Modern Languages and Literatures – Japanese

College of Liberal & Creative Arts

Dean: Dr. Ifeoma Kiddoe Nwankwo

Department of Modern Languages and Literatures

Humanities Building, Room 475
Phone: (415) 338-1421
Website: mll.sfsu.edu/japanese-program/

Chair: Charles Egan
Program Coordinator:  Makiko Asano
Undergraduate Advisors: Midori McKeon (Minor), Masahiko Minami (Major)
Graduate Advisor: Midori McKeon

Program Scope

The undergraduate Japanese program focuses on developing proficiency in the language in a socio-cultural context by offering a variety of language training courses and by conducting courses in culture and literature in Japanese. In addition to the required coursework, students choose electives from a broad range of subjects including various courses in literature and culture, translation, interpretation, and business Japanese. The Master of Arts in Japanese offers two emphases: Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language and Professional Applications of the Language. The curriculum for the teaching emphasis prepares students for a career teaching Japanese at the college level. The Professional Applications emphasis helps students acquire competency in their specific occupational goals in areas such as business, government, arts, interpretation, translation, and other professional fields.

Professor

Midori Yamamoto McKeon (1990), Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley.

Masahiko Minami (1997), Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ed.D. Harvard University.

Associate Professor

Makiko Asano (2001), Associate Professor in Modern Languages and Literatures. Ph.D. Harvard University.

Major

Minor

Explanation of Course Descriptions, Symbols, and Terms

JAPN 101 First Semester Japanese (Units: 4)

Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing modern Japanese.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

JAPN 102 Second Semester Japanese (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: JAPN 101 or equivalent.

Continuation of JAPN 101. Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing modern Japanese.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

JAPN 103 Third Semester Japanese (Units: 4)

Prerequisite: JAPN 102 or equivalent.

Continuation of JAPN 102. Intermediate level modern Japanese.

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities
  • Global Perspectives

JAPN 200 Art of Japanese Writing and Calligraphy (Units: 3)

Nature and composition of the two Japanese writing systems, Hiragana and Kanji (Chinese characters), and their aesthetic expression in different styles of calligraphy. Knowledge of Japanese is not required.
(This course is offered as JAPN 200 and MLL 200. Students may not repeat the course under an alternate prefix.)

Course Attributes:

  • C2: Humanities

JAPN 250 Intensive Study of Kanji: Level I (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: JAPN 102* or equivalent.

Intensive study of Kanji. Learn approximately 500 basic Kanji characters. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.

JAPN 251 Intensive Study of Kanji: Level 2 (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 101*, JAPN 102*, JAPN 103, and JAPN 250* or equivalents. May not be concurrently enrolled in JAPN 510.

Intensive study of approximately 400 advanced Kanji characters, reaching a total of about 900 Kanji or 90% of Japan's Educational Kanji. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.

JAPN 301 Japanese Conversation (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 103 and JAPN 250 or equivalents.

Developing aural-oral skills for conversations at different social levels and situations.

JAPN 302 Japanese Reading and Grammar (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 103 and JAPN 250 or equivalents.

Reading modern Japanese. Structural analysis and vocabulary development.

JAPN 305 Advanced Conversation and Composition - Language and Culture (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and JAPN 302 or equivalents.

Exploration of the culture of Japan using in-depth conversations and intensive writing experiences to develop expertise in rhetorical skills. Discussion and composition topics include the geography of Japan, speech styles, technology, sports, food, religion, and pop culture.

JAPN 306 Advanced Conversation and Composition - Language and Humanities (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and JAPN 302 or equivalents.

Development of expertise in oral and written rhetorical skills through an in-depth exploration of humanities in Japan. Discussion and composition topics include traditional performing arts and crafts, education, history of Japan, nature, and politics.

JAPN 309 Advanced Readings in Japanese I (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and JAPN 302 or equivalents.

Reading modern literary, journalistic, and expository writings.

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

JAPN 310 Advanced Readings in Japanese II (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301*, JAPN 302*, JAPN 250 (Level I), or equivalents.

Further development of Japanese-as-a-second/foreign-language learners' written Japanese proficiency by focusing on reading skills. Reading materials used in this course address a variety of issues related to Japanese culture, history, and society, so that students will deepen their understanding of the backgrounds of their target language.

JAPN 325 Practical Linguistics in Japanese (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and JAPN 302 or equivalents.

Application of Japanese sound and structural patterns to practical usage.

JAPN 330 Proverbs and Idiomatic Expressions in Japanese (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and JAPN 302 or equivalents.

The most commonly used proverbs and idiomatic expressions in Japanese.

JAPN 331 A Study of Katakana Words in Japanese (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and JAPN 302, or permission of the instructor.

The study of Japanese katakana words, which include loanwords from Western languages and pseudo-English Japanese words. An examination of how their pronunciation, meaning and/or grammatical structure is altered in a new linguistic and cultural environment. (Fully online course)

JAPN 390 Business Japanese (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and JAPN 302 or equivalents.

Japanese business communication skills. Readings in economics, politics, and social issues.

JAPN 401 Topics in Japanese Culture (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.

Acquisition of advanced reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills through the analysis of Japanese culture, history, people's thought, and behavior. Topic to be specified in Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

  1. Japanese Identity
  2. Life and Thought of Medieval Japan
  3. Edo Culture
  4. Tea Ceremony and Tea Culture
  5. Heian Culture: Culture of Peace
  6. Japanese Way of Living
  7. Modern Cultural History of Japan

JAPN 510 Modern Japanese Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 250 (knowledge of 1000 Educational Kanji or at least a C- on new Level 2), JAPN 301, JAPN 302, JAPN 305 or JAPN 306, JAPN 309, or equivalents.

Literary movements and major works of 20th century Japan.

Course Attributes:

  • Global Perspectives

JAPN 699 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: Permission of the department chair and instructor.

Written projects requiring critical analysis and interpretation of linguistic or literary problems. Material adapted to individual needs and interests. May be repeated for a total of 9 units.

JAPN 895 Applied Research Project (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

(CR/NC grading only)

JAPN 896EXM Culminating Experience Examination (Units: 0-3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor, committee chair, and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience Requirement forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

Enrollment in 896EXAM required for students whose culminating experience consists of an examination only. Not for students enrolled in a culminating experience course numbered JAPN 895 or JAPN 898 (or in some cases, JAPN 890 - see program's graduate advisor for further information). (CR/NC, RP)

JAPN 898 Master's Thesis (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the instructor and approval of Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) and Culminating Experience (CE) forms by Graduate Studies. ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration.

(CR/NC grading only)

JAPN 899 Independent Study (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisites: Permission of the graduate major adviser and supervising faculty member. Enrollment by petition.

Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the faculty. Open only to advanced graduate students who have demonstrated the ability to do independent work. May be repeated for a total of 6 units.