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The listing of a course description here does not guarantee a course’s being offered in a particular term. Please refer to the published schedule of classes on the MyBU Student Portal for confirmation a class is actually being taught and for specific course meeting dates and times.

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  • CAS LJ 304: Third-Year Modern Japanese II
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLJ303) - Reading and viewing modern Japanese texts and media in order to develop advanced reading, writing, listening and speaking skills, as well as familiarity with contemporary cultural topics. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
  • CAS LJ 305: Japanese through Design and Industry
    Prerequisites: (CASLJ303) or equivalent. - Through reading and discussion topics related to Japanese industry and design, students develop advanced reading, writing, listening and speaking skills in modern Japanese. Topics include Japanese fashion, manufacturing, art, entertainment, and technology. Effective Spring 2026, this course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Social Inquiry 1.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS LJ 306: Japanese through Food Culture
    Prerequisites: CASLJ 303 or equivalent placement test result. - Through readings and discussions of Japanese food culture, develops advanced skills in reading, writing, listening, and speaking modern Japanese. Considers how food reflects Japanese society, history, and everyday family life, exploring topics including globalization, popular media, health, education, and gender. Effective Fall 2026, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry 1.
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS LJ 316: Classical Japanese
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASLJ 212 or equivalent, or consent of instructor. - Introduction to Classical Japanese, Japan's written language from the seventh until the twentieth century. A systematic study of grammar and lexicon enriched by original readings from major works of Japanese literature such as Man’yoshu, Pillow Book, Genji, and Heike monogatari, Hojoki. Effective Fall 2018, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Historical Consciousness
  • CAS LJ 320: Conversational Japanese
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLJ211) or consent of instructor. - Advanced training to increase fluency in spoken Japanese with an emphasis on different levels of politeness in speech and cultural awareness. Role playing; vocabulary and expression building; and aural comprehension. Concurrent enrollment in a four-skills language course is encouraged. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration. Effective Fall 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Oral and/or Signed Communication, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS LJ 322: Japanese for the Professions
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLJ303) or equivalent. - Advanced Japanese language course to prepare students to use workplace Japanese and to understand Japanese business culture and the economic landscape. Discussions and assignments facilitate communication, presentation, reading/writing, cross-cultural understanding, and collaboration skills. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Oral and/or Signed Communication, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS LJ 350: Readings in Modern Japanese Fiction
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLJ303) or equivalent. - Readings in modern fiction from Akutagawa to Murakami and beyond to deepen knowledge of Japanese language, learn about the development of Japanese literature from 1900 to the present, and to place it in contemporary context. Readings and discussions in Japanese. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Historical Consciousness, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Historical Consciousness
  • CAS LJ 360: Haiku
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: First-Year Writing Seminar (WR 120 or equivalent). - The history and evolving forms of haiku in Japan and around the world. Students write and workshop their own haiku in English or Japanese, learning from great poets how to focus attention, observe nature, read closer, and write better. Effective Fall 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Writing-Intensive Course, Aesthetic Exploration, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS LJ 383: Auteur Studies: Japan
    Deep exploration of the films of one director with attention to cultural and historical context and the creative process. Readings in English and all films available with English subtitles. Effective Fall 2022, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Historical Consciousness, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Historical Consciousness
  • CAS LJ 385: Intensive Kanji
    Prerequisites: CASLJ 212 or CASLJ 211 with consent of instructor. - Intensive study of approximately 1000 Kanji to build additional proficiency in reading and writing for advanced Japanese language students. The course also explores the history and aesthetics of kanji characters. Intended for students without heritage knowledge of Chinese characters. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Creativity/Innovation, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
  • CAS LJ 386: Japanese Translation/Interpretation Workshop
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: First-Year Writing Seminar (e.g., CASWR 100 or WR 120) and CASLJ 212 or CASLJ 211 with consent of instructor. - Through training in translating and interpreting, the course enhances knowledge of Japanese language and culture and improves English writing skills. Students are given a wide variety of texts to translate and practice oral interpretation in a range of contexts. Effective Fall 2019, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Writing-Intensive Course, Oral and/or Signed Communication.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Oral and/or Signed Communication
    • Writing-Intensive Course
  • CAS LJ 388: World Cities: Tokyo
    Explores the past and present of the vibrant city of Tokyo through literature and visual culture. Includes hand-on experiences mapping literary spaces. Reading and discussion in English. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Digital/Multimedia Expression, Research and Information Literacy.
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Research and Information Literacy
  • CAS LJ 401: Senior Independent Work
    SR INDEP WORK
  • CAS LJ 402: Senior Independent Work
    SR INDEP WORK
  • CAS LJ 410: The History of the Japanese Language
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLJ212) or consent of instructor. - Overview of major issues in the history of Japanese: genetic relationships, changes in sound system, word and sentence structures, and pragmatics. Special attention to the process leading to the current writing system. Representative texts used to demonstrate different literary languages. Effective Spring 2020, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy.
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Historical Consciousness
  • CAS LJ 426: Contemporary Japanese Fiction
    Prerequisites: CASWR 100 or equivalent and one prior literature course. - Through readings in 21st-century fiction, this course explores today's Japan from multiple angles as reflected through the themes preoccupying contemporary writers. Covers a range of genres, from "pure literature" to manga and "light novels." Readings and discussion in English. Effective Fall 2026, this course fulfills a single requirement in each of the following BU Hub areas: Aesthetic Exploration, Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Teamwork/Collaboration.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy
    • Teamwork/Collaboration
  • CAS LJ 430: Supernatural Beings in Japan: Mononoke
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: LJ 303. - Mononoke "Supernatural Beings" have appeared in literature, historical records, traditions, and most recently, in anime and film. Through Mononoke students are able to learn about social issues, values and ideas in different periods of Japanese history. Effective Spring 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Social Inquiry I.
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS LJ 441: Japanese through Media
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLJ303) - Analysis and discussion of authentic print, digital, visual, and social media while developing a high level of Japanese proficiency, and gaining knowledge of current issues and media literacy. Develops critical reading/viewing skills as well as communicative and intercultural proficiency. Effective Fall 2023, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Digital/Multimedia Expression, Ethical Reasoning, Social Inquiry I.
    • Digital/Multimedia Expression
    • Ethical Reasoning
    • Social Inquiry I
  • CAS LJ 451: Topics in Japanese Literature
    Topics vary. May be taken multiple times for credit if topic is different. Topic for Fall 2025: Contemporary Japanese Fiction. Explores the deep world of Japanese contemporary fiction as it wrestles with themes of alienation, dystopia, fantasy, and women's empowerment. Includes short works by current writers, including intertextual references to works from Murakami to anime. Class is taught in English.
  • CAS LJ 460: Haruki Murakami and His Sources
    Students read works by Haruki Murakami and by writers who shaped him or were shaped by him, reflect on the nature of intertextuality, and gain a perspective on contemporary literature as operating within a global system of mutual influence. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy, Aesthetic Exploration, Creativity/Innovation.
    • Aesthetic Exploration
    • Creativity/Innovation
    • Global Citizenship and Intercultural Literacy

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