Course information contained within the Bulletin is accurate at the time of publication in August 2023 but is subject to change. For the most up-to-date course information, please refer to the Course Catalog.
JPNS 0868. World Society in Literature & Film. 3 Credit Hours.
Learn about a particular national culture - Russian, Indian, French, Japanese, Italian, for example, each focused upon in separate sections of this course - by taking a guided tour of its literature and film. You don't need to speak Russian, Hindi, French or Japanese to take one of these exciting courses, and you will gain the fresh, subtle understanding that comes from integrating across different forms of human expression. Some of the issues that will be illuminated by looking at culture through the lens of literature and film: Family structures and how they are changing, national self-perceptions, pivotal moments in history, economic issues, social change and diversity. NOTE: This course fulfills the World Society (GG) requirement for students under GenEd and International Studies (IS) for students under Core. Students cannot receive credit for this course if they have successfully completed any of the following: Arabic 0868/0968, Asian Studies 0868, Chinese 0868/0968, English 0868/0968, French 0868/0968, German 0868/0968, Hebrew 0868, Italian 0868/0968, Japanese 0968, Jewish Studies 0868, Korean 0868,
LAS 0868/0968, Political Science 0868/0968, Russian 0868/0968, or Spanish 0868/0968.
Course Attributes: GG
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 1001. Japanese Elements I. 4 Credit Hours.
First semester level of Japanese. Assumes no prior knowledge.
Course Attributes: LC
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 1002. Japanese Elements II. 4 Credit Hours.
Second semester level of Japanese.
Course Attributes: LC
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 1001, 'C1002' in LCJP, or 'B1002' in LCJP)
JPNS 1003. Oral Intensive Japanese I. 3 Credit Hours.
A bridge between beginning and intermediate Japanese levels, this course emphasizes vocabulary building and the use of spoken Japanese through situational conversational practice. Tests will be in the forms of listening and reading comprehension and structured interviews. An ability to read and write hiragana and katakana is required, as is a mastery of most basic grammatical rules.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 1002, 'C2701' in LCJP, or 'B2701' in LCJP)
JPNS 1301. Kanji I. 3 Credit Hours.
Kanji or Chinese characters are an integral part of Japanese orthography system, which is considered as a key factor to learners' reading comprehension and vocabulary building. However, Kanji is considered to be difficult and rather time-consuming to acquire, especially for learners from alphabetic orthography systems such as English speakers. This course is thus designed to promote students' understanding and mastery of 300 basic Kanji and to help them establish a solid foundation to learn novel and complex Kanji in the course of their learning Japanese. By mastering 300 basic Kanji, students will acquire the Kanji proficiency equivalent to JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N4, and also improve their reading and writing skills in addition to vocabulary building. More important, students will learn how to "learn" novel Kanji.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 1001, 'C1002' in LCJP, or 'B1002' in LCJP)
JPNS 2000. Special Topics I. 3 Credit Hours.
Arranged each semester. Please consult with the instructor and/or check the course schedule for specific topic.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
JPNS 2001. Intermediate Japanese I. 3 Credit Hours.
Third semester level of Japanese.
Course Attributes: LC
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in JPNS 1002.
JPNS 2002. Intermediate Japanese II. 3 Credit Hours.
Fourth semester level of Japanese.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 2001 or JPNS 2701)
JPNS 2003. Oral Intensive Japanese II. 3 Credit Hours.
A bridge between intermediate and advanced Japanese levels, this course focuses on vocabulary acquisition in a variety of conversational situations. Throughout the semester, several vocabulary quizzes and structure tests will be given, while the final exam will be in the form of interviews. Students are required to complete one project involving various communication activities outside the classroom.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 1003, JPNS 2002, JPNS 2702, or 'C3001' in LCJP)
JPNS 2011. Survey of Japanese Literature: Pre-Modern. 3 Credit Hours.
A study of memoirs, poetry, novels, and other genres is included in this survey of classical Japanese literature. Knowledge of Japanese language is not required. Note:
JPNS 2011 and
ASST 2011 are equivalent courses and students will not be able to receive credit for both.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 2012. Modern and Contemporary Japanese Literature in Translation. 3 Credit Hours.
A survey of modern Japanese literature focusing on novels and short stories. Authors include Tanizaki, Kawabata, and Mishima. Note that knowledge of Japanese language is not required. NOTE: Prior to fall 2009, the course title was "Survey of Japanese Literature: Modern." Note: This course is cross-listed with Asian Studies 2012. Students may only receive credit for one of these courses:
ASST 2012 or
JPNS 2012.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 2015. Tokyo in Literature and Film. 3 Credit Hours.
