FJA_BA - Japanese

About this Program

• College: Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Degree: Bachelor of Arts
• Credits for Degree: 120
• More Info

To graduate with this major, students must complete all university, college, and major requirements.

The Japanese specialization of the BA in Foreign Languages and Literatures (FLL).The FLL BA provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of a specific language (or languages) and advanced familiarity with the cultural practices and traditions associated with the language(s) of specialization. The major in FLL enhances critical thinking and communication skills and provides students with a cross-cultural understanding of our contemporary world. The program allows students the flexibility to explore a single or dual language specialization as well as the opportunity to study culture through interdisciplinary fields of critical concentration, such as Comparative Cultural Studies, Film and Visual Culture, Intensive Area Studies, Literary Studies, and Medieval and Early Modern Studies. A major in FLL offers an excellent basis for a variety of careers, including graduate study in an area of foreign language and culture and/or in the humanities and social sciences, as well as careers in education, international development, diplomacy and government, national security, communications, law, journalism, arts and culture, publishing, and global business. Participation in UF study-abroad programs or a UF approved program is highly encouraged.

The Japanese specialization of the Foreign Languages and Literatures major provides a foundation for graduate-level work in East Asian studies or allied fields (anthropology, art history, history, linguistics, political science, and religion). The specialization is excellent general preparation for entry to professional schools (business, journalism, law, and medicine) or careers in foreign service, commerce, diplomacy, translation, business, import and export of information and culture, museums, libraries, and tourism.

Requirements for the Major

The Japanese specialization in Foreign Languages and Literatures consists of preparatory language study at the lower division (1000 and 2000 level), and 33 credits of advanced language, theory, and culture study in the upper division (3000 level and above).

All coursework for the major must be completed with minimum grades of C.

In addition to the above coursework, there are two non-course graduation requirements:

• An acceptable score on a language proficiency test
• A satisfactory faculty evaluation of a term paper of appropriate length completed for an advanced course

Required Foundation Coursework

Total depends on individual placement in Japanese language

Required Major Coursework | 33 Credits

All languages offered through this department may fulfill college language requirements. Students pursuing the Japanese specialization in Foreign Languages and Literatures are not allowed to minor in Asian studies (either option 1 or 2).

Transfer Students Interested in Majoring in Japanese

If a student's current institution does not offer Japanese and the student has no previous knowledge of Japanese, it's recommended that they take the following Summer Intensive Beginning Japanese program:

Summer A: JPN 1130. A minimum grade C is required to advance to the next level course.

Summer B: JPN 1131.

Overseas Study

There are a variety of study abroad opportunities in Japan.
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Two year-long study abroad programs are available in Japan. The Asian Studies Program at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan is specifically designed for international students for an academic year program of study abroad. The program offers courses in Japanese language (all levels) and area studies focusing on Japan and its international role. Another academic year study abroad program at Aoyama Gakuin, Tokyo, offers students the challenge of taking courses in the target language as well as courses in English. These two programs also offer the option of one semester of study abroad.

There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Shimane University in Matsue, Japan. This program focuses on Japanese language, culture, history, and environment. The number of courses taught in English at Shimane is limited, so four semesters of Japanese study or equivalent before arrival is preferred. There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Nagoya University in Nagoya. This program is open to students with no previous study of Japanese language and is ideal for students from a variety of majors including the STEM majors as it offers a broad-based English-language curriculum in international studies, biological and physical sciences, and engineering, in addition to courses in Japan studies. There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Kyoto University. This program is open to all majors. There is also a program at Waseda University offered through the Economics department.

There is one UF faculty-led study abroad program taught during Summer A, which is taught in English and focuses on Japanese culture: UF in Japan - Japanese Culture in Place. It is ideal for students who do not have room in their schedule for semester-long study abroad programs or will not meet the language requirements in time for an exchange program.

A maximum of 15 credits non-UF overseas study credit may apply to the major. Students must have all overseas study credit that will transfer to the major approved by their major advisor. JPT 3500 must be taken at UF. No substitution is allowed for JPT 3500.

Placement

Students with previous training in Japanese, as well as those with heritage background in these languages, should consult the undergraduate coordinator or the language coordinator of the Japanese specialization before enrolling in any JPN or JPW course. Placement tests are given at the start of each semester; refer to the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for location and times.
More Infohttps://languages.ufl.edu/academics/llc-languages/japanese-studies/