BA in Japanese Language & Literature

The Japanese Language & Literature major provides students with an appreciation and critical understanding of Japan’s rich literary and cultural traditions and contemporary culture along with a high level of proficiency (ACTFL intermediate-high) in the Japanese written and spoken language. The program also enables students to function effectively in cross-cultural contexts and to contribute meaningfully to the global challenges of today’s world. Students are encouraged to study abroad in Kyoto at the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies or in Tokyo at Keio University.

Like all World Languages & Literatures (WLL) majors, Japanese Language & Literature majors generally begin with CAS XL 100 Leaving Home: Explorations in World Literature, a team-taught course in which students meet the WLL faculty through guest lectures and are oriented in the rich diversity of the world’s literary traditions. They begin Japanese language study as early as possible and complete at least four language courses beyond the third-term level (CAS LJ 211). Students also have the option of taking classical Japanese. Three additional courses in Japanese language, literature, culture, and/or linguistics provide greater depth in areas of special interest to the student. CAS XL 379 Writing about Literature will improve students’ writing in the discipline of literary studies and prepare them for their senior project.

Seniors majoring in WLL come back together in CAS XL 479, the senior capstone seminar. Students use this course to produce a substantial project in their major and share their work with other WLL seniors working in other languages. The course provides students with structure and research guidance for developing and discussing their projects, while meetings with a faculty language mentor hone students’ advanced language skills as applied to the area of their research. Student presentations build oral communication skills and the ability to describe one’s work to others. Possible final projects could include a research paper on literature, film, or popular culture; an annotated translation or work of subtitling; a video essay; or a digital humanities project. Students producing excellent capstone projects will be encouraged to develop them into senior honors work.

Learning Outcomes

• Advanced knowledge of major themes and genres in Japanese literature and culture in their historical contexts, including links to other East Asian and world literary traditions.
• Critical thinking, communication, and writing skills within areas of content and cultural knowledge.
• Familiarity with fundamental research skills for Japanese studies, including use of traditional and electronic sources.
• Proficiency in speaking, reading, writing, and listening comprehension in Japanese at the intermediate-high level as measured by ACTFL guidelines.

Prerequisites

• CAS LJ 111, CAS LJ 112, and CAS LJ 211
  OR
• equivalent placement test results

Requirements

All BU undergraduate students, including both entering first-year and transfer students, will pursue coursework in the BU Hub, the University’s general education program that is integrated into the entire undergraduate experience. BU Hub requirements can be satisfied in a number of ways, including coursework in and beyond the major as well as through cocurricular activities. Students majoring in Japanese Language & Literature will ordinarily, through coursework in the major, satisfy BU Hub requirements in Philosophical, Aesthetic, and Historical Interpretation; Diversity, Civic Engagement, and Global Citizenship; and Communication, along with requirements in the Intellectual Toolkit. Remaining BU Hub requirements will be satisfied by selecting from a wide range of available courses outside the major.

A total of ten 4-unit courses is required, all completed with a grade of C or higher (all courses listed below are 4-unit courses):

• CAS XL 100 Explorations in World Literature: Leaving Home (or a substitute XL course for students declaring the major as juniors or seniors)
• CAS XL 379 Writing about Literature
• CAS XL 479 WLL Senior Seminar. A capstone course with a paper or translation project that makes use of Japanese-language sources. Normally offered in fall term.
• Four advanced Japanese language courses above CAS LJ 211*:
  • CAS LJ 212 Fourth-Semester Japanese
  • CAS LJ 303 Third-Year Modern Japanese I
  • CAS LJ 304 Third-Year Modern Japanese II
  • CAS LJ 305 Japanese Through Design and Industry
  • CAS LJ 314 Classical Chinese I for Students of East Asia
  • CAS LJ 316 Classical Japanese
  • CAS LJ 320 Conversational Japanese
  • CAS LJ 322 Japanese for the Professions
  • CAS LJ 350 Readings in Modern Japanese Fiction
  • CAS LJ 385 Intensive Kanji
  • CAS LJ 386 Japanese Translation/Interpretation Workshop
  • CAS LJ 430 Supernatural Beings in Japan: Mononoke
  • CAS LJ 441 Japanese through Media
  • CAS LJ 450 Topics in Advanced Japanese
• Three courses in Japanese language, literature, culture, and/or linguistics from the list below:
  • CAS LJ 250 Masterpieces of Japanese Literature
  • CAS LJ 251 Modern Japanese Literature
  • CAS LJ 252 Contemporary Japanese Literature (in proposal stage)
  • CAS LJ 260 Gateway to Asian Cultures
  • CAS LJ 282 Samurai, Ships, and Soil: Japan Among the Empires of Asia, 1600–1950
  • CAS LJ 283 Modern Japanese Culture in Cinema
  • CAS LJ 350 Readings in Modern Japanese Fiction
  • CAS LJ 383 Auteur Studies: Japan
  • CAS LJ 388 World Cities: Tokyo
  • CAS LJ 360 Haiku
  • CAS LJ 400 Topics in Japanese Literature
  • CAS LJ 402 Senior Independent Work
  • CAS LJ 445 Readings in Japanese Culture
  • CAS LJ 451 Topics in Japanese Literature
  • CAS LJ 460 Haruki Murakami and His Sources
  • CAS LJ 480 Japanese Women Writers
  • CAS LJ 481 Topics in Japanese Literature
  • CAS LJ 492 Directed Study: Japanese
  • CAS LJ 510 The Structure of the Japanese Language

*Students placed higher in the language sequence, according to placement test results, should begin with the appropriate level for them.

Through consultation with an advisor, requirements may be fulfilled through BU Study Abroad programs in Kyoto and Tokyo.

Honors in the Major

To graduate with honors, students will maintain a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and will take two additional 4-unit courses beyond the 10 required for the major: one additional LJ or XL course chosen with approval of the advisor and one from CAS TL 540 (translation seminar), CAS TL 541 (Translation Today), CAS LJ 401, or 402 (continuation of the thesis begun in the capstone seminar). Note that CAS TL 540 and 541 require a zero-unit corequisite, CAS TL 542.