Japanese Specialization
On this page:
- Required Coursework
- Current Course Offerings
- Critical Concentration Courses
- Current Critical Concentration Offerings
Other links:
Undergraduate Coordinator:
Dr. Christopher Smith
325 Pugh Hall
csmith2@ufl.edu
352-294-3938
Non-course graduation requirements:
a. Students must take the Japanese Proficiency Test Level N3 or higher, either an online mock exam or the official exam. Students who complete Advanced Japanese 2 at UF will take the exam as part of their coursework. Students who will not take Advanced Japanese 2 at UF should contact the undergraduate coordinator to arrange a test.
b. Students must also achieve satisfactory faculty evaluation of a self-selected term paper of at least ten pages, written for an upper-division Japanese studies course or senior thesis.
Overview
The Japanese specialization of the Foreign Languages and Literatures major provides a foundation for graduate-level work in East Asian studies or allied fields (anthropology, art history, history, linguistics, political science, and religion). The specialization is excellent general preparation for entry to professional schools (business, journalism, law, and medicine) or careers in foreign service, commerce, diplomacy, translation, business, import and export of information and culture, museums, libraries, and tourism.
Requirements for the Major
The Japanese specialization in Foreign Languages and Literatures consists of preparatory language study at the lower division (1000 and 2000 level), and 33 credits of advanced language, theory, and culture study in the upper division (3000 level and above).
All coursework for the major must be completed with minimum grades of C.
In addition to the above coursework, there are two non-course graduation requirements:
- An acceptable score on a language proficiency test
- A satisfactory faculty evaluation of a term paper of appropriate length completed for an advanced course
Required Foundation Coursework
Total depends on individual placement in Japanese language
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| JPN 1130 | Beginning Japanese 1 | 5 |
| JPN 1131 | Beginning Japanese 2 | 5 |
| JPN 2230 | Intermediate Japanese 1 | 5 |
| JPN 2231 | Intermediate Japanese 2 | 5 |
| LIN 2011 | Introduction to Linguistics | 3 |
| Total Credits | 23 | |
Required Major Coursework | 33 Credits
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese Core Courses | ||
| Advanced Language and Culture | ||
| JPN 3410 | Advanced Japanese 1 | 3 |
| JPN 3411 | Advanced Japanese 2 | 3 |
| JPT 3500 | Japanese Culture | 3 |
| Advanced Japanese Major Electives | ||
| Select 15 credits with at least six credits at the 4000 level and at least one course with a JPW prefix: | 15 | |
JPN 3440 | Business Japanese | |
JPN 3730 | Language in Japanese Society | |
JPN 4415 | Japanese Translation: Theory and Practice | |
JPN 4850 | Structure of Japanese | |
JPN 4905 | Individual Study | |
JPN 4911 | Undergraduate Research in Language or Linguistics | |
JPN 4930 | Special Topics in Japanese Studies | |
JPN 4935 | Senior Honors Thesis | |
JPN 4940 | Internship | |
JPT 3100 | Tales of Kyoto | |
JPT 3120 | Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation | |
JPT 3121 | Contemporary Japanese Literature: Postwar to Postmodern | |
JPT 3140 | Modern Women Writers | |
JPT 3150 | Classical Japanese Poetry | |
JPT 3300 | Samurai War Tales | |
JPT 3330 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | |
JPT 3391 | Introduction to Japanese Film | |
JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | |
JPT 3702 | Japanese Visual Culture | |
JPT 4130 | The Tale of Genji | |
JPT 4502 | Japanese Folklore | |
JPT 4510 | Representations of Japan's Modern Empire | |
JPT 4911 | Undergraduate Research in English Translation | |
JPW 3143 | Classical Japanese 1 | |
JPW 3144 | Classical Japanese 2 | |
JPW 4130 | Readings in Japanese Literature | |
JPW 4131 | Japanese Texts and Contexts | |
JPW 4911 | Undergraduate Research in Target Language | |
| Critical Concentration | ||
| Critical concentration courses allow students to take courses in thematic areas across different languages or cultures. Although courses may appear in both the Advanced Electives and Critical Concentration groups, they may be counted toward only one group. | ||
| Select 9 credits from one area: | 9 | |
Intensive Area Studies: Japanese (Recommended for those planning to pursue careers requiring advanced level skills in Japanese or graduate work in Japanese studies) | ||
Contemporary Cultural Studies | ||
Film and Visual Culture | ||
Literary Studies | ||
Medieval and Early Modern Studies | ||
| Total Credits | 33 | |
All languages offered through this department may fulfill college language requirements. Students pursuing the Japanese specialization in Foreign Languages and Literatures are not allowed to minor in Asian studies (either option 1 or 2).
