Bachelor of Arts (BA) Majoring in Japanese

Summary

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) is Otago's most flexible undergraduate degree programme, enabling students to study from a selection of more than 40 arts and social science subjects, as well as papers offered elsewhere in the University. Academic breadth is complemented by in-depth knowledge gained through majoring in one or two subjects with the option of minors in one or two others.

Students are taught by research-active scholars, are expected to undertake a diverse range of learning tasks and are challenged to develop their intellectual independence. Graduates of the programme are well-informed, versatile, independent thinkers with the information literacy, communication, research and interpersonal skills necessary for a career or further academic study. The completed BA is an possible qualification for the PGDipArts in the major subject of the degree.

Why study Japanese?

Japan is one of New Zealand’s major trading partners and one of the world’s richest and largest markets, therefore your knowledge of Japanese language and culture will be highly valued by many New Zealand or overseas employers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, primary and secondary schools, tourism industries, research institutes, law firms and translation services, and the many New Zealand businesses that trade with Japan, all require university graduates not only proficient in Japanese language but familiar enough with Japanese customs and culture that they are able to interact successfully with Japanese people.

Your study of Japanese language and culture will also be immeasurably enriching to you on a personal level. Whether you’re interested in anime cartoons or Zen meditation, in the novels of Haruki Murakami or the films of Hayao Miyazaki, in the high aesthetics of Japanese food or Tokyo fashion, in flower arrangement, rock gardens, martial arts, tea ceremony, or all of the many other fascinating aspects of Japanese culture, this culture has so much to offer. It will enrich you intellectually and spiritually for the rest of your life.

Career opportunities

There are many opportunities open to students who major in Japanese. While some opt for careers in foreign relations, trade, commerce and tourism, others choose an academic path, such as teaching Japanese at schools in New Zealand or going on to MA and PhD degrees at Otago or elsewhere. A number of our graduates have also spent time in Japan under the Japanese government’s JET Programme. They work as assistant language teachers at Japanese schools or as coordinators for international relations at local government offices.

Programme Requirements

100-level

• JAPA 131 Introductory Japanese 1
• JAPA 132 Introductory Japanese 2
• One of ASIA 101, GLBL 101, LING 111

200-level

• JAPA 231 Intermediate Japanese
• JAPA 233 Business and Professional Japanese
• One of JAPA 242, JAPA 243, JAPA 244, ASIA 201, GLBL 201, GLBL 202

300-level

• JAPA 331 Advanced Japanese 1
• JAPA 332 Advanced Japanese 2
• Two of JAPA 334, JAPA 342, JAPA 343, JAPA 344, JAPA 351, ASIA 301, GLBL 301, GLBL 302

Note: Students with previous knowledge of Japanese will be placed in JAPA papers appropriate to their level. Students placed in 200- or 300-level language papers will still have to pass approved papers worth 180 points in order to major in Japanese.

Plus

• 198 further points; must include 54 points at 200-level or above.
• Up to 90 points may be taken from outside Arts

Note: July commencement may be possible, although the duration of the qualification may be longer, or paper selection may be limited.