Be adventurous

The Program in Japanese  at UVM offers courses in Japanese language, literature, pop culture and a variety of courses such as history, religion, and art through the Asian Studies Program. Language courses range from elementary to advanced levels, using the four language skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Employers in business, education, government, finance and many other fields are looking for people who can speak Japanese and operate successfully in a Japanese cultural context. As one of the top 10 languages spoken in the world, facility in Japanese opens doors to a wide variety of career opportunities including business, education, government and finance.

Major requirements

B.A. with major in Japanese

Beyond the classroom

Japanese flower arrangingStudents of senior lecturer Kazuko Suzuki Carlson participating in an Ikebana (Japanese style of flower arrangement) workshop, presented by Toshi Saitoh. Events like this are often brought to campus by the Japan America Society of Vermont, based in nearby Colchester. Students in UVM's Japanese program enjoy many other on campus activities like community meals, a Japanese book club, calligraphy classes, and get-togthers celebrating traditional Japanese holidays and festivals. 

 

Careers

  • International Business
  • Teaching Japanese in U.S.
  • Teaching English in Japan
  • Interpreter/Translator

Where alumni work

  • AEON
  • Akita Inu Tourism
  • Burton Corporation
  • Chikyuu no Arukikata T & E Inc.
  • Harvard Extension School
  • HedgeFund Intelligence
  • Interac
  • Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • NEXCO West USA
  • Oregon Health & Science University
  • Consulate General of Japan
  • Rincon Law Group, PC
  • Vantage Japan
  • The Yonso Project

Graduate Schools

  • Akita University
  • Columbia
  • Suffolk University Law School
  • St. Michael’s College
  • Savannah Law School
  • School for International Training
  • Tokyo University of the Arts
  • University of Nottingham
  • University of Saint Andrews
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Vermont

Related Information

Minors

The Japanese minor consists of 15 credit hours of Japanese language, with at least 6 credits in JAPN language numbered 2100 or above, including JAPN 3200 or its equivalent. Three credit hours at or above the 3000 level in Japanese linguistics or literature may be substituted for three credits of language study beyond JAPN 3200 or its equivalent.

View the UVM catalog requirements for the Japanese minor.

Popular Courses

  • JAPN 1100. ELEMENTARY JAPANESE I
  • JAPN 3200. ADVANCED JAPANESE II

Learning Outcomes

After completing the Program in Japanese  at UVM, Majors should be able to:

  • Speaking/Listening: Understand spoken Chinese/Japanese and express one's opinion concerning a variety of social topics, and be able to conduct an oral presentation in Chinese/Japanese.
  • Reading: Read and comprehend written texts in Chinese/Japanese from a variety of forms and contexts (e.g., newspapers, essay collections, novels).
  • Writing: Express own thoughts and summarize readings in one's own words in written Chinese/Japanese.
  • Literature: Identify and describe major authors, works, features, forms, and styles of Chinese/Japanese literature from premodern and/or modern eras.
  • Analyze and interpret works of Chinese/Japanese poetry, prose, and drama, read both in translation and in the original Chinese/Japanese, using terms appropriate to each genre.
  • Situate and evaluate Chinese/Japanese literature in its social, historical, intellectual, and religious contexts.
  •  Research:Use a variety of Chinese/Japanese reference works and sources, including dictionaries and encyclopedias in digital and hardcopy form.
  • Conduct independent research on topics in Chinese/Japanese literature and/or China/Japan related topics, and effectively communicate the results.