Transfer Students Interested in Majoring in Japanese
If a student's current institution does not offer Japanese and the student has no previous knowledge of Japanese, it's recommended that they take the following Summer Intensive Beginning Japanese program:
Summer A: JPN 1130. A minimum grade C is required to advance to the next level course.
Summer B: JPN 1131.
Overseas Study
There are a variety of study abroad opportunities in Japan.
More Info
Two year-long study abroad programs are available in Japan. The Asian Studies Program at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan is specifically designed for international students for an academic year program of study abroad. The program offers courses in Japanese language (all levels) and area studies focusing on Japan and its international role. Another academic year study abroad program at Aoyama Gakuin, Tokyo, offers students the challenge of taking courses in the target language as well as courses in English. These two programs also offer the option of one semester of study abroad.
There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Shimane University in Matsue, Japan. This program focuses on Japanese language, culture, history, and environment. The number of courses taught in English at Shimane is limited, so four semesters of Japanese study or equivalent before arrival is preferred. There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Nagoya University in Nagoya. This program is open to students with no previous study of Japanese language and is ideal for students from a variety of majors including the STEM majors as it offers a broad-based English-language curriculum in international studies, biological and physical sciences, and engineering, in addition to courses in Japan studies. There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Kyoto University. This program is open to all majors. There is also a program at Waseda University offered through the Economics department.
There is one UF faculty-led study abroad program taught during Summer A, which is taught in English and focuses on Japanese culture: UF in Japan – Japanese Culture in Place. It is ideal for students who do not have room in their schedule for semester-long study abroad programs or will not meet the language requirements in time for an exchange program.
A maximum of 15 credits non-UF overseas study credit may apply to the major. Students must have all overseas study credit that will transfer to the major approved by their major advisor. JPT 3500 must be taken at UF. No substitution is allowed for JPT 3500.
Placement
Students with previous training in Japanese, as well as those with heritage background in these languages, should consult the undergraduate coordinator or the language coordinator of the Japanese specialization before enrolling in any JPN or JPW course. Placement tests are given at the start of each semester; refer to the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for location and times.
More Infohttps://languages.ufl.edu/academics/llc-languages/japanese-studies/
Current Course Offerings (Fall 2025)
JPN1130 - Beginning Japanese 1
JPN1131 - Beginning Japanese 2
JPN2230 - Intermediate Japanese 1
JPN3410 - Advanced Japanese 1
JPN4930 - Special Topics in Japanese Studies: Japanese Pedagogy
JPN4930 - Special Topics in Japanese Studies: Encounters: Japan and America
JPN4930 - Special Topics in Japanese Studies: Gender in Manga and Anime
JPT3300 - Samurai War Tales
JPT3500 - Japanese Culture
JPT4911 - Undergraduate Research in English Translation: UG RES ENG TRANS
JPW3143 - Classical Japanese 1
