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Japanese Studies

Certificate

This certificate is for students who aim to develop language competency in and cultural understanding of the Japanese language, culture and society. The certificate offers language courses up to the intermediate level that can build a solid foundation of all aspects in Japanese language as well as communicative competences in everyday settings. Furthermore, the certificate affords opportunities for students to explore and expand their interests and studies in topics related to Japan by offering a variety of elective courses across departments and faculties.

Admission Requirements

There are no specific admission requirements. To declare your Japanese studies certificate, please contact the World Languages and Literatures Advisor at wll_adv@sfu.ca.

Program Requirements

Students complete a minimum of 18 units, of which 12 are earned by completing four required core courses. The remaining courses are selected from the list of electives below. At least 12 units used toward the certificate must be completed at Simon Fraser University.

Core Courses

This certificate requires a minimum of 18 units as stipulated below.

Students complete four Japanese courses from the following list

JAPN 100 - Japanese I (3)
JAPN 110 - Japanese II (3)
JAPN 200 - Japanese III (3)
JAPN 210 - Japanese IV (3)
JAPN 300 - Intermediate Japanese I (3)
JAPN 301 - Intermediate Japanese II (3)

and a minimum of one course selected from the following list

JAPN 300 - Intermediate Japanese I (3)
JAPN 301 - Intermediate Japanese II (3)
JAPN 351 - Japanese Language and Culture through Film (3)
JAPN 360 - Japanese Literature as World Literature (4)

Any related WL course that contains Japanese literature and cultural production, or that reflects on issues of translation and intercultural exchange with prior permission from the department advisor.

Students placed in courses higher than the 100- or 200-level may seek approval to use other courses as substitutions for the core language courses.

Electives

To fulfil the minimum 18 units requirements, students may choose one course from the following list

HIST 206 - Imperial Japan (ca. 1868-1952) (3)
HIST 236 - Japan from 1603 to 1867: Peasants, Merchants, Warriors (3)
HIST 371 - The Asia-Pacific War in Modern Japanese History (4)
HIST 447W - The Nikkei Experience in North America (4)
HIST 464 - Problems in Modern Asian History (4) *
HIST 471W - Women in Japanese History (1600-1952) (4)
GA 101 - Introduction to Global Asia (3) *
GA 202 - Studies in Global Asia (3) *
GA 301 - Asian Canadian Culture and Activism Across Borders (3) *
