Students preparing to study abroad in Japan are asked to remember that Japanese 411 (Japanese Thinkers and Writers) is required for all Japanese majors.

Take full advantage of the courses offered at your Japanese university, but remember that Japanese 411 will have to be completed upon return to Missoula.

This course is a advanced-level Japanese literary reading and criticism course, not a traditional fourth-year language class, and it unlikely that you will be able to take an equivalent course at a Japanese university. In the event that you have taken a course that might be comparable (for example, a high-level modern Japanese literature/criticism course taught in Japanese, with appropriate translation, composition, and other course components), it will be necessary to review with your UM professors the course syllabus, tests, papers, and homework upon your return, in order to determine whether or not there is sufficient parity to merit a special exception.

Please be mindful of the fact that Japanese “current” course catalogs do not necessarily accurately reflect the available offerings at an institution in any given year, owing to faculty departures, sabbatical leaves, and a variety of other scheduling and funding factors. Students for this reason need to prepare backup plans as well as to be flexible regarding their final selection of courses. Courses that a student wishes, or needs, to take for graduation that cannot be taken at the institution in question will need to be taken at UM following the student’s return to Missoula.

Courses successfully completed at an accredited Japanese university are generally listed ‘as is’ on a student’s transcript, without any stated equivalencies with UM courses. The question of what constitutes an equivalency is worked out on a case by case basis in the Japanese section each fall, when students return with their transcript of courses completed.

Please remember that it is your responsibility to seek advising early regarding which courses to take in Japan, transfer credits, or readiness for graduation. It is also important to stay in close contact with your advisor throughout your exchange and to raise questions about scheduling problems or other issues arising at the earliest opportunity. Please retain your email correspondence for later reference.


[Printable version of this Japanese Major Form]
Japanese Majors are required to take the following courses:
___ (10cr.) JPN 101, 102 Elementary Japanese
___ (10 cr.) JPN 201, 202 Intermediate Japanese
___ (8 cr.) JPN 301, 302 Advanced Japanese
___ (3 cr.) JPN 411 Modern Japanese Writers and Thinkers
___ (3 cr.) JPNS 415, “Advanced Japanese for Professionals”
___ (3 cr.) JPN 210H (W) Japanese Culture and Civilization

Students must also take 12 credits from the following courses:
___(3 cr.) JPNS 306 "Japanese For Business and Tourism"
___(3 cr.) JPNS 311L (W), "Classical Japanese Literature in Translation"
___(3 cr.)JPNS 312L (W), "Medieval to Modern Japanese Literature in Translation"
___(3 cr.) JPNS 386, "History of the Japanese Language"
___JPNS 390, Internship
___JPNS 393, "Omnibus" (variable cr., up to 3 cr.)
___JPNS 395, "Special Topics" (variable theme and cr., up to 3 cr.)
___(3 cr.) JPNS 412 UG "Introduction to Classical Japanese"
___(3 cr.) JPNS 431L UG (W), "Postwar Japanese Literature"
___JPNS 495, "Special Topics" (variable theme and credit)

Finally, Japanese majors must also complete 6 credits from courses outside the department:
___(3 cr.) Asian Studies 101H "Introduction to Asian Studies"
___(3 cr.) Asian Studies 395 "Special Topics"
___(3 cr.) Asian Studies 495 "Problems in Asian Studies"
___(3 cr.) LS 161H "Introduction to Asian Humanities"
___(3 cr.) LS/HIST 201H "East Asian Civilizations"
___(3 cr.) History 381H "Modern Japan"
___(3 cr.) PS 329H "Politics of Japan"

Note: Courses selected must not be ones cross-listed with MLLG.

= 55 Total Credit Hours


[Printable version of this form]
Japanese Minors are required to take the following courses:
___ (10cr.) JPN 101, 102 Elementary Japanese
___ (10 cr.) JPN 201, 202 Intermediate Japanese
___ (3 cr.) JPN 210H (W) Japanese Culture and Civilization
Students must also take 6 credits from the following courses:
___(3 cr.) JPNS 306 "Japanese For Business and Tourism"
___(3 cr.) JPNS 311L (W), "Classical Japanese Literature in Translation"
___(3 cr.)JPNS 312L (W), "Medieval to Modern Japanese Literature in Translation"
___(3 cr.) JPNS 386, "History of the Japanese Language"
___JPNS 390, Internship
___JPNS 393, "Omnibus" (variable cr., up to 3 cr.)
___JPNS 395, "Special Topics" (variable theme and cr., up to 3 cr.)
___(3 cr.) JPNS 412 UG "Introduction to Classical Japanese"
___(3 cr.) JPNS 431L UG (W), "Postwar Japanese Literature"
___JPNS 495, "Special Topics" (variable theme and credit)

3 credits may also derive from courses offered outside the department:
___(3 cr.) Asian Studies 101H "Introduction to Asian Studies"
___(3 cr.) Asian Studies 395 "Special Topics"
___(3 cr.) Asian Studies 495 "Problems in Asian Studies"
___(3 cr.) LS 161H "Introduction to Asian Humanities"
___(3 cr.) LS/HIST 201H "East Asian Civilizations"
___(3 cr.) History 381H "Modern Japan"
___(3 cr.) PS 329H "Politics of Japan"

Note: Minoring students may substitute JPNS 195 (3 credits) or JPNS 295 (3 credits) for ONE of the above.

= 32 Total Credit Hours