JPW4130 - Readings in Japanese Literature
JPW4911 - Undergraduate Research in Target Language
Concentration Courses
9 Credits from One Concentration
Although courses may appear in more than one group, they may be counted toward only one group.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Intensive Area Studies, Option 1: Japanese | ||
| Recommended for those planning to pursue careers requiring advanced level skills in Japanese or graduate work in Japanese Studies | ||
| JPN 3440 | Business Japanese | 3 |
| JPN 3730 | Language in Japanese Society | 3 |
| JPN 4415 | Japanese Translation: Theory and Practice | 3 |
| JPN 4850 | Structure of Japanese | 3 |
| JPN 4905 | Individual Study | 1-3 |
| JPN 4911 | Undergraduate Research in Language or Linguistics | 0-3 |
| JPN 4930 | Special Topics in Japanese Studies | 3 |
| JPN 4935 | Senior Honors Thesis | 3 |
| JPN 4940 | Internship | 3 |
| JPT 3100 | Tales of Kyoto | 3 |
| JPT 3120 | Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| JPT 3121 | Contemporary Japanese Literature: Postwar to Postmodern | 3 |
| JPT 3140 | Modern Women Writers | 3 |
| JPT 3150 | Classical Japanese Poetry | 3 |
| JPT 3300 | Samurai War Tales | 3 |
| JPT 3330 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPT 3391 | Introduction to Japanese Film | 4 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| JPT 3702 | Japanese Visual Culture | 3 |
| JPT 4130 | The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| JPT 4502 | Japanese Folklore | 3 |
| JPT 4510 | Representations of Japan's Modern Empire | 3 |
| JPT 4911 | Undergraduate Research in English Translation | 0-3 |
| JPW 3143 | Classical Japanese 1 | 3 |
| JPW 3144 | Classical Japanese 2 | 3 |
| JPW 4130 | Readings in Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPW 4131 | Japanese Texts and Contexts | 3 |
| JPW 4911 | Undergraduate Research in Target Language | 0-3 |
| Intensive Area Studies, Option 2: Comparative Studies East Asia | ||
| ASH 3442 | Modern Japan | 3 |
| ASH 4930 | History Research Seminar: Asia (Pacific War) | 3 |
| CHI 3403 | Chinese Calligraphy | 3 |
| CHI 3440 | Business Chinese | 3 |
| CHI 4930 | Special Topics in Chinese Studies | 3 |
| CHI 4940 | Internship | 1-6 |
| CHT 3110 | Chinese Literary Heritage | 3 |
| CHT 3123 | Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3124 | Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3500 | Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 3513 | Taoism and Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 4111 | Dream of the Red Chamber | 3 |
| CHT 4603 | Journey to the West | 3 |
| REL 3318 | Chinese Religions | 3 |
| REL 3336 | Religion in Modern India | 3 |
| REL 3938 | Special Topics in Religion (Buddhist Meditation) | 3 |
| VTT 3500 | Vietnamese Culture | 3 |
| WST 3415 | Transnational Feminism | 3 |
| Comparative Cultural Studies | ||
| ABT 3500 | Arabic Culture | 3 |
| ABT 4131 | The Qur'an as Literature | 3 |
| ARA 3510 | The Arab Woman | 3 |
| CHI 3403 | Chinese Calligraphy | 3 |
| CHT 3500 | Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 3510 | All the Tea in China | 3 |
| CHT 3513 | Taoism and Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CZT 3564 | Modern Czech Culture and Society | 3 |
| FRT 3004 | Monuments and Masterpieces of France | 3 |
| FRT 3561 | Women in French Literature and/or Cinema | 3-4 |
| FRT 4500 | East-West Encounters | 3 |
| GET 3003 | German Culture and Civilization 1 | 3 |
| GET 3004 | Modern German Culture and Civilization | 3 |
| GET 3200 | Medieval Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3201 | Early Modern Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3501 | History, Literature and Arts of Berlin | 3 |
