Japanese Minor
Japanese is the 9th most spoken language in the world and a global powerhouse in the culture industry. The Japanese minor at the University of Oregon helps you turn language skills into real-world opportunities. Designed to complement a wide range of majors, the Japanese minor provides the coursework to 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.
Minor in Japanese
The Japanese minor requires a minimum of 6 upper-division courses (a minimum of 24 graded credits), which must consist of at least 3 language courses, 2 courses in literature, linguistics, and/or culture, and a sixth course that has any JPN or EALL subject code. At least three of the six courses must be taken in residence on the University of Oregon campus form the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese language—a minimum of three courses, at third-year level or higher, chosen from the following: | ||
| Third-Year Japanese I | ||
| Third-Year Japanese II | ||
| Third-Year Japanese III | ||
| Fourth-Year Spoken Japanese | ||
| Fourth-Year Spoken Japanese | ||
| Fourth-Year Spoken Japanese | ||
| Fourth-Year Reading and Writing Japanese | ||
| Fourth-Year Reading and Writing Japanese | ||
| Fourth-Year Reading and Writing Japanese | ||
| Advanced Readings in Japanese Literature | ||
| Advanced Readings in Japanese Literature | ||
| Advanced Readings in Japanese Literature | ||
JPN 437 | ||
| Japanese Business Culture and Language | ||
| Culture, literature, film, linguistics—a minimum of two courses chosen from the following | ||
| Japanese Literature 8-16th Century | ||
| Japanese Literature 17th Century-World War II | ||
| Japanese Literature World War II-Present | ||
| Introduction to Japanese Linguistics | ||
Upper-division language courses must be taken at the University of Oregon or through an Oregon University System program in Japan. Lower-division courses must be passed with grades of C– or better or P; upper-division courses must be passed with grades of C– or better.