Japanese for the Modern World

Not only is Japan a major international presence in the modern world, it's also a culturally important nation. When you major in Japanese, you'll learn to communicate with insight into the political structures, religions, and social frameworks of Japanese culture.

The Japanese major
A Japanese major will train you in the humanistic study of the language, literature, and culture of Japan. The curriculum typically centers on the informed and engaged reading of Japanese texts in their historical and cultural context, as well as the development of effective writing and critical thinking skills. You'll be introduced to the vast artistic, cultural, literary, and philosophical traditions of Japan and their transformations in modernity. Course offerings situate the study of Japan in a global context.

Japanese courses
With a Japanese major, you'll select from a broad range of courses in linguistics, literature, philosophy, and popular culture, both in translation and in the original language. Courses may include Japanese art, East Asian studies, survey of Japanese civilization, medieval Japan, modern Japan, international business operations, religion and Japanese culture, theater in Asia, government and politics of East Asia, Asian philosophy, geography of the Orient, education in Asia, and masterpieces of Asian literature, to name a few.

Learning Japanese
Studying Japanese involves memorizing several hundred written characters each semester, learning the language well enough to read and write Japanese poetry, reading masterpieces of ancient and modern Japanese literature, and studying abroad in Japan. Persistence is a helpful quality to hone, since Japanese is a language of written characters rather than letters.

Japanese major skills
With a foundation in the grammatical structure of the language, a Japanese major develops skills in reading, speaking, understanding, and writing Japanese. Along with a general acquaintance with Japanese culture, civilization, and literature, this training can help you prepare for a professional career in which a knowledge of Japanese is useful.

Career paths
Japanese majors may find employment in domestic and foreign offices, government service, the Peace Corps, the United Nations, the U.S. Information Agency, or other international agencies. Employment may also be available with import and export trade organizations, international banking houses, or U.S. companies abroad. More and more domestic and multinational companies are seeking employees with backgrounds in multicultural studies who can thrive in the global market.

Major in Japanese, and watch the world open its doors to you.

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