| GET 3580 | Representations of War in Literature and Visual Media | 3 |
| GET 3930 | Variable Topics in German Studies (German Fairy Tales) | 3 |
| GEW 4401 | Cities as Cultural Centers | 3 |
| HAI 3930 | Topics in Haitian Language and Culture | 3 |
| HAT 3503 | Haitian Culture and Literature in Translation | 3 |
| HAT 3564 | Haitian Culture and Society | 3 |
| HAT 3700 | Introduction to Haitian Creole Linguistics | 3 |
| ITT 3431 | Italy and Pilgrimages | 3 |
| ITT 3443 | Dante's Inferno (English) | 3 |
| ITT 3540 | Murder Italian Style: Crime Fiction and Film in Italy | 3 |
| ITT 3541 | Gangsters and Godfathers: Italian Mafia Movies | 3 |
| ITT 3700 | The Demolition of Man: Italian Perspectives on the Jewish Holocaust | 3 |
| ITT 3930 | Special Topics in Italian Literature and Culture | 3 |
| JMT 3500 | Jamaican Creole, Reggae, and Rastafari | 3 |
| JPT 3500 | Japanese Culture | 3 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| JPT 3702 | Japanese Visual Culture | 3 |
| JPT 4502 | Japanese Folklore | 3 |
| JPT 4510 | Representations of Japan's Modern Empire | 3 |
| RUT 3443 | War and Peace | 3 |
| RUT 3500 | Russian Cultural Heritage | 3 |
| RUT 3501 | Contemporary Russian Culture and Society | 3 |
| RUT 3503 | Violence and Terror in the Russian Experience | 3 |
| RUT 3504 | Russia Today | 3 |
| RUT 3506 | Creative Lives: Writers, Artists, and Extraordinary People | 3 |
| RUT 3514 | Russian Fairy Tales | 3 |
| RUT 3530 | Russia's Struggle with Nature: Legacies of Destruction and Preservation | 3 |
| RUT 3600 | The Twentieth Century through Slavic Eyes | 3 |
| RUT 3601 | The Culture of the Cold War | 3 |
| RUT 4450 | Russian Modernism | 3 |
| VTT 3500 | Vietnamese Culture | 3 |
| YOT 3500 | Yoruba Diaspora in the New World | 3 |
| Film and Visual Culture | ||
| CHI 4930 | Special Topics in Chinese Studies | 3 |
| CHT 3391 | Chinese Film and Media | 3 |
| CHT 3523 | Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the New Global Cinema | 3 |
| FRT 3520 | French Cinema | 4 |
| FRT 3561 | Women in French Literature and/or Cinema | 3-4 |
| FRT 4500 | East-West Encounters | 3 |
| FRT 4523 | European Identities, European Cinemas | 4 |
| GET 3520 | Early German Cinema to 1945 | 4 |
| GET 3580 | Representations of War in Literature and Visual Media | 3 |
| GET 4521 | Women and German Cinema | 4 |
| GET 4523 | New Cinema 1945 to the Present | 4 |
| GET 4930 | Variable Topics in German Studies | 3 |
| HBR 4930 | Special Topics | 3 |
| ITT 3521 | Italian Cinema | 4 |
| ITT 3540 | Murder Italian Style: Crime Fiction and Film in Italy | 3 |
| ITT 3541 | Gangsters and Godfathers: Italian Mafia Movies | 3 |
| ITT 3930 | Special Topics in Italian Literature and Culture | 3 |
| JPN 4930 | Special Topics in Japanese Studies | 3 |
| JPT 3391 | Introduction to Japanese Film | 4 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| JPT 3702 | Japanese Visual Culture | 3 |
| RUT 3524 | Russia through Film | 3 |
| RUT 3601 | The Culture of the Cold War | 3 |
| SSA 4930 | Special Topics in African Studies (African Film) | 3 |
| Literary Studies | ||
| ABT 3130 | Arabic Literary Heritage 1 | 3 |
| ABT 4131 | The Qur'an as Literature | 3 |
| CHI 4930 | Special Topics in Chinese Studies | 3 |
| CHT 3110 | Chinese Literary Heritage | 3 |
| CHT 3123 | Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3124 | Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3302 | Tales of the Strange in Medieval Chinese Literature | 3 |
| CHT 3511 | Chinese Martial Arts Fiction | 3 |
