The Japanese Studies major enables students to delve into the study of Japanese culture through the lens of language, literature, and other disciplinary offerings on campus.
Major
Total of nine courses minimum.
Language Component
Four Japanese language courses, at the level of JAPN 201 and above.
Literature in Translation and Theory
Two courses out of the list below:
Only ASN 295 that is listed as a Japanese literature in translation course counts for this requirement.
East Asian Electives
The remainder of the nine total required courses are chosen from the below list of East Asia-related elective courses and can include up to two 201 and above JAPN courses.
| AMST 272/ASN 272 | Asian Immigrants in American Society | 4 units |
| AMST 280/DWA 246 | The United States and East Asia | 4 units |
| ARTH 160 | Introduction to East Asian Art | 4 units |
| ARTH 268 | The Japanese Woodblock Print | 4 units |
| ARTH 360 | Women in Art in East Asia | 4 units |
| ARTH 365 | Gender and Art in Japan | 4 units |
| ARTH 368 | Japanese Painting | 4 units |
| ASN 150/CSLC 150 | The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons: Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Literature | 4 units |
| ASN 252/CSLC 252 | To Dwell or to Wander: Reading Confucius and Zhuangzi | 4 units |
| ASN 253/CSLC 253 | The Golden Era: Literature of China's Tang and Song Dynasty | 4 units |
| ASN 272/AMST 272 | Asian Immigrants in American Society | 4 units |
| CSLC 150/ASN 150 | The Literary Mind and the Carving of Dragons: Masterpieces of Classical Chinese Literature | 4 units |
| CSLC 252/ASN 252 | To Dwell or to Wander: Reading Confucius and Zhuangzi | 4 units |
| CSLC 253/ASN 253 | The Golden Era: Literature of China's Tang and Song Dynasty | 4 units |
| HIST 141 | East Asian Survey | 4 units |
| HIST 248 | Modern Japan | 4 units |
| POLS 227 | East Asian Politics: China, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan | 4 units |
| RELS 160 | How to Live and Die Well in Buddhist Traditions | 4 units |
| RELS 215 | Shamans, Sages, and Spirits in East Asia | 4 units |
| RELS 261 | Between Empire and Appropriation: Buddhism in the Modern World | 4 units |
| RELS 266 | Sexuality and Gender in Buddhism | 4 units |
| RELS 276 | Empire and Religion in Asia and the Pacific | 4 units |
| RELS 335 | Downloading Deities, Mediating Meditation, Streaming Spirits: Religion and Media in Asia | 4 units |
Students may also apply MAC 244 as an elective if they have enrolled in the "The Female in Japanese Film and Media" section of the course.
Students may also apply MAC 246 as an elective if they have enrolled in the "New Waves of Asian Cinema" section of the course.
Students may also apply MAC 260 as an elective if they have enrolled in the "Women Making Moves" section of the course.
Honors in the Major
Students with an overall GPA of 3.25 and a major GPA of 3.50 may submit an honors research proposal at the end of the fall semester of the senior year. If the proposal is supported by two faculty advisors, the student will enroll in a 2-unit directed research course in the spring to expand the fall semester senior comprehensive paper into a 40-page paper that will be evaluated to determine whether the student has achieved Honors.
Minor
Five courses (20 units). At least four Japanese language classes, 201 and above. Can include one Japanese literature in translation course or LING 301. Three of the five courses must be completed as Occidental courses (one of the three MUST be taken at the Eagle Rock campus. The other two may be taken at an Occidental-in-Japan campus).