Like all great cities, Tokyo simultaneously fascinates and frightens us. The course explores this fascination and fear through the work of leading writers and directors who have responded to and shaped the city in their work. Readings will include essays, short stories, and novels by authors such as Yasunari Kawabata, Fumiko Hayashi, Banana Yoshimoto, and Haruki Murakami. Films by directors such as Yasujiro Ozu, Satoshi Kon, and Shosuke Murakami will be reviewed and discussed. Note: This course is cross-listed with Asian Studies 2015. Students may only receive credit for one of these courses:
ASST 2015 or
JPNS 2015.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 2016. Mystery and Crime Fiction in Japan. 3 Credit Hours.
This course examines mystery and crime fiction in Japan through the work of writers such as Edogawa Rampo, Matsumoto Seicho, and Kirino Natsuo. Through critical analysis of novels and short stories, we'll seek insights into the anxieties and tensions of life in modern and contemporary Japan. We'll explore a range of socio-cultural issues in areas such as family life, education, careers, and gender relations. All readings and discussions are in English. Note: This course is cross-listed with Asian Studies 2016. Students may only receive credit for one of these courses:
ASST 2016 or
JPNS 2016.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 2017. Stories of Parents and Children in Japanese Literature and Film. 3 Credit Hours.
This course explores the portrayal of family relationships in modern and contemporary Japanese fiction and film. Topics for study and discussion include the tension between the older and younger generations, and changing understandings of the family within Japanese society. The work of writers and filmmakers such as Soseki Natsume, Yasujiro Ozu, Kafu Nagai, Hirokazu Kore-eda, and Haruki Murakami will be examined. Class discussions and activities, readings, and written assignments aim at developing students' critical skills. Knowledge of Japanese is not required. Note: This course is cross-listed with Asian Studies 2017. Students may only receive credit for one of these courses:
ASST 2017 or
JPNS 2017.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 2021. Japanese Literature in Film. 3 Credit Hours.
A look at cinematic adaptations of Japanese novels and short stories. Discussions and assignments develop analytical and critical skills in reading literary and cinematic texts selected from the works of the principal figures of Japanese literature and film, such as Tanizaki, Mishima, and Kurosawa. Note that knowledge of Japanese language is not required. Note: This course is cross-listed with Asian Studies 2021. Students may only receive credit for one of these courses:
ASST 2021, ASST 2921,
JPNS 2021, or JPNS 2921.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 2050. The Japanese Writer in Focus. 3 Credit Hours.
This special topics course offers students the opportunity for in-depth reading, study, and discussion of the novels and short stories of one or two modern or contemporary Japanese writers. The work of writers who are highly regarded both in Japan and globally - such as Haruki Murakami, Kenzaburo Oe, Natsume Soseki, and Yukio Mishima - will be the focus of the course. Students will also be introduced to published scholarship on the writer's work. All readings are English translations of work originally published in Japanese. Note: This course is cross-listed with Asian Studies 2050. Students may only receive credit for one of these courses:
ASST 2050 or
JPNS 2050.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
JPNS 2111. Japanese Literature: From Classical to Contemporary. 3 Credit Hours.
Students taking this course will have the opportunity to learn about Japan's long literary history by reading, discussing, and analyzing selected novels, short stories, poems, and literary essays. The first half of the semester will focus on work produced up through the pre-modern period, with the second half covering the modern and contemporary periods. Writers ranging from Murasaki Shikibu and Yoshida Kenko to Natsume Soseki and Murakami Haruki will be introduced. Class discussions and assignments will help students become acquainted with current theoretical and methodological approaches in the fields of Japanese studies (and, more broadly, Asian Studies) and literary studies. All readings are English translations of work originally published in Japanese. NOTE: Students can receive credit only once for either
ASST 2111 or Japanese 2111.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
JPNS 2301. Kanji II. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is a continuation of Kanji I and designed to promote students' understanding and mastery of an additional 300 (or more) Kanji at the intermediate level. By mastering the additional 300 Kanji, students will acquire the Kanji proficiency equivalent to JLPT N3, and also improve their reading and writing skills in addition to vocabulary building.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 1301, JPNS 2702, or 'C3001' in LCJP)
JPNS 2522. Basic Writing in Japanese. 3 Credit Hours.
Japanese 2522 is designed to introduce students whose native language is not Japanese to basic-level writing skills that go beyond mere sentence manipulation drills. With a focus on paragraph development, students will learn, step by step, the organizational principles that will help them express themselves effectively in Japanese on familiar topics, such as family, daily activities, personal possessions and experiences. Students will also learn to incorporate newly learned vocabulary and structures effectively into their writing to further enhance their overall Japanese language skills.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 2701 or 'C2702' in LCJP)
JPNS 2631. Structure of Japanese Language I. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to accomplish three major objectives to further develop students' Japanese language proficiency. First, it will help students have a strong command of the basic and more complicated rules of Japanese grammar already introduced in Japanese 1001, 1002, 2001, & 2002. Second, it will also help students further improve their fluency in both comprehension and production. Lastly, it will also help students pass N4 of JLPT.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 2702 or 'C3001' in LCJP)
JPNS 2701. TUJ - Japanese Intermediate I. 4 Credit Hours.
