Japanese Major & Minor Requirements

The Japanese Major

Effective fall 2019: Students matriculating in FL19 are required to take eight courses for a minimum of 24 upper-level (300 level or above) units.

The Japanese major and minor are available to students who matriculated prior to Fall 2021. [Note: Contact the EALC department to have the Japanese major/minor added to your record as these degrees are no longer available in WebSTAC.] Students who matriculate FL21 or later, please see the unified East Asian Languages and Cultures degree program.   

Prerequisites: 

  • 1st- and 2nd-level Modern Japanese or the equivalent
  • Japanese 226C (Japanese Civilization)


Requirements:

The major in Japanese Language & Culture requires 24 upper-level (300-level or above) units to include:

  • Japanese 332C (Japanese Literature: Beginnings to Nineteenth Century)
  • Japanese 333C (The Modern Voice in Japanese Literature).
  • 400-level Capstone course (prime majors)
  • Senior Capstone Experience (prime majors):  Students may satisfy the capstone requirement in one of two ways, both of which require a presentation in the EALC Senior Symposium in the spring.
  1. Successful completion of a senior honors thesis.  This option, which also entitles the student to Latin Honors, requires a minimum of a 3.65 GPA.  The thesis is researched and written over two semesters, for a total of 6 units which are in addition to the 24 upper-units required for the major.
  2. Successful completion of an approved 400-level seminar course, to be taken during the senior year.  This course may be included among the required upper-level courses for the major.  The Capstone course must be an EALC home-based course within the student's area of focus.  Writing Intensive courses cannot fulfill the Capstone requirement.


Additional Notes: 

  • With advisor approval, students may include one course in a related area offered outside the department among the 24 advanced units.  (For example, a student with focus on Japan/Japanese may take one course in FMS or Art History that also focuses on Japan.)  With advisor approval, students may count one course from another area within the EALC department among the 24 advanced units. (For example, a student with focus on Japan/Japanese may take one course in either Korean or Chinese.)  The exception approval form is required in this case.
  • Students must earn at least a B- language courses in order to continue to the next level.  They must also maintain a B- average in all required courses for the major. Students who do not meet this requirement may either repeat the course/s in question or earn at least a B- in an approved equivalent course or courses (either during the summer or in a study abroad program).
  • Courses for the major and minor may not be taken Credit/No Credit.
  • Effective FL17: Up to 6 units of credit may be applied toward the major from one semester abroad and up to 12 units of credit from two semesters abroad.  Note that EALC no longer distinguishes study abroad credits earned in advanced language courses from those credits earned in other "content" (non-language) courses.  (Pre-FL17 matriculation policy: No more than 6 units of transfer or study abroad non-language courses may be applied to the major.)  Core courses (226C, 332C, 333C) should be taken in residence.
  • No more than 3 units of Independent Study may be applied towards the required upper-level 24 units.
  • Students can declare a major through WebStac.

The Japanese Minor

Requirements: 

The minor in Japanese Language & Culture requires 18 units. These 18 units must include:

  • Two semesters of Japanese language
  • Japanese 226C (Japanese Civilization)
  • Japanese 332C (Japanese Literature: Beginnings to Nineteenth Century)
  • Japanese 333C (The Modern Voice in Japanese Literature)
  • At least 9 units must be 300-level or above


Additional Notes:

  • Students must earn at least a B- or above in language courses in order to continue to the next level. They must also maintain at least a B- average in all courses taken to fulfill the minor requirements. Students who do not meet this requirement may either repeat the course/s in question or earn at least a B- in an approved equivalent course or courses (either during the summer or in a study abroad program).
  • Courses for the minor may not be taken Credit/No Credit.
  • No more than 3 units of transfer or study-abroad non-language courses may be applied to the minor. Core courses (226C, 332C, 333C) should be taken in residence.
  • Students can declare a minor through WebStac.
     

Placement Exams & Back Credit

Placement tests are required for all students entering our language programs, with the exception of those students who have had no previous knowledge of the language and are planning to enroll in the first semester of the first year of instruction. Students who test into second-year Japanese and satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B– or better) at least one semester of language study may petition for 3 units of retroactive credit; students who test into third year or above and satisfactorily complete (with a grade of B– or better) at least one semester of language study may petition for 6 units of retroactive credit. Credit is limited to 3 units for testing into second year and 6 units for testing into third year or above.

L05 213 or 214 = 3 units for 104D
L05 412 or 413 = 3 units for 104D and 3 units for 214

Please note that students with native language proficiency as determined by the Japanese language section, as well as students who enroll in a course below their placement level, are ineligible for retroactive credit units. Students who misrepresent the extent of their background so as to gain entrance to a course at the elementary or intermediate level will be dropped from that course.