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 and Toyo University. Kansai Gaidai is located in Hirakata City, between the business and industrial center of Osaka and the ancient capital of Kyoto. Toyo University’s main campus is in central Tokyo, with three other campuses in the surrounding area. Both universities offer not only instruction in Japanese language and a full range of courses on Japanese topics in English, but also offer many opportunities outside the classroom: living with a Japanese host family, field trips to cultural and historical sites, study of traditional arts, visits to Japanese businesses, and internships. Students may also choose to attend other universities in Japan.
Credit for courses taken at Kansai Gaidai and Toyo University may be transferred and counted toward the electives for the major and minor with departmental approval. Kindly note, 300 level content courses taken while studying abroad, do not count as 300-level courses required for the major. 300-level courses must be taken at Gettysburg College.
East Asian Studies Minor –Japanese Culture Requirements: Effective with the class of 2024
The East Asian Studies minor with a specialization in Japan requires six courses.
- Core Courses: Students take one core course: AS 110: Japanese Culture & Society*
- Electives: Students take three elective courses specializing in Japan. These courses must come from three different disciplines, with at least one course from the arts & humanities and one from the history & social sciences. **
- Comparative Course: Students take one course that offers a comparative perspective within East Asia or focuses on China. **
- Language: Students specializing in Japan must take JPN 201: Intermediate Japanese.***
*AS 110 is recommended for first and second year students, but cannot be taken by those who have studied in Japan.
** Categories and potential courses appear above in the description for the Japanese major requirements.
*** JPN 101 & 102: Elementary Japanese are pre-requisites for JPN 201 but do not count towards the minor. However, students who have previously studied Japanese may enter the 200-level as determined by the language placement exam. Japanese language proficiency at the 202 level is required and determined by the department.
Check Sheet for East Asian Studies Japanese Culture Minor - Effective with the Class of 2024
East Asian Studies Minor –Japanese Language Requirements: Effective with the class of 2024
The East Asian Studies minor with a specialization in Japan requires six courses.
- Core Courses: Students take one core course: AS 110: Japanese Culture & Society*
- Language: Students take five Japanese language courses excluding JPN 101: Elementary Japanese.
*JPN 101 does not count towards the minor
Check Sheet for East Asian Studies Japanese Language Minor - Effective with the Class of 2024
Check Sheet for East Asian Studies Major Japan - Effective with the Class of 2027