This is a TUJ unique 2nd year, Intermediate Japanese course, and the first half of the intermediate Japanese language courses. It adopts an integrated approach to develop students' communicative competence for everyday communication. Upon successful completion of the intermediate courses, students will be able to demonstrate the proficiency level equivalent to N4 of JLPT. In addition to the course work and assignment, students are strongly recommended to spend at least one hour per week at the language lab.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 1002, 'C2701' in LCJP, or 'B2701' in LCJP)
JPNS 2702. TUJ - Japanese Intermediate II. 4 Credit Hours.
This is a TUJ unique 2nd year Intermediate Japanese course. This is the second half of the intermediate Japanese language courses. It adopts an integrated approach to develop students' communicative competence for everyday communication. Upon successful completion of the intermediate courses, students will be able to demonstrate the proficiency level equivalent to N4 of JLPT. In addition to the course work and assignments, students are strongly recommended to spend at least one hour per week at the language lab.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 2001, JPNS 2701, or 'C2702' in LCJP)
JPNS 2782. Independent Study in Japanese. 1 to 6 Credit Hour.
Independent study in Japanese.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
JPNS 3000. Special Topics in Japanese I. 3 Credit Hours.
Topics will focus on aspects of the language, literature, or culture of Japan.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
JPNS 3001. Advanced Japanese I. 3 Credit Hours.
Fifth semester level of Japanese.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 2002, JPNS 2702, or 'C3001' in LCJP)
JPNS 3002. Advanced Japanese II. 3 Credit Hours.
Sixth semester level of Japanese.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 3001 or 'C3002' in LCJP)
JPNS 3003. Advanced Japanese Writing. 3 Credit Hours.
A course for students who feel secure in the fundamentals of writing in the Japanese language but who want additional instruction beyond the introductory composition courses to improve their writing. This course focuses on one of two writing styles depending on the semester: formal and academic essays (ronbun) and personal and impressionistic essays (zuihitsu). Ask the instructor which style will be focused on during the semester for which you are going to register. There will be a lot of speed writing in class for students to prepare for a company essay test. Note that this course may be taken by native speakers of Japanese.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
JPNS 3010. Special Topics in Japanese II. 3 Credit Hours.
A continuation of Japanese 3000 (Critical Languages 0222). Topics will focus on aspects of the language, literature, or culture of Japan.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
JPNS 3096. Intermediate Writing in Japanese. 3 Credit Hours.
Students will learn intermediate-level writing skills in Japanese built on their basic writing skills. They will learn to write multiple-paragraph essays appropriate for various Japanese writing styles. For many Japanese learners, not being able to write effectively in Japanese is a major concern, especially for college students. To this end, the course deals with elements that help improve the quality of a written product, including grammar, structure, logic, and most importantly, organization. In the intermediate writing course, students are required to write insightful essays incorporating their experiences and reading/researched materials using appropriate cohesive devices.
Course Attributes: WI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 3001 or 'C3002' in LCJP)
JPNS 3631. Structure of Japanese Language II. 3 Credit Hours.
This course is designed to accomplish four major objectives. First, it will help students have a strong command of the advanced rules of Japanese grammar already learned in Japanese 3001 and 3002 to practice with complete control. Second, it will help students further improve their fluency both in comprehension and production in academic discourse. Third, it will also help students further develop their communicative competence, focusing on sociolinguistic and pragmatic aspects of Japanese language. Students will learn how to appropriately deal with social dominance, the social distance, and a variety of situations in advanced discourse. Lastly, it will help students pass N3 of JPLT.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 3001 or 'C3002' in LCJP)
JPNS 3900. Honors Special Topics: Japanese. 3 Credit Hours.
Topics vary from semester to semester. This is an Honors course.
Cohort Restrictions: Must be enrolled in one of the following Cohorts: SCHONORS, UHONORS, UHONORSTR.
Course Attributes: HO
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
JPNS 4001. Japanese Advanced III. 3 Credit Hours.
This course has 5 major goals. First, it will help students develop a higher level of reading and writing skills, and familiarize with socio-cultural topics. Second, it will help students improve their levels of formality in speaking in different situations of their everyday conversation and academic discourse. Third, it will also help students develop critical thinking and manners for discussion in Japanese. Fourth, it will help students learn idiomatic expressions and more involved syntactical forms. Lastly, it will help students pass N2 of the JLPT.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 3002 or 'C4001' in LCJP)
JPNS 4002. Japanese Advanced IV. 3 Credit Hours.
