Japanese (BA)

Japanese is the 9th most spoken language in the world and a global powerhouse in the culture industry. The Japanese major at the University of Oregon helps you turn language skills into real-world opportunities. You’ll build advanced proficiency in Japanese while developing practical abilities in communication, translation, and cross-cultural understanding—skills that employers value in fields like international business, government, education, media, and nonprofit work.

Through both Japanese-language courses and courses taught in English on Japan’s society, culture, media, literature, linguistics, and global role—plus study abroad and internship opportunities—you’ll gain hands-on experience applying what you learn. Whether you’re aiming for a global career or graduate study, the major gives you the tools to work confidently across cultures and industries. The top employers of our graduates include Amazon, Nike, and Intel. Housed in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, the program fosters a supportive learning environment that prepares students to navigate an interconnected world with linguistic confidence and cross-cultural insight. 

Students have the option of three different tracks in the Japanese major: language, culture, or linguistics. In consultation with department advisors, you can choose a track that will allow you to study and master those aspects of Japanese that interest you most.  

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Content objectives (literature/film/culture): for culture and language intensive: Identify, describe, and explain materials, terminologies, methodologies, and theories in Japanese literature, film, media, or linguistics. For linguistics intensive: Identify, describe, and explain materials, terminologies, methodologies, and theories in Japanese linguistics.
• Critical thinking/Analytical skills: for culture and literature intensive: Read, discuss, and evaluate texts from both historical sources and contemporary works in literature, film and media, and linguistics, employing methodologies and criteria. For linguistics intensive: Discuss and evaluate descriptive grammars of Japanese, as well as studies on various levels of Japanese linguistics including, phonetics, phonology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics, sociolinguistics and the relationship between language, cognition and culture.
• Argumentation: Formulate original arguments, anticipating objections and responding in conscientious fashion.
• Communication: Communicate knowledge, ideas, and reasoning in written, oral, or other forms of languages, in English or Japanese. Reach intermediate/advanced proficiency level in written and spoken modern Japanese.

• Culture Intensive
• Language Intensive
• Linguistics Intensive

Bachelor of Arts in Japanese: Culture-Intensive Option

 At least five of the required courses must be completed within the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.

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Courses must be in Japanese culture, literature, linguistics, film, or other advisor-approved areas taken from this or other departments. Of these, at least three must be from the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, with two having the JPN subject code. A third non-JPN course chosen from within the department may also count toward the culture-intensive option. 

Bachelor of Arts in Japanese: Language-Intensive Option

 At least five of the required courses must be completed within the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.

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Courses must have the JPN subject code. Courses outside the department require advisor approval.

Bachelor of Arts in Japanese: Linguistics-Intensive Option

 At least five of the required courses must be completed in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.

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At least two courses must be EALL linguistics courses. All of them require advisor approval.

Four-Year Degree Plans

Sample Cultural-Intensive Option

Sample Language-Intensive Option

Bachelor of Arts in Japanese: Cultural-Intensive Option

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.

Bachelor of Arts in Japanese: Language-Intensive Option

The degree plan shown is only a sample of how students may complete their degrees in four years. There are alternative ways. Students should consult their advisor to determine the best path for them.