Japanese

Japanese Program

The Japanese Program offers both a Japanese Major and a Japanese Minor for students wishing to gain a deeper understanding of cultures other than their own through the study of languages, literature, and society. The Japanese Section works closely with the Asian Studies Program, and many of our courses can be counted towards an Asian Studies major.

Through this program, students can expect to achieve language and cultural fluency in a clearly participatory manner in order to communicate information on autobiographical topics, and topics of community, national, or international interest.

Major
Minor
Scholarships
Experience
Resources
Faculty

Japanese Major (BA)

Students are required to declare their major at least two semesters before their expected graduation date.

DOWNLOAD JAPANESE MAJOR REQUIREMENTS DOWNLOAD WLC PRACTICUM OPTIONS

Note that this plan is a prediction of courses but does not guarantee this exact availability of courses. Also note that students with prior language learning experience do not necessarily need to begin at the 1010 level and should visit our Language Placement FAQ page for questions about where to begin.

Students with advanced language skills (e.g., native speakers, heritage speakers, students who have lived for an extended period abroad) should not enroll in first, second, and some third-year courses. If you do not know what your language level is or if you think your situation justifies petitioning for an exception, contact the WLC advisors before enrolling in classes. For pedagogical reasons, the department reserves the right to remove advanced speakers who have not successfully petitioned from classes not appropriate for their language level.

Japanese Minor

All students should declare their minor at least two semesters prior to their anticipated graduation date. Please visit our Undergraduate Advising page to set up an appointment with an advisor.

DOWNLOAD JAPANESE MINOR REQUIREMENTS

Scholarships

Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships are federally funded awards offered through the University of Utah's Asia Center. They provide funding for undergraduate and graduate students who study modern foreign languages and related area studies.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE FLAS SCHOLARSHIP

Student Experience

The University of Utah Japanese department offers many programs that complement course work and help enhance the study of Japanese, including: StudyAbroad, Internships (US- Japan Center) with Japanese companies, E-mail exchanges with Waseda University students, and Japanese speech contests.

Learning Abroad

Learning abroad is the opportunity to live, study and intern abroad while completing your degree here at the University of Utah. Learning Abroad helps connect you to over 500+ program options in over 50 countries, many of which are great for improving your proficiency in another language. Learn more about Learning Abroad by visiting learningabroad.utah.edu and completing Learning Abroad 101.

To get started, see below for program options for Japanese.

For questions, email Learning Abroad at learningabroad@utah.edu, call them at 801-581-5849, or visit in person at Union 159.

Faculty-Led Programs

U of U faculty lead students on short-term programs centered on specific coursework, which is commonly integrated into your major or minor requirements. When participating on a faculty-led program you have the benefit of taking U of U courses abroad that combine in-country experiential learning with classwork.

Intensive Japanese Language in Osaka, Japan (FLAS eligible)

Exchanges

The U partners with universities around the world to offer you the opportunity to complete coursework in an immersive university environment alongside local students. Coursework can be quite flexible with students oftentimes completing major, minor, and general education requirements. Additionally, the cost of an exchange program is the same as paying U of U resident tuition, which makes exchanges one of our most affordable options!

Doshisha University
Kansai Gaidai University
Waseda University MEXT Scholarship for Japanese Studies - Learning Abroad can nominate one student per year for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Scholarship. Students must be enrolled at the University of Utah at the undergraduate level and be majoring in fields related to Japanese language or Japanese studies/culture at the time of both arrival in and departure from Japan. Applicants must have studied Japanese or Japanese studies/culture at a university for a total period of at least one year. In order to be eligible for the MEXT Scholarship, applicants must complete a Learning Abroad Waseda University exchange application first.

Japanese Student Services Organization (JASSO) Student Exchange Program Scholarship - The Japanese Student Services Organization (JASSO) offers awards for students interested in studying abroad in Japan. Students pursuing an exchange in Japan should contact the Learning Abroad exchange team about the need-based “JASSO Student Exchange Support Program” Scholarship.

Affiliate Programs

The U partners with external organizations (Affiliates) to expand where you can go and what you can study on a learning abroad program. Affiliates offer programs at study centers, local institutions, or a combination of both in the host country. Programs are commonly structured around a particular theme or topic, such as "Language, Culture, and Society". Program options can also include internships, service learning & community engagement opportunities.

Japanese focused affiliate programs: click here

Japanese Speech Contest

The University of Utah Japanese Speech Contest is held every year in February. Anyone registered for the spring semester is eligible to participate. The finalists compete with those from BYU, Weber State, and Utah State. For more information please contact a member of the Japanese faculty at the University of Utah.