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Japanese: Language, Literature, Culture (including courses in English)

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  • 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 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
  • CAS LJ 480: Japanese Women Writers
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: (CASLJ350) - Classic texts by Japanese women, including the "Tale of Genji" and "The Pillow Book," and their modern legacy, read alongside important philosophical and theoretical texts in queer and feminist thought. Lectures and texts in English. Effective Spring 2021, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU Hub areas: Historical Consciousness, Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings, Critical Thinking.
    • Critical Thinking
    • Historical Consciousness
    • Philosophical Inquiry and Life's Meanings
  • CAS LJ 491: Directed Study: Japanese
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of department and CAS Advising. - Application Form available in the department.
  • CAS LJ 492: Directed Study: Japanese
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: consent of department and CAS Advising. - Application Form available in the department.
  • CAS LJ 510: The Structure of the Japanese Language
    Undergraduate Prerequisites: CASLJ 112 and CASLX 250 (or equivalent placement in Japanese). - Introduction to linguistic analysis of the Japanese language (sound system, orthography, word formations, particles, basic syntactic features and semantics) and sociolinguistic aspects such as honorifics, young people’s speech and gender differences in language use. Conducted in English. Effective Fall 2024, this course fulfills a single unit in each of the following BU HUB areas: Critical Thinking, Social Inquiry I.
    • Critical Thinking
    • Social Inquiry I

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