPN 202: Second-Year Japanese II (5 credits)
    2. JPN 301: Third-Year Japanese I (4 credits)
    3. JPN 302: Third-Year Japanese II (4 credits)
    4. JPN 401: Fourth-Year Japanese I (3 credits)
    5. JPN 402: Fourth-Year Japanese II (3 credits)
  2. Both of the following courses (6 credits):
    1. JPN 369: Japanese Literature and Culture I (3 credits)
    2. JPN 469: Japanese Literature and Culture II (3 credits)
  3. One of the following elective courses (3 credits):
    1. JPN 260: Japanese Cinema (3 credits)
    2. JPN 261: Japanese Culture and Anime (3 credits)
    3. JPN 350: Japanese Language in Society (3 credits)
    4. JPN 451: Advanced Japanese for Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation (3 credits)
    5. JPN 460: Media and Culture in Japan (3 credits)
    6. JPN 461: Japanese Children’s Literature and Cultural Translation (3 credits)
    7. JPN 491: Topics in Japanese Studies (1-3 credits)
  4. College of Arts & Letters Experiential Requirement:
    1. Earn a minimum of 3 credits in one of the following experiential education options through an associated course approved by the College: internship, service/community engaged service learning experience, undergraduate research or creative project directed by a faculty member, an education abroad program, or a study away program.

Teaching Major in Japanese (effective as of Fall 2022)

(34 credits)

  1. All of the following courses (31 credits):
    1. JPN 202:Second-Year Japanese II (5 credits)
    2. JPN 201: Third-Year Japanese I (4 credits)
    3. JPN 302: Third-Year Japanese II (4 credits)
    4. JPN 350: Japanese Language in Society (3 credits)
    5. JPN 401: Fourth-Year Japanese I (3 credits)
    6. JPN 402: Fourth-Year Japanese II (3 credits)
    7. JPN 369: Japanese Literature and Culture I (3 credits
    8. JPN 469: Japanese Literature and Culture II (3 credits)
    9. LLT 307: Teaching Methods (3 credits)
  2. One of the following elective courses (3 credits):
    1. JPN 260: Japanese Cinema (3 credits)
    2. JPN 261: Japanese Culture and Anime (3 credits)
    3. JPN 350: Japanese Language in Society (3 credits)
    4. JPN 451: Advanced Japanese for Japanese Language Proficiency Test Preparation (3 credits)
    5. JPN 460: Media and Culture in Japan (3 credits)
    6. JPN 461: Japanese Children’s Literature and Cultural Translation (3 credits)
    7. JPN 491: Topics in Japanese Studies (1-3 credits)
  3. Completion of a capstone experience:
    1. This requirement may be satisfied by completing special assignments in a 400-level JPN course or approved language study or internship in Japan at the 300 or 400-level.
  4. College of Arts & Letters Experiential Requirement:
    1. Earn a minimum of 3 credits in one of the following experiential education options through an associated course approved by the College: internship, service/community engaged service learning experience, undergraduate research or creative project directed by a faculty member, an education program, or a study away program.