Major in Japanese Language and Literature (1108)
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 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 WLL majors, Japanese Language & Literature majors begin with XL100: 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 two language courses beyond the fifth-semester level (LJ303). Students also have the option of taking classical Japanese. Three additional courses in Japanese language, literature, linguistics, and/or culture provide greater depth in areas of special interest to the student. Majors reconvene with all WLL majors in the senior capstone seminar XL 479, where they work with a faculty mentor on a final project using Japanese language materials.
Major in Japanese Course Requirements
A total of 10 four-credit courses is required, all completed with a grade of C or higher.
- XL 100 Explorations in World Literature: Leaving Home
- 4 advanced Japanese language courses above LJ 211:
- LJ 212 Fourth-Semester Japanese
- LJ 303 Third-Year Modern Japanese I
- LJ 304 Third Year Modern Japanese II
- LJ 305 Japanese through Design and Industry
- LJ 306 Japanese through Food Culture
- LJ 314 Classical Chinese I for Students of East Asia
- LJ 316 Classical Japanese
- LJ 320 Conversational Japanese
- LJ 322 Japanese for the Professions
- LJ 350 Readings in Modern Japanese Fiction
- LJ 385 Intensive Kanji
- LJ 386 Japanese Translation/Interpretation Workshop
- LJ 410 History of the Japanese Language
- LJ 430 Supernatural Beings in Japan: Mononoke
- LJ 441 Japanese through Media
- LJ 450 Topics in Advanced Japanese
- 3 courses in Japanese language, literature, linguistics, and/or culture above LJ250 from below:
- LJ 250 Masterpieces of Japanese Literature (in English translation)
- LJ 251 Modern Japanese Literature (in English translation)
- LJ 260 Gateway to Asian Cultures
- LJ 282 Samurai, Ships, and Soil: Japan Among the Empires of Asia, 1600-1950
- LJ 283 Modern Japanese Culture in Cinema (in English translation)
- LJ 350 Readings in Modern Japanese Fiction
- LJ 360 Haiku
- LJ 383 Auteur Studies: Japan
- LJ 388 World Cities: Tokyo
- LJ 402 Senior Independent Work
- LJ 426 Contemporary Japanese Fiction
- LJ 488 Magical Realism in Japanese Literature
- LJ 451 Topics in Japanese Literature
- LJ 460 Haruki Murakami and his Sources
- LJ 480 Japanese Women Writers
- LJ 481 Topics in Japanese Literature (in English translation)
- LJ 492 Directed Study in Japanese
- LJ 510 The Structure of the Japanese Language
- XL 379 Writing About Literature- WLL Junior Seminar: Trains WLL majors in the craft of academic writing in preparation for their senior capstone projects.
- Capstone XL 479 Senior Seminar: Seniors majoring in WLL come back together in XL 479, the senior capstone. 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 an interactive map, timeline, or other digital humanities project. Students producing excellent capstone projects will be encouraged to develop them into senior honors work.
Major in Japanese 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
- Knowledge of at least 800 kanji characters, and additional knowledge beyond this proficiency level in one specialized area (e.g., classical Japanese or Chinese, journalistic writing, translation)
Graduating with Honors
To graduate with honors, students will complete XL 479 AND TL 540 OR a two-semester thesis project including TL 540 OR XL 479 and a semester of LJ 401 or 402 senior work for honors.
To graduate with honors, students will maintain a GPA in the major of at least 3.4 and will take two additional courses beyond the 10 required for the major:
- one additional LJ or XL course chosen with approval of the advisor.
- either TL 540 (translation seminar) or LJ 401 or 402 (continuation of the thesis begun in the capstone seminar).
Minor in Japanese Language and Literature (1108)
Required courses: six LJ courses numbered 212 and above, including LJ 212 and 303 and at least one course in literature. Students who place above LJ 212 and/or LJ 303 will replace those courses with other LJ courses 304 and above to total six courses for the minor. Up to four courses taken at Boston University’s program in Kyoto may count toward the minor. Students may include up to three transfer courses from other colleges, universities, or non-Boston University study abroad programs and must take a minimum of three courses (or a minimum of two, if they have four courses approved for credit toward the minor from Boston University’s program in Kyoto) on the Charles River Campus. Internships taken through Boston University or other study abroad programs may not be credited toward minor concentrations offered by the department. A grade of C or higher is required in all courses taken toward the minor.
Japanese Minor Sequence Chart
