Japanese Language and Culture Major (12 1⁄2 units)

1. Nine departmental units:
a. Six units of Japanese language (above 100): 105, 110, 115, 200, 205, 220.
b. One unit of Japanese literature taught in Japanese: Japanese 230.
c. Two units of Asian literature or culture in translation: 240, 260, or 280. A student may fulfill one of these credits with a Chinese literature or culture course: Chinese 250, 255, 260, 280.

2. Three supporting courses:
a. One unit of introductory Japanese history: History 210.
b. Two other supporting courses, one of which must be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on Japan: Anthropology 375*, Art History 130, 235, 285*, Comparative Literature 230*, History 150*, 210*, 310*, 368*, Interdisciplinary Studies 288*, Political Science 235*, 236, 295*, Religious Studies 200*, 240*, 250*, or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with Japan.

* If Japan is covered.

c. One of the supporting courses may  be chosen from the following group of courses that focus on East Asia: Anthropology 375*, Asian Studies 242, Art History 285*, Comparative Literature 230*, Economics 206, History 150*, 210*, 294*, 310*, Philosophy 250, Political Science 240, 241, 295,* 330,* 386*, Religious Studies 200*, 240*, 250*, or any one-time offering or topics course that deals primarily with East Asia.

* If East Asia is covered.

Note: Students are strongly encouraged to take at least 1 supporting course that deals primarily with modern Japan. Courses taken in a study abroad program may substitute for required classes,
with the approval of the advisor.

3. Asian Studies 351 (1⁄2 unit)

4. Majors are strongly encouraged to spend at least one semester at a Beloit College exchange program, particularly Kansai-Gaidai University.

5. Students may also apply credit earned through Beloit College’s Center for Language Studies toward
the major.

6. Native speakers of Japanese may not major in Japanese; however, they may receive credit as teaching assistants.

7. Writing/Communication requirement: Writing/Communication requirement: Courses in modern foreign languages offer students opportunities to become competent in four language skills—speaking, listening, reading, and writing. All four linguistic areas are important. The department of modern languages and literatures meets the College’s writing requirement by having students move from structured writing that reinforces the material learned in language classes—grammar points and vocabulary—to less guided writing in advanced classes where students use language creatively to analyze, describe, narrate, synthesize, persuade, etc. Since we often focus on the writing process—prewriting, writing, and rewriting—we are confident that the problem solving skills associated with this process will transfer to courses outside of our department.