Japanese Major

The major in Japanese provides students with a solid foundation in the disciplines of Japanese language, literature, and culture through extensive language training and broad exposure to Japanese literary and cultural traditions. Prospective majors are strongly encouraged to begin their Japanese language study during their first year at Colgate and to participate in the Japan Study Group.

For more information about the department, honors/high honors, transfer credit, etc., visit the East Asian languages and literatures department page.

Major Requirements

In order to encourage exposure to a wide range of approaches to Japanese studies, the department strongly recommends that students elect a section of CORE 167C taught by a member of a department other than East Asian languages and literatures, and enrich their major by taking ECON 339 - The Japanese Economy and HIST 264 - Modern East Asia (GL) .

Upon completion of JAPN 202 , a minimum of eight courses is necessary to fulfill the requirements for a Japanese major:

Required Courses

CORE 167C - Japan
JAPN 222 - Japan through Literature and Film
JAPN 301 - Advanced Japanese I (language and literature course)
JAPN 302 - Advanced Japanese II (language and literature course)
JAPN 401 - Readings in Japanese I (language and literature course)
JAPN 402 - Readings in Japanese II (language and literature course)

Two Courses from the Following:

CHIN 222 - China through Literature and Film
JAPN 250 /
CHIN 250 - East Asian Thought
JAPN 411 - Topics in Japanese Linguistics
JAPN 450 - Advanced Readings in Japanese
JAPN 455 - Advanced Grammar in Japanese
JAPN 481 - Topics in Japanese Culture (Study Group) (in Japan)
JAPN 482 - Cultural Studies: The Japanese Village (Study Group) (in Japan)
Other courses as approved by the department.

GPA Requirement

All courses must be passed with a grade of C or better to count toward the major; a minimum average of 2.00 in all courses counted toward the major is necessary for graduation.