Japanese

The study of Japanese focuses on developing the linguistic skills necessary to understand Japanese ways of life, and how the past affects the present. It also aims to facilitate intercultural understanding and competence for the increasingly globalised world and workplace.

Students may begin their Japanese language studies at the Beginner or Intermediate levels depending on their language proficiency.

•  Beginner level:

Students with no previous study of Japanese and those who took Japanese Beginners at NSW HSC level (or equivalent in other states) commence their studies at the Beginner level (JAPA141) in autumn semester.

•  Intermediate level:

Students who took Japanese Continuers or Extension at the HSC level enter at the Intermediate level (JAPA243) in autumn semester. All students who wish to enter directly into Intermediate level must consult with the Convenor of Japanese. Some students will need to take a placement test.

• Elective subjects:

Japanese language studies are available as an elective for all non-native Japanese background students. Students with no prior Japanese language studies who wish to take Japanese as an elective may take:

• JAPA141 in autumn session; or
• JAPA101 in summer session (when on offer);
• JAPA102 in spring (when on offer); or,
• JAPA103 in spring (when on offer).

 JAPA101, JAPA102, and JAPA103 are for students who are interested in basic Japanese for either teaching or business purposes respectively. They are not prerequisites for any subject in the Japanese major or minor and nor can they be counted towards a minor or major in Japanese. Only ONE of these subjects (that is, JAPA101, JAPA102 or JAPA103) can be credited to a degree. Students who wish to continue their Japanese language studies will need to take JAPA141 in autumn semester even if they have completed JAPA101, JAPA102 or JAPA103.

 JAPA216 (The Making of a Globalised Japan) is a compulsory cultural subject for all students majoring in Japanese. JAPA216 is also available as an elective subject for students from other disciplines who wish to familiarise themselves with Japanese civilisation and society

• Study Abroad:

Study Abroad opportunities are available to students wishing to pursue language or Japan-related studies in Japan. Scholarships, awarded on academic performance, are available.

Suitably qualified graduates with a major in Japanese wishing to pursue further language studies at a Japanese university may apply for the Graduate Diploma in Arts (Japanese).

Major Study

The major in Japanese consists of:

•  6 sequential language subjects,
•  a civilisation subject (JAPA216); and
• an elective subject.

•   Beginner stream:

The Beginner’s stream assumes no prior knowledge of the language. For students commencing studies at the Beginner level, the major in Japanese consists of 66-68 credit points. In addition to the 6 sequential language subjects and JAPA216, students must choose one of the following electives: ELL110: Language in Social Life; ELL210: Communication across cultures or JAPA271: In-Country Japanese Session (when available). Students cannot cross-count any of these electives to a minor or major in another discipline.

• Intermediate stream:

For students commencing studies at the Intermediate level, the major in Japanese consists of 70-72 credit points depending on the elective chosen.

Minor Study(28 or 32cps)

Students may take a minor which consists of any four sequential language subjects in Japanese (that is, JAPA141, JAPA142, JAPA243, and JAPA261 for Beginner entry students or JAPA243, JAPA261, JAPA 363 and JAPA 364 or JAPA310 for Intermediate level entry). Students who have completed JAPA243 may apply to enrol in JAPA271: In-Country Japanese Session (when available) as an elective but it cannot be counted towards the minor.

Students may not cross-count any subjects from the language minor in any other minor or major study. Whilst the minor will not be stipulated on the students’ testamur at graduation, it will be recorded on the academic transcript.

The minor in Japanese consists of 28 or 32 credit points of language study, depending upon the level of entry.

Diploma in Languages (Japanese)

Students whose degree program only allows for a limited number of elective subjects can enrol in the Diploma in Languages if they wish to take more subjects than their degree program allows.

To qualify for award of the Diploma in Languages (course code 1002) in Japanese a student must complete at least 48 credit points from subjects listed in the Japanese study program below.

Diploma students will complete a minimum of 6 subjects. These subjects will predominantly be language acquisition subjects and may include study in Japan as part of an exchange program or a short term study abroad program. Other subjects may be included with the permission of the Convenor of the Japanese program and the Director of the Language Centre.

Diploma students entering at the Beginner level may include one culture subject (JAPA216) and students entering at the Intermediate level may include 2 culture subjects. As an example: a beginner entry level student could complete the Diploma by studying JAPA141, JAPA142, JAPA243, JAPA216; JAPA261, JAPA361 and JAPA362. A student commencing at the Intermediate level could complete the Diploma in Languages in Japanese by studying JAPA243, JAPA271, JAPA261, JAPA363 and JAPA364 or JAPA310 or JAPA216.

Subjects can be counted only in one course, that is, subjects counted towards the Diploma cannot be counted towards another degree. Students who complete the Diploma will not receive a testamur or attend a graduation ceremony specifically for the Diploma. However, when students take the Diploma concurrently with a Bachelor degree course, they will have the Diploma listed in their Bachelor degree subject transcript upon graduating.

Honours

Honours in Japanese is available to high-achieving students with a major in Japanese, and may be incorporated into or alongside a program of study in Japan.

See Bachelor of Arts (Honours) 

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: lha-enquiries@uow.edu.au