Japanese Studies (B-ARTS_MAJOR_22)

Overview

The undergraduate program in Japanese Studies comprises coursework designed to build students’ knowledge and skills in understanding and analysing Japanese language and society.

Japanese subjects are organised in a progressive sequence (of units) from Japanese 1 through to Japanese 8 with several additional units. Entry and exit points are determined by the student’s background in the language, placement testing, prerequisites, or at the discretion of the Japanese program. Students normally progress through the subjects in consecutive order. Mid-year entry is also possible into subjects with even numbers, subject to appropriate prior experience and approval from the convenor of the Japanese Studies program.

The language-society subjects are designed to maximise acquisition of the language and to develop their communication skills in various types of texts, interactional contexts and strategic aspects of meaning making. The curriculum also allows students to develop a broad understanding of cultural, social and historical aspects of Japan. Non-language subjects such as Social Problems in Japan help students understand the complexity and diversity of the society, and challenge stereotypes. Teaching staff create a meeting place where students from a variety of cultural backgrounds can explore intercultural language activities to promote intercultural as well as communicative competence.

Note: Students in the Japanese Studies major are not able to take the Japanese Societies minor due to the "Diversity of Study" course rule.

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this major, students should be able to:

Demonstrate effective oral and written communication competency in Japanese, and an in-depth knowledge of Japanese language, culture and society, relative to their entry level
Combine knowledge of the Japanese language with one or more disciplines through critical research inquiry
Apply knowledge of the social and cultural diversity of Japan
Collaborate with people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds
Employ time management and prioritisation skills to set goals and work effectively both independently and in groups
Participate in and contribute to various forms of discussion as an informed user of the Japanese language
Evaluate the interdisciplinary nature of Japanese studies to develop new ways of knowing and understanding issues and phenomena in question

Last updated: 2 October 2024

Structure

100 credit points

Students will have their appropriate entry point determined by the Japanese Studies program, based on evidence of prior learning and/or results of a placement test as required. Please refer to the following link for further information:

Link

The entry points for this major are:

Japanese Studies 1 entry point: Students who have never studied Japanese before or have only rudimentary knowledge of the language usually enter the progression at Japanese 1
Japanese Studies 3 entry point: Students who have completed VCE Japanese (Second language), IB or have an equivalent language level usually enter the progression at Japanese 3
Japanese Studies 5 entry point: Students who perform at an intermediate level in Japanese, for example those who have completed VCE or IB with excellent results or have an equivalent language level usually enter the progression at Japanese 5
Japanese Studies 7 entry point: Students who perform at a advanced level in Japanese, for example those who hold N3 of JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) or have lived or studied in Japan usually enter the progression at Japanese 7

This major requires the completion of either:

Entry Point 1

25 credit points of EP1 Level 1 Core subjects
37.5 credit points of EP1 Level 2 Core subjects
25 credit points of EP1 Level 3 Core subjects
12.5 credit points of Level 3 Capstone Subject

Entry Point 3

25 credit points of EP3 Level 1 Core subjects
37.5 credit points of EP3 Level 2 Core subjects
25 credit points of EP3 Level 3 Core subjects
12.5 credit points of Level 3 Capstone Subject

Entry Point 5

25 credit points of EP5 Level 1 Core subjects
37.5 credit points of EP5 Level 2 Core subjects
25 credit points of EP5 Level 3 Core subjects
12.5 credit points of Level 3 Capstone Subject

Entry Point 7

25 credit points of EP7 Level 1 Core subjects
37.5 credit points of EP7 Level 2 Core subjects
25 credit points of EP7 Level 3 Core subjects
12.5 credit points of Level 3 Capstone Subject

Subject Options

Japanese Studies Entry Point 1

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN10001	Japanese 1	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN10002	Japanese 2	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN20002	Introduction to Japanese Communication	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN20007	Japanese 3	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN20008	Japanese 4	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 1

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30007	Japanese 5	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN30010	Signs and Symbols in Japanese	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Capstone subject - Entry Point 1

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30018	Global Japanese in Context	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Japanese Studies Entry Point 3

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN10007	Japanese 3	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN10008	Japanese 4	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN20013	Japanese 5	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN20014	Japanese 6	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN20009	Signs and Symbols in Japanese	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 3

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30005	Japanese 7	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN30013	Japanese Grammar in Action	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Capstone subject - Entry Point 3

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30018	Global Japanese in Context	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Japanese Studies Entry Point 5

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN10003	Japanese 5	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN10004	Japanese 6	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN20003	Japanese 7	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN20004	Japanese 8	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN20010	Japanese Grammar in Action	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 5

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30004	Japanese through the Media	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN30012	Variation in Japanese Language	Summer Term (Off Campus) Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Capstone subject - Entry Point 5

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30018	Global Japanese in Context	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Japanese Studies Entry Point 7

Level 1 Core subjects - Entry Point 7

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN10005	Japanese 7	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN10006	Japanese 8	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 2 Core subjects - Entry Point 7

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN20005	Contemporary Japan	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville) Winter Term (Off Campus)	12.5
JAPN20011	Reading Japanese Literature	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN20012	Variation in Japanese Language	Summer Term (Off Campus) Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Level 3 Core subjects - Entry Point 7

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30002	Social Problems in Japan	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5
JAPN30004	Japanese through the Media	Semester 1 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Capstone subject - Entry Point 7

Code	Name	Study period	Credit Points
JAPN30018	Global Japanese in Context	Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville)	12.5

Links

http://www.asiainstitute.unimelb.edu.au/study/japanese