Japanese Studies

The Japanese Studies major and minor are interdisciplinary in nature. Students gain a broad understanding of the language, culture, literature, history, art, film, music, theatre, religion, and politics of Japan.

Students pursuing a program in Japanese Studies are strongly urged to study abroad for a semester or year at a Japanese university. Gettysburg College is affiliated with Kansai Gaidai University, located in Hirakata City, between the business and industrial center of Osaka and the ancient capital of Kyoto. In addition to instruction in Japanese language and a full range of courses on Japanese topics in English, Kansai Gaidai offers many opportunities outside the classroom: living with a Japanese host family, field trips to cultural and historical sites, study of traditional arts, and visits to Japanese businesses. Credit for courses taken at Kansai Gaidai may be transferred and counted toward the electives for the major and minor with departmental approval.