Course Descriptions

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Japanese Discipline Courses Details

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JAPN 101 : First Semester Japanese

Prerequisites: None
Description: Understanding, speaking, reading, and writing modern Japanese.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 5
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 102 : Second Semester Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 101 or equivalent.
Description: Continuation of JAPN 101.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 5
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 103 : Third Semester Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 102 or equivalent.
Description: Intermediate level modern Japanese.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 5
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 200 : Art of Japanese Writing and Calligraphy

Prerequisites: None
Description: Nature and composition of the two Japanese writing systems, Hiragana and Kanji, and their aesthetic expression in different styles of calligraphy. Knowledge of Japanese not required.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 250 : Individualized Study of Kanji: Levels 1-3 and Above

Prerequisites: JAPN 101 or equivalent.
Description: Individualized study of Kanji. May be repeated for a total of 9 units to attain level to 1000 Kanji characters. Level 3 is highly recommended for Japanese B.A. majors. Open to all students.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 301 : Japanese Conversation

Prerequisites: JAPN 103 and 250 or equivalent.
Description: Developing aural-oral skills for conversations at different social levels and situations.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 302 : Japanese Reading and Grammar

Prerequisites: JAPN 103 and 250 or equivalent.
Description: Reading modern Japanese. Structural analysis and vocabulary development.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 305 : Advanced Conversation and Composition I

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and 302 or equivalent.
Description: Grammatical analysis. Rhetoric. Oral and written exercises.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 306 : Advanced Conversation and Composition II

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and 302 or equivalent.
Description: Continuation of JAPN 305. Grammatical analysis. Rhetoric. Oral and written exercises.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

JAPN 309 : Advanced Readings in Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and 302 or equivalent.
Description: Reading modern literary, journalistic, and expository writings.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 330 : Proverbs and Idiomatic Expressions in Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 103 or equivalent.
Description: The most commonly used proverbs and idiomatic expressions in Japanese.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3

JAPN 350 : Introduction to Translation

Prerequisites: JAPN 250, 301, and 302 or equivalent.
Description: Basic techniques, strategies, and issues in the field of non-literary translation using Japanese and English as source languages. Practical exercises include text analysis and development of translation skills.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3

JAPN 390 : Business Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and 302 or equivalent.
Description: Japanese business communication skills. Readings in economics, politics, and social issues.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 395 : Advanced Business Japanese: Business Writing

Prerequisites: JAPN 250, 301, and 302 or equivalent.
Description: Formats necessary for business writing in Japanese and intensive training in reading and writing business documents.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Topics in Japanese Culture

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and 302 or equivalent. Topic to be specified in Class Schedule.
Description: May be repeated when different topics are studied.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Edo Culture

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.
Description: An introduction to the Edo period of Japan's history under the Tokugawa shogunate (1600-1850), when Japan became isolationist, enjoyed peace, and developed a flourishing urban culture, haiku poem, kabuki and bunraku theater.
General Education:
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Heian Culture: Culture of Peace

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.
Description: A study of the classic period in which the national culture was fully developed. Covers the transitional period in which Japan developed its own cultural identity after being dominated by the Chinese. Taught in Japanese.
General Education:
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Japanese Identity

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.
Description: A study of cultural conditions which have molded the Japanese identity, based on examples of distinguished literary characters.
General Education:
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Japanese Way of Living

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.
Description: A look at the Japanese culture on the earthiest level while examining the tradition in the modern culture. Includes the everyday value system which was developed by the common people, rather than outstanding leaders of culture. Also, clarifies the sources of cultural behaviors, events, symbols, and proverbs which students can very well encounter in the present-day Japan.
General Education:
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Life and Thought of Medieval Japan

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.
Description: Culture in medieval Japan. Political aspects of period; Zen Buddhism in relation to Noh dramas; exploration of lives of various kinds of people.
General Education:
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Modern Cultural History of Japan

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.
Description: Cultural history of Japan after the Meiji Restoration. Focus on cultural patterns of behavior and values in the context of political and economic circumstances of modern Japan.
General Education:
Units: 3

JAPN 401 : Tea Ceremony and Tea Culture

Prerequisites: JAPN 301, JAPN 302, and JAPN 305, JAPN 306; or JAPN 309.
Description: Introduction to the history, culture, and practice of the Japanese tea ceremony, or chanoyu as it came to be called in the 15th century.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 510 : Modern Japanese Literature

Prerequisites: JAPN 250 (Level 3 of Kanji), 301, 302, 305 or 306, and 309, or equivalent.
Description: Literary movements and major works of 20th century Japan.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 590 : Topics in Japanese Literature

Prerequisites: JAPN 250 (Level 3 of Kanji), 301, 302, 305 or 306, and 309, or equivalent. Topic to be specified in Class Schedule.
Description: May be repeated for a total of 9 units when different writers or topics are studied.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3

JAPN 590 : Contemporary Japanese Literature

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and 302 or equivalent.
Description: A study of the selected works of a new group of Japanese writers after 1970, and an analysis of the general trend in contemporary Japanese literature.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

JAPN 590 : Japanese Women Writers

Prerequisites: JAPN 301 and 302 or equivalents.
Description: Study of Japanese women writers. Reading of selected works and examination of the part they played in Japanese literature.
General Education:
Units: 3