This is the last one of four courses in a series of Advanced Japanese courses which focuses on the levels of formality or politeness in conversation as well as on fifteen socio-cultural topics in the Japanese speaking community. This course covers chapters 13, 14, and 15 of the textbook. The course is designed to accomplish four major objectives. First, it will help students develop a higher level of reading and writing skills, and familiarize with haiku as well as socio-cultural topics. Second, it will also help students develop critical thinking, interview and debate skills in Japanese. Third, it will help students learn more involved idiomatic expressions and syntactical forms. Lastly, it will help students pass N2 of Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). To achieve these goals, this course will provide students with three reading topics: Japanese people and Nature, Politics in Japan, and the Future of World and Japan, in a variety of forms (i.e., reading and speaking based discussion). Each topic has its own focus in the speaking section such as interviewing, debating academic and social issues, and agreeing and disagreeing with others' opinions, to appropriately deal with the issues of politeness. Students are expected to use integrated skills to deal with each task presented in each chapter and also to build up their vocabulary and learn Chinese characters (Kanji) while completing reading, speaking, and grammar tasks. Moreover, students are required to conduct interviews with three people about a socio-cultural issue selected and to make a report on the results in two forms: an oral report in class and a written short paper.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 4001 or 'C4002' in LCJP)
JPNS 4003. Advanced Oral Japanese. 3 Credit Hours.
This course provides both oral and aural practice in Japanese by introducing theoretical and practical aspects of oral/aural skills. It is designed and intended for students who have successfully completed three years of Japanese language learning (Japanese Advanced II), and requires students' advanced reading/writing skills in order to prepare their speech scripts.
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in (JPNS 3002 or 'C4001' in LCJP)
JPNS 4182. Japanese Independent Study I. 3 Credit Hours.
An independent-study course arranged each semester. Please consult with the instructor.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in JPNS 3002.
JPNS 4196. Seminar in Japanese and Japan: Japanese Society and Culture through Newspaper. 3 Credit Hours.
Seminar in Japanese and Japan is a capstone course that builds on the solid foundation of advanced linguistics skills, socio-cultural knowledge, and critical thinking that students have acquired. It also marks their final stage of Japanese language learning. Three topics (Topic I: Socio-cultural, Topic II: Business, Topic III: Literature) are offered alternately and designed to allow students to select and pursue a topic of their interest. In the courses, students will learn to read critically and properly appreciate the original texts of a selected topic. While reading about socio-cultural aspects, topics/issues in business, or literature, students will further their understanding of Japanese language. This course focuses on reading on socio-cultural aspects of Japan by reading newspapers. Newspapers are one of the main sources of information to learn about the society's present status, social and political problems, and perspectives for future. In this course, students will learn the most up-to-date information of Japanese society and develop their reading skills and comprehension by reading newspapers. To achieve those goals, the course is divided into two parts. The first half of the course will be devoted to developing reading skills and building lexicon necessary to understand newspaper articles as well as the stylistics and format characteristic of newspapers (e.g., the use of abbreviations and technical terms in the headlines and leads). In order to increase readiness for reading newspapers, students will read 5-7 short passages a day (with a complete vocabulary list) on a variety of topics. Students' acquisition of new vocabulary and expressions will be tested on a daily basis. In the second half of the semester, students will read Japanese newspaper articles weekly. Each week, two articles will be chosen for a class reading followed by discussions. In addition, each student will choose an article for a weekly oral report. Through reading and class discussions, students are expected to gain in-depth understanding and analytical views of contemporary Japanese society and culture.
Course Attributes: WI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in JPNS 4001.
JPNS 4282. Japanese Independent Study II. 3 Credit Hours.
An independent-study course arranged each semester. Please consult with the instructor.
Repeatability: This course may be repeated for additional credit.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in JPNS 3002.
JPNS 4296. Seminar in Japanese and Japan: Business. 3 Credit Hours.
Seminar in Japanese and Japan is a capstone course that builds on the solid foundation of advanced linguistics skills, socio-cultural knowledge, and critical thinking that students have acquired. It also marks their final stage of Japanese language learning. Three topics (Topic I: Socio-cultural, Topic II: Business, Topic III: Literature) are offered alternately and designed to allow students to select and pursue a topic of their interest. In the courses, students will learn to read critically and properly appreciate the original texts of a selected topic. While reading about socio-cultural aspects, topics/issues in business, or literature, students will further their understanding of Japanese language. Topic II has a special focus on business, and is designed to introduce students to basic concepts and current issues of business both in the domestic and international markets. Students will explore basic concepts of business, building up new vocabulary items, examining major and important terms used in discussing business and reading short articles on current topics. Moreover, students will explore a variety of short articles concerning current topics in economics, politics, and business law as well, for business is tightly connected with these three topics. Lastly, students will also learn how to conduct, write, and present a simple version of secondary research paper on one of the topics in business.
Course Attributes: WI
Repeatability: This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
Pre-requisites: Minimum grade of C- in JPNS 4001.
