Japanese Studies (BA)

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Offered by the Department of World Languages and Cultures , College of Arts and Sciences , the Japanese Studies (BA) includes instruction in both spoken and written Japanese from beginning to advanced levels, teaching students to read, write, and converse with confidence. Students learn about Japanese culture through the language, taking a wide range of courses on history and literature, modern popular culture, including anime and manga, business Japanese, translation, and linguistics. They participate in a number of annual events, both traditional and modern, that enhance students’ intercultural competencies in and beyond the classroom. Students are also encouraged to participate in study abroad opportunities at the most highly ranked institutions in Japan as well as Japan-related internship opportunities in the Washington, DC, area.

Admission to Program

Students must be approved by the department for formal admission to the major. Language coursework may be waived if high school or other preparation warrants it. Placement will be made in consultation with a departmental advisor.

University Requirements

120 credit hours with minimum 2.00 cumulative GPA (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 2 )
Completion of all requirements for a major (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 9 )

AU Core Requirements

Completion of AU Core foundation requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.2-8.6 )
Completion of AU Core Habits of Mind requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.7 )
Completion of AU Core integrative course requirements (Undergraduate Academic Regulation 8.8-8.11 )

For additional information, see AU Core Curriculum .

Major Requirements

36 credit hours with grades of C or better, including at least 18 credit hours at or above 300-level
- Prerequisite: Completion of intermediate language level (JAPN-215 Japanese, Intermediate II (5) )
One of the following field concentrations:
- 12 credit hours in a second world language at any level
- 12 credit hours in area studies in the major field at or above 300-level
- An approved minor related to the major field: for example, another language (Arabic Language (Minor) , Chinese Language (Minor) , French Language (Minor) , German Language (Minor) , Russian Language (Minor) , Spanish Language (Minor) ), Anthropology (Minor) , Business Administration (Minor) , Communication (Minor) , Economics (Minor) , History (Minor) , International Studies (Minor) , Literature (Minor) , Political Science (Minor) , or Sociology (Minor)

Course Requirements

Required (12 credit hours)

Linguistics (3 credit hours)

Complete 3 credit hours from the following, or other courses at 400-level approved by advisor:

Electives (18 credit hours)

Complete 18 credit hours from the following, or other courses approved by program director:

Capstone (3 credit hours)

JAPN-488 Capstone Project (3) (topics)

Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees

American University offers students the opportunity to earn both undergraduate and graduate degrees through its combined bachelor’s/master’s programs. See Admission to a Combined Bachelor’s / Master’s Program and Combined Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for more information.