| CHT 4111 | Dream of the Red Chamber | 3 |
| CHT 4603 | Journey to the West | 3 |
| FRT 3004 | Monuments and Masterpieces of France | 3 |
| FRT 3561 | Women in French Literature and/or Cinema | 3-4 |
| GET 3200 | Medieval Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3201 | Early Modern Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3501 | History, Literature and Arts of Berlin | 3 |
| GET 3580 | Representations of War in Literature and Visual Media | 3 |
| GET 3930 | Variable Topics in German Studies | 3-9 |
| GET 4930 | Variable Topics in German Studies | 3 |
| HAT 3503 | Haitian Culture and Literature in Translation | 3 |
| HBR 4930 | Special Topics | 3 |
| HBT 3223 | Identity and Dissent in the Hebrew Short Story | 3 |
| ITT 3431 | Italy and Pilgrimages | 3 |
| ITT 3443 | Dante's Inferno (English) | 3 |
| ITT 3540 | Murder Italian Style: Crime Fiction and Film in Italy | 3 |
| ITT 3700 | The Demolition of Man: Italian Perspectives on the Jewish Holocaust | 3 |
| ITT 3930 | Special Topics in Italian Literature and Culture | 3 |
| JPT 3100 | Tales of Kyoto | 3 |
| JPT 3120 | Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| JPT 3121 | Contemporary Japanese Literature: Postwar to Postmodern | 3 |
| JPT 3140 | Modern Women Writers | 3 |
| JPT 3150 | Classical Japanese Poetry | 3 |
| JPT 3300 | Samurai War Tales | 3 |
| JPT 3330 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| JPT 4130 | The Tale of Genji | 3 |
| JPT 4502 | Japanese Folklore | 3 |
| JPT 4510 | Representations of Japan's Modern Empire | 3 |
| PLT 3930 | Special Topics in Polish Studies | 3 |
| RUT 3101 | Russian Masterpieces | 3 |
| RUT 3441 | Tolstoy and Dostoevsky | 3 |
| RUT 3442 | Themes from Russian Literature | 3 |
| RUT 3443 | War and Peace | 3 |
| RUT 3452 | Russian Literature of the Twentieth Century | 3 |
| RUT 3503 | Violence and Terror in the Russian Experience | 3 |
| RUT 3506 | Creative Lives: Writers, Artists, and Extraordinary People | 3 |
| RUT 3514 | Russian Fairy Tales | 3 |
| RUT 3530 | Russia's Struggle with Nature: Legacies of Destruction and Preservation | 3 |
| RUT 3600 | The Twentieth Century through Slavic Eyes | 3 |
| RUT 3601 | The Culture of the Cold War | 3 |
| RUT 3930 | Variable Topics in Russian Studies | 3 |
| RUT 4440 | Pushkin and Gogol | 3 |
| RUT 4450 | Russian Modernism | 3 |
| SST 4502 | African Oral Literature | 3 |
| SSW 3303 | Swahili Oral Literature | 3 |
| SSW 4713 | African Women Writers | 3 |
| VTN 4930 | Special Topics in Vietnamese Studies | 3 |
| Medieval and Early Modern Studies | ||
| ARA 3510 | The Arab Woman | 3 |
| CHT 3110 | Chinese Literary Heritage | 3 |
| CHT 3123 | Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| CHT 3302 | Tales of the Strange in Medieval Chinese Literature | 3 |
| CHT 3511 | Chinese Martial Arts Fiction | 3 |
| CHT 3513 | Taoism and Chinese Culture | 3 |
| CHT 4111 | Dream of the Red Chamber | 3 |
| CHT 4603 | Journey to the West | 3 |
| GET 3200 | Medieval Literary Culture | 3 |
| GET 3201 | Early Modern Literary Culture | 3 |
| ITT 3431 | Italy and Pilgrimages | 3 |
| ITT 3443 | Dante's Inferno (English) | 3 |
| JPT 3300 | Samurai War Tales | 3 |
| JPT 3330 | Early Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPT 3521 | Monsters and Horror in Japan | 3 |
| MEM 3003 | Introduction to the Medieval World | 3 |
| MEM 3300 | Castles and Cloisters: An Introduction to Medieval Communities | 3 |
| MEM 3301 | Palaces and Cities: An Introduction to Early Modern Communities | 3 |
| MEM 3730 | Studies in the Holy Roman Empire | 3 |
| MEM 3931 | Variable Topics in Medieval and Early Modern Studies | 3 |