Course descriptions index


Japanese

For information on studying in Japan, see Study Abroad; on compulsory placement tests, see Course Placement; on "bonus credit," see Alternative Ways to Earn Credit.

JPN 100A  3 Credits
JPN 100B  3 Credits
Elementary Japanese IA and IB (h)
Courses 100A and 100B are introductory courses in the Japanese language and culture with an emphasis on the spoken and written language. After completion of JPN 100A and 100B the student will be able to continue on to JPN 102. Note: JPN 100A and JPN 100B must be taken to equal JPN 101, which fulfills one semester of the foreign language core requirement. (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


JPN 101  5 Credits
JPN 102  5 Credits
Elementary Japanese I and II (h)
Introduction to spoken and written Japanese. The student will acquire a vocabulary of approximately 1,000 words and will learn to read and write the two syllabaries, hiragana and katakana, as well as 150 kanji. Cultural dimension is explored implicitly through language and explicitly through audiovisual materials. Courses are taught in Japanese. (5 + 0) 101 Offered Fall, 102 Offered Spring


JPN 201  4 Credits
JPN 202  4 Credits
Intermediate Japanese I and II (h)
The student will learn to read and write an additional 250 kanji. Conversational ability and listening comprehension enhanced by using videotape materials. Courses are taught in Japanese. (Prerequisite: JPN 102 or equivalent.) (4 + 0) 201 Offered Fall, 202 Offered Spring


JPN 210  2 Credits
Beginning Kanji (h)
Students will learn to read and write 500 basic kanji (Chinese characters) through studying their history, composition and artistic value. (Prerequisites: Hiragana and Katakana recognition.) (2 + 0) Offered Fall


JPN 301  3 Credits
JPN 302O  3 Credits
Advanced Japanese (h)
Development of advanced conversational and reading skills. Topics may include: modern Japanese prose fiction; newspaper Japanese; advanced conversation through the study of common contractions and idiomatic usage in the standard Tokyo dialect; and a study of television drama series. May be repeated with different topics. (Prerequisites: For JPN 302: COMM 131X or 141X; JPN 202 or equivalent.) (3 + 0) 301 Offered Fall, 302O Offered Spring


JPN 310  2 Credits
Intermediate Kanji (h)
Continuation of JPN 210—Beginning Kanji. Students will learn to read and write an additional 500 kanji (Chinese characters) through studying their history, composition and artistic value. (Prerequisites: JPN 210.) (2 + 0) Offered Spring


JPN 311  2 Credits
Advanced Kanji (h)
Continuation of JPN 310—Intermediate Kanji. Students will learn to read and write an additional 1,000 kanji (Chinese characters) through studying their history, composition and artistic value. (Prerequisites: JPN 310.) (2 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


JPN 331W  3 Credits
Women's Voices in Japanese Literature (h)
(Cross-listed with WMS 331W)
A close reading of selected novels, short stories, poems and diaries by Japanese women from the tenth century to the present which reveal the personal, social, aesthetic and intellectual concerns of women in different periods of Japanese history. focus on the changing role of women in Japanese society, the role of women writers as social critics and cross-cultural differences and similarities in women's issues. (Prerequisite: ENGL 111X; ENGL 211X or 213X; ENGL/FL 200X. Recommended: HIST 121, 122 or 331) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


JPN 332  3 Credits
Japanese Cultural Traditions and Arts (h)
A study of Japanese cultural traditions and arts as influenced by the religious and philosophical systems of Shinto, Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism. Lectures will cover a wide range of Japanese traditional arts such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, martial arts, Noh, Bunraku and Kabuki. Course is taught in English. (Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. Next offered: 2006-07.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Fall


JPN 333  3 Credits
Twentieth Century Japanese Prose Fiction (h)
A study of selected novels, short stories and film scripts in translation representative of styles and themes which characterize twentieth century Japanese literature. Analysis of each work in terms of characterization, themes, structure, style and as an expression of social problems or intellectual issues in modern Japanese society. Course is taught in English. (Prerequisite: Junior standing or permission of instructor. Course may be repeated for credit when topic varies. Next offered: 2006-07.) (3 + 0) Offered Alternate Spring


JPN 377  3 Credits
Japanese American Experience (s)
Explore historical reasons the Japanese originally emigrated; values and belief systems which came with them from Japan; economic, cultural and sociological factors which made the issei (first generation) eventually decide to stay in the U.S.; and evolution of the relationship between Japan and Japanese-Americans before, during and after World War II. (Prerequisites: Junior standing or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


JPN 431  3 Credits
Studies in Japanese Culture (h)
Further study of advanced written and spoken Japanese through essays, newspaper and journal articles, and television documentaries dealing with topics in Japanese culture. (Prerequisite: JPN 302 or permission of instructor. Course may be repeated for credit when topic varies.) (3 + 0) Offered Fall


JPN 432  3 Credits
Studies in Japanese Language (h)
In-depth study of Japanese language or literature. (Prerequisites: JPN 302 or permission of instructor. Course may be repeated for credit when topic varies.) (3 + 0) Offered Spring


JPN 475  3 Credits
Seminar on Contemporary Japan (h)
Ties together various threads of the Japanese Studies program and gives students an opportunity to apply their knowledge to contemporary issues in Japan. Provides a forum for student presentations of research papers begun in Japan. (Prerequisite: Upper-division semester in Japan at pre-approved program.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


JPN 482  3 Credits
Selected Topics in Japanese (h)
Focuses on topics not covered in JPN 431 or JPN  432. (Prerequisite: JPN 302 or equivalent; junior standing; or permission of instructor. May be repeated for credit.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants


JPN 488  3 Credits
Individual Study: Senior Project (h)
Designed to permit the student to demonstrate ability to work with the language and the culture through analysis and presentation, in Japanese, of a problem chosen by the student in consultation with the department. Offered normally in the semester preceding the student's graduation. Conducted in Japanese. The student must apply for senior project and submit project outline by the end of the 6th week of the semester preceding the semester of graduation. (Prerequisite: At least 10 credits in upper-division Japanese or permission of instructor.) (3 + 0) Offered As Demand Warrants