Japanese (JAPN)

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, and their aesthetic expression in different styles of calligraphy. Knowledge of Japanese not required.

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 350 Introduction to Translation (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 250, JAPN 301, and JAPN 302, or equivalents.

Basic techniques, strategies, and issues in the field of non-literary translation using Japanese and English as source languages. Practical exercises include text analysis and development of translation skills.

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 395 Advanced Business Japanese: Business Writing (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 250, JAPN 301, and JAPN 302 or equivalents.

Formats necessary for business writing in Japanese and intensive training in reading and writing business documents.

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 590 Topics in Japanese Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 250 (Level 3 of Kanji, with a grade of C- or better), JAPN 301, JAPN 302, JAPN 305 or JAPN 306, and JAPN 309, or equivalents.

Exploration of specific genres or topics of literature including Japanese Women Writers and Contemporary Japanese Literature. Topic to be specified in Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

  1. Japanese Women Writers
  2. Contemporary Japanese Literature

JAPN 690 Introduction to Consecutive Interpretation (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: Near native fluency in English or Japanese and advanced level knowledge of the other.

Acquisition of skills in consecutive interpretation between Japanese and English in international business, manufacturing, and tourism.

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 710 Japanese Language Workshops (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Workshops designed to enhance Japanese language skills for professional applications and research purposes. Topics include Translation, Consecutive Interpretation, and Media Language. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

  1. Interpretation Workshop
  2. Current Topics: Radio and Television
  3. Newspapers
  4. Magazines & Periodicals
  5. Translation Workshop

JAPN 750 Seminar in Japanese Linguistics (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: JAPN 325 or equivalent.

Phonological, morphological, and semantic features of Japanese: current research and problems.

JAPN 760 Seminar in Pedagogical Japanese Linguistics (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: JAPN 325 or equivalent.

Problem areas of phonological, grammatical, and discourse structures of Japanese from a learning/teaching point of view.

JAPN 765 Second Language Acquisition (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Second language acquisition and learning; emphasis on learning Japanese as a second language.

JAPN 770 Seminar in Teaching Japanese (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: JAPN 750 or JAPN 760 or equivalent.

Analysis of available text materials and audio-visual aids for teaching Japanese. Instructional methods, techniques, and material for effective teaching.

JAPN 775 Seminar: Materials Development for Teaching Japanese (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 325; JAPN 770 highly recommended.

Application of linguistic and pedagogical theories and principles to the development of materials for Japanese classes.

JAPN 780 Practicum in Teaching Japanese (Units: 3)

Prerequisites: JAPN 750, JAPN 760, and JAPN 770 or permission of the instructor.

Application of linguistic and pedagogical knowledge to actual teaching of Japanese. (CR/NC grading only)

JAPN 800 Seminar in Analysis of Japanese Cultural Studies (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Recent trend of cultural studies of Japan: focus, method, and purpose of each work and their possible interrelations.

JAPN 860 Seminar: Topics in Japanese Literature (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

In-depth analytical study of Japanese literary texts of great importance, including The Tale of Genji, Noh plays, Hyakunin Isshu poems, and modern novels. Topics to be specified in the Class Schedule. May be repeated when topics vary.

Topics:

  1. The Tale of Genji and No Plays
  2. Hyakunin Isshu: 100 Poems by 100 Poets

JAPN 890 Integrative Seminar: Japanese Language and Culture (Units: 3)

Prerequisite: Graduate standing or permission of the instructor.

Examination of Japanese language to study how it may reflect Japanese people's way of thinking, their relationship with one another and with nature, and their attitude about the place and role of individuals in society.

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 897 Research (Units: 1-3)

Prerequisite: JAPN 895 or JAPN 898 with SP grade.

Required of all students who have not completed the master's thesis or research project. May be repeated but units may not be counted toward the degree program. (CR/NC, RP grading only)

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.