JAPN 600 : Topics in Japanese Culture and Literature in English

Prerequisites: Upper division standing or consent of instructor. Open to all students.
Description: Topic to be specified in Class Schedule. Will not count toward a major or minor in Japanese. May be repeated when topics vary.
Units: 3

JAPN 690 : Introduction to Consecutive Interpretation

Prerequisites: Near native fluency in English or Japanese and advanced level knowledge of the other.
Description: Acquisition of skills in consecutive interpretation between Japanese and English in international business, manufacturing, and tourism.
General Education:
  • Segment II Area - Humanities and Creative Arts Area (HCA)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2012

JAPN 699 : Independent Study

Prerequisites: Consent of department chair and instructor.
Description: Written projects requiring critical analysis and interpretation of linguistic or literary problems. Material adopted to individual needs and interests. May be repeated.
Units: 1-3

JAPN 710 : Japanese Language Workshops

Prerequisites: Topic to be specified in Class Schedule.
Description: May be repeated when topics vary.
Units: 3

JAPN 710 : Current Topics: Radio and Television

Prerequisites: graduate status or consent of instructor.
Description: Intensive aural/oral exercises using Japanese radio and television broadcasts. Presentation and discussion of relevant current topics.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 710 : Interpretation Workshop

Prerequisites: JAPN 690 or equivalent.
Description: Advanced course in Japanese/English interpretation in the areas of trade, politics, law, and science/technology.
Units: 3

JAPN 710 : Magazines & Periodicals

Prerequisites: JAPN 309 or equivalent.
Description: Intensive readings in Japanese magazines and periodicals for research purposes and future occupational possibilities.
Units: 3

JAPN 710 : Newspapers

Prerequisites: Graduate status or consent of instructor.
Description: Intensive readings in Japanese newspapers. Discussions on current topics in general and in the area of students' fields of interest.
Units: 3

JAPN 710 : Translation Workshop

Prerequisites: JAPN 350 or equivalent.
Description: Development of proficiency in Japanese-English translation using journalistic materials as well as speech drafts. Practical exercises include text analysis, paraphrasing, take-home/in-class translation exercises, style improvement exercises.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

JAPN 750 : Seminar in Japanese Linguistics

Prerequisites: JAPN 325 or equivalent.
Description: Phonological, morphological, and semantic features of Japanese: current research and problems.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

JAPN 760 : Seminar in Pedagogical Japanese Linguistics

Prerequisites: JAPN 325 or equivalent.
Description: Problem areas of phonological, grammatical, and discourse structures of Japanese from a learning/teaching point of view.
Units: 3

JAPN 765 : Second Language Acquisition

Prerequisites: graduate status or consent of instructor.
Description: Second language acquisition and learning; emphasis on learning Japanese as a second language.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2012

JAPN 770 : Seminar in Teaching Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 750 or 760 or equivalent.
Description: Analysis of available text materials and audio-visual aids for teaching Japanese. Instructional methods, techniques, and material for effective teaching.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2012

JAPN 775 : Seminar: Materials Development for Teaching Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 325; JAPN 770 highly recommended.
Description: Application of linguistic and pedagogical theories and principles to the development of materials for Japanese classes.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 780 : Practicum in Teaching Japanese

Prerequisites: JAPN 750, 760, and 770 or consent of instructor.
Description: Application of linguistic and pedagogical knowledge to actual teaching of Japanese. CR/NC grading only.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Spring 2013

JAPN 800 : Seminar in Analysis of Japanese Cultural Studies

Prerequisites: None
Description: Recent trend of cultural studies of Japan: focus, method, and purpose of each work and their possible interrelations.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2012

JAPN 860 : Seminar: Topics in Japanese Literature

Prerequisites: graduate status or consent of instructor. Topic to be specified in Class Schedule.
Description: May be repeated when topics vary.
Units: 3

JAPN 860 : Hyakunin Isshu: 100 Poems by 100 Poets

Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Intensive study of Hyakunin Isshu, One Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets, selected by the master poet-critic Fujiwara no Teika (also called Sadaie), ca. 1235.
Units: 3

JAPN 860 : The Tale of Genji and No Plays

Prerequisites: Graduate standing or consent of instructor.
Description: Comparative study of the Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji) and No plays with a focus on the portrayals of female Genji characters.
Units: 3

JAPN 890 : Integrative Seminar: Japanese Language and Culture

Prerequisites: graduate status or consent of instructor.
Description: Examination of Japanese language to study how it may reflect Japanese people's way of thinking, their relationship with one another and with nature, and their attitude about the place and role of individuals in society.
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 895 : Applied Research Project

Prerequisites: Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) for the Master of Arts in Japanese.
Description: ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration. (CR/NC grading only.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 897 : Research

Prerequisites: JAPN 895 or 898 with SP grade.
Description: Required of all students who have not completed the master's thesis or research project. May be repeated but units may not be counted toward the degree program. CR/NC grading only.
Units: 1-3

JAPN 898 : Master's Thesis

Prerequisites: Advancement to Candidacy (ATC) for the Master of Arts in Japanese.
Description: ATC and Proposal for Culminating Experience forms must be approved by the Graduate Division before registration. (CR/NC grading only.)
Units: 3
Latest Offering: Fall 2013

JAPN 899 : Independent Study

Prerequisites: Consent of graduate major adviser and the supervising faculty member.
Description: Study is planned, developed, and completed under the direction of a member of the faculty. Open only to advanced graduate students who have demonstrated ability to do independent work. Enrollment by petition.
Units: 1-3
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