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 The Japanese Major

Description
Japan is both a culturally important nation and a major international presence in the contemporary world. The major in Japanese is designed to develop skills in speaking, understanding, reading, and writing Japanese, along with an undertaking of the grammatical structure of the Japanese language and a general acquaintance with Japanese culture, literature, and civilization. The major can also help students prepare for professional careers in which a knowledge of this language is useful. Twelve credits of study in Japan, in a Penn State Education Abroad Program or another program subject to departmental approval, are included in the major. Students planning to teach in public schools should schedule the appropriate course leading to certification in consultation with an advisor in the College of Education. For the Bachelor of Arts in Japanese, a minimum of 123 credits is required.

Career Directions
Japanese major graduates may seek employment in government service, domestic and foreign offices, the United Nations, the Peace Corps, the U.S. Information Agency, or other international agencies. Employment may also be available with import and export trade organizations, international banking houses, or U.S. companies abroad. In addition, an increasing number of domestic and multinational companies are seeking employees who have backgrounds in multicultural studies as a way of dealing with the global market.

If interested, or for more information, contact Reiko Tachibana <rxn6@psu.edu>.

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Requirements
  • · Prescribed Courses: 6 credits
  • Japns 110, Japns 120
  • · Additional Courses: 21 credits
  • Select 21 credits in Japanese at the 400 level
  • · At least 12 credits must be taken in Japan
  • Either in a Penn State Education Abroad program or another program
  • subject to departmental approval
  • · Supporting and Related Courses: 9 credits
  • Select 9 credits from the following list:
Art History
  ART H 120 - Survey of Eastern Art (3)
  ART H 340 - Japanese Art (3)

Comparative Literature
  CMLIT 004 - Masterpieces of Literature from Asia
  CMLIT 404 - Literary Modes of Asia

East Asian Studies
  EA ST 187 - Freshman Seminar (3)
  EA ST 401 - East Asian Studies (3-6)

Education Theory and Policy
  EDTHP 405 - Education in Asia (3)

Geography
  GEOG 443 - Geography of the Orient (3)

History
  HIST 172 - Survey of Japanese Civilization (3)
  HIST 174 - History of Traditional East Asia (3)
  HIST 175 - History of Modern East Asia (3)
  HIST 480 - Medieval Japan (3)
  HIST 481 - Modern Japan since 1880 (3)

International Business
  IB 303 - Internationl Business Operations (3)

International Studies
  INLST 493 - International Studies (3)

Philosophy
  PHIL 007 - Asian Philosophy (3)
  PHIL 437 - World Philosophies and Cultures (3)

Political Science
  PL SC 458 - Government and Politics of East Asia (3-6)
  PL SC 468 - International Relations of East Asia (3)

Religious Studies
  RL ST 003 - Intro to Religions of the East (3)
  RL ST 181 - Intro to Religions of China and Japan (3)
  RL ST 481 - Religion and Japanese Culture (3)
  RL ST 483 - Zen Buddhism (3)

Theater Arts
  THEA 406 - Theater in Asia (3)

  • · Grade of C or better in all major courses
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Current Japanese Majors

- Randi Anderson
- Jon Baker
- Nathan Barbe
- Bridget Beaver
- David Bittle
- Gillian Bohunko
- Edward Centrella
- Julieanne Clements
- Lance Cogan
- Colleen Conlon
- Elisabeth Disney
- Regina Ferry
- Matthew Fissinger
- Alexandria Frauman
- Devin Grasso
- James Hasel
- Sarnia Harmon
- Heather Houser
- Kevin Imafuku
- Peter Jeong
- Kyung Kim
- Mindy Kuei
- Sara Lawson
- Alicia Leathers
- David Lin
- Nicholas Mangus

- Christopher Maringo
- Julianna Maslak
- Nathan McCabe
- Caleb Morrell
- Thomas Morris
- Ksenia Nemtsov
- Ryan Obrock
- Martina Pavelchak
- Robert Peng
- Nathan Platt
- Philip Roher
- Renee Ruster
- Minji Shin
- Iaisha Smith
- Anthony Spina
- Julia Steiber
- Chadd Steinruck
- Daniel Topakas
- Jason Ulmer
- Rachel Webber
- Robert Wessner
- Hannah Winters
- Susan Yankowski
- Alden Yener
- Bilal Zaki
- Bryan Zarzeka

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