Japanese
Our Japanese program has a long and rich tradition, and it is recognized today for the world-class quality of its faculty and degree programs. Our department’s close links with other departments on campus create opportunities for students to undertake cross-disciplinary studies, including with the Department of Linguistics, the Jackson School of International Studies and the Foster School of Business (where options include a Certificate of International Studies in Business).
Photo by Tom Vining on Unsplash
Program Overview
Degree availability: Minor, B.A, M.A, Ph.D in Japanese
Years offered: 4 years
Contact: asianll@uw.edu
UW Classical Japanese Program
Scholarships
Language-Related Scholarships
- Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
- Boren Undergraduate Scholarship
- Critical Language Scholarships
- Study Abroad in Japan Bridging Scholarship
Undergraduate Scholarships and Funding
- UW Mary Gates Undergraduate Research & Leadership Grants
- UW Undergraduate Library Research Award
- UW Honors College Scholarships and Awards
- UW Office of Merit Scholarships, Fellowships, and Awards
- JSIS Funding Opportunities (not limited to JSIS students)
- Office of Financial Aid – Scholarships
- Childcare Assistance Program
After Graduation
Course Information
Course Catalog
Language Courses
- JAPAN 401, 402, 403 Fourth Year Japanese
- JAPAN 411 Practical Japanese Through Dramas
- JAPAN 412 Virtual Tokyo
- JAPAN 413 Japanese Conversation Through Movies
- JAPAN 418 Advanced Japanese Through Content (prerequisite: minimum grade of 2.5 in JAPAN 303 or JAPAN 334) (NOTE: Can be repeated for credit.)
- JAPAN 431, 432, 433 Readings in Modern Japanese Literature (May be taken in any order; prerequisite: JAPAN 303)
- JAPAN 445 Foreign Study: Fourth-Year Japanese (prerequisite: JAPAN 303)
- JAPAN 451, JAPAN 453 Fifth Year Japanese
- JAPAN 452 Project Work in Advanced Japanese
- JAPAN 471 Introduction to Classical Japanese (prerequisite: 2.5 in JAPAN 303 or JAPAN 334)
- JAPAN 472 Readings in Classical Japanese Literature (prerequisite: JAPAN 471)
Linguistics, Literature, and/or Culture Courses:
- JAPAN 321 Survey of Japanese Literature I
- JAPAN 322 Survey of Japanese Literature II
- JAPAN 325 Introduction to Japanese Film
- JAPAN 343 Language in Society
- JAPAN 344 Foreign Language Teaching in the Japanese Context
- JAPAN 395 Linguistics or Literature, Foreign Study
- JAPAN 360 Special Topics in Japanese Culture
- JAPAN 361 Special Topics in Japanese Film
- JAPAN 380 Modernism, Avant-Garde, Contemporary and Pop Art and Culture
- JAPAN 434 Undergraduate seminar in premodern Japanese literature
- JAPAN 435 Undergraduate seminar in modern Japanese literature
- JAPAN 441 Acquisition of a Second or Foreign Language
- JAPAN 442 Japanese Syntax and Semantics
- JAPAN 443 Topics in Sociolinguistics
- JAPAN 460 Advanced Study in Japanese Literature
Advanced class
- JAPAN 434 Undergraduate Seminar in Premodern Japanese Literature (prereq: JAPAN 321)
- JAPAN 435 Undergraduate Seminar in Modern Japanese Literature (prereq: JAPAN 322 or JAPAN 360)
- JAPAN 460 Advanced Study in Japanese Literature (prereq: JAPAN 322 or JAPAN 360)
- JAPAN 461 Advanced Study in Japanese Cinema and Media (prereq: JAPAN 325 or JAPAN 361)
- JAPAN 441 Acquisition of a Second or Foreign Language (prereq: JAPAN 203 or above AND either JAPAN 343, JAPAN 344, ASIAN 401, CHIN 342, LING 2XX, or LING 3XX)
- JAPAN 442 Japanese Syntax and Semantics (prereq: either LING 200 or LING 400; recommended: LING 461; at least two years of coursework in Japanese.)
- JAPAN 443 Topics in Sociolinguistics (prereq: JAPAN 313 or above AND either JAPAN 342, JAPAN 343, JAPAN 344JAPAN 440, or JAPAN 441)
Faculty Research
More About Japanese
Global
- Used by 125,635,690 people (as L1: 123,640,190; as L2: 1,995,500).
- While it is the official language of Japan, there are considerable populations of Japanese speakers in over 53 countries.
Learning
- Ranks 4th for most-learned foreign language in U.S. higher education.
Culture & Diplomacy
- Japan is ranked as having the 4th highest GDP in the world.
- In addition to the four large islands, Japan includes over 14,000 smaller islands.
- As a country, Japan ranks 11th for population size.
Travel & Career
- Opens doors for careers in diplomacy, international relations, science, journalism, and global corporations.
Discover More
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Woman in Kimono holding an Umbrella
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Shibuya Intersection
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Japanese garden, pond and temple
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Sky-Tree Tower, Tokyo, Japan
