Introduction

The Department of Modern Languages and Literatures offers a wide range of of programs in language study to meet the varying needs of today's students. The ability to communicate effectively is essential for success-oriented graduates, and acquiring the competence to communicate in a language other than English can often provide a competitive edge in today's global economy.

Communicating effectively in a second language is more than the acquisition of language skills. Students also gain insight into another culture which often provides ivaluable perspectives and greater sense of appreciation for alternate ways of life and thought.The department views language, culture and literature as integrally related facets of communication that help us achieve better understanding of ourselves and others in the rapidly changing world we live in.

The study of a foreign language and culture, as with other humanities and social sciences disciplines, fosters scholarship and values, social responsibility, free and critical inquiry, empirical analysis, and leadership skills. Together, these elements prepare students for intellectually rewarding lives, responsible citizenship, and a wide variety of careers by developing critical thinking, clear writing, problem solving skills, and a heightened understanding of the human condition.

The Japanese Program offers courses that lead not just to mastery of the language but also to an understanding of the Japanese culture and people. We feel that learning a language in a social vacuum is not meaningful. Our goal is to enable you to communicate culturally and intellectually with the Japanese people.

Goals:

1. Language: students communicate effectively and in a culturally appropriate manner in oral and written form in a variety of social and professional circumstances. 

2. Culture: students gain a comprehensive understanding of the historical development and contemporary state of the Japanese people and society, and are able to analyze how the Japanese cultural background may influence our modern life, e.g., communication, styles of interaction, and family structure.      

3. Literature: students deepen their appreciation and knowledge of major literary movements in Japan, and develop analytical and critical thinking abilities working with a variety of literary texts.   

4. Linguistics:  students gain knowledge of the structure of the Japanese language and the current issues in Japanese linguistics, and are able to compare and contrast the structural differences between Japanese and English.  

Career Opportunities

Increasing interaction between the United States and Japan has made mutual understanding between the two countries more important than ever. The corporate world has become aware of the need for business partners to understand each other’s language and culture for effective interaction. As a result, there is a demand for people who are well versed in the language and culture of Japan.

In the past, only a minimum speaking ability was required to do business with Japan, such as an exchange of polite courtesies as a preamble to serious business negotiations. Today, American business people realize that they must conduct business in the Japanese way if they wish to sell goods and services in that country. It is not enough to be able to utter a few formal expressions; one has to read and write in the language. Even more importantly, one has to understand the way Japanese people think and have the ability to use the language creatively in new situations.

To meet this challenge we have organized our program so that students will become as proficient as possible in classroom situations. In addition, we offer an internship program where students have a chance to use the language in an actual business environment outside the classroom. This is required for a B.A. in International Business with a concentration in Japanese. Since there are many Japanese companies and Japanese natives in Southern California, we invite curious Japanese cultural groups and company representatives to our campus for extra-curricular activities. We also offer traditional literature and linguistics courses for Japanese minor and major students. To give students more exposure to the Japanese language, we teach all of these courses in Japanese, even though most universities still teach these courses in English. This is challenging for students but the results are rewarding.

Advisement

Department faculty members provide academic and career advisement. Each student majoring in Japanese is assigned a faculty adviser. Advisement takes place during the instructor’s office hours for your convenience. Students are encouraged to meet with their faculty advisers at least once a semester.

Advisors

Check with MLL Department.

Admission Requirements

Students who wish to begin work in the department's undergraduate program must first apply for admission with in the appropriate filing period to CSU Fullerton and declare their objective as Bachelor of Arts in Japanese. Application may be obtained from the Office of Amissions & Records at any California State University campus. An electronic version of the CSU application is available on the World Wide Web at http://www.csumentor.edu/AdmissionApp/

Placement

Students should enroll at that point in the sequence of courses for which their previous study and/or experience prepares them. Students with no language background should enroll in fundamental 101-level courses. Normally, two years of high school language study are considered to be equivalent to one year of college language. Students just completing two years of high school language should begin at 200-level intermediate courses. A minimum of four years of high school language, or its equivalent, is considered a prerequisite for more advanced 300-level major work.

Courses at the 101-level are not open to students who have completed two or more years of high school study or one term of college study in that language, unless such study was completed three years or more before entering the class. Courses at the 102-level are not open to students who have completed two or more years of high school study or two terms of college study in that language, unless such study was completed two years or more before entering the class.

Due to the sequential nature of language instruction, consultation with an adviser in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures is essential before enrolling in a course.

Bachelor of Arts in Japanese

The Bachelor of Arts in Japanese consists of 30 units of upper-division Japanese course work, plus the required 3-unit upper-division English writing course, Modern Language MLNG 301. Prior to undertaking upper-division work, the Japanese major will have completed the following lower-division courses or their equivalents:

Basic Requirements (20 units)
Each of the following courses or their equivalent:
Japanese 101 Fundamental Japanese-A (5)
Japanese 102 Fundamental Japanese-B (5)
Japanese 203 Intermediate Japanese-A (5)
Japanese 204 Intermediate Japanese-B (5)

Upper-Division Core Requirements (18 units)
Choose from the following courses:
Japanese 305 Advanced Japanese-A (3)*
Japanese 306 Advanced Japanese-B (3)*
Japanese 307 Advanced Spoken Japanese (3)*
Japanese 310 Japanese for Business (3)
Japanese 311 Japanese for International Business (3)
Japanese 315 Introduction to Japanese Civilization (3)
Japanese 316 Modern Japan (3)

Upper-Division Electives (12 units)
Choose from the following:
Japanese 375 Introduction to Literary Forms (3)
Japanese 440 Introduction to Modern Japanese Literature (3)
Japanese 466 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (3)
Japanese 468 Japanese-English Contrastive Analysis (3)
Japanese 485T Senior Seminar: Variable Topics in Japanese (3)
Japanese 499 Independent Study (1-3)

*Students with native or near-native proficiency should substitute an upper division elective course in consultation with the major adviser.

Minor in Japanese

Basic Requirements (20 units)
Each of the following courses or their equivalent:
Japanese 101 Fundamental Japanese-A (5)
Japanese 102 Fundamental Japanese-B (5)
Japanese 203 Intermediate Japanese-A (5)
Japanese 204 Intermediate Japanese-B (5)

Upper-Division Requirements (12 units)
Six units required from the following:
Japanese 305 Advanced Japanese-A (3)
Japanese 306 Advanced Japanese-B (3)
Japanese 307 Advanced Spoken Japanese (3)

Six units from the following:
Japanese 310 Japanese for Business (3)
Japanese 311 Japanese for International Business (3)
Japanese 315 Introduction to Japanese Civilization (3)
Japanese 316 Modern Japan (3)
Japanese 375 Introduction to Literary Forms (3)
Japanese 440 Introduction to Modern Japanese Literature (3)
Japanese 466 Introduction to Japanese Linguistics (3)
Japanese 468 Japanese-English Contrastive Analysis (3)
Japanese 499 Independent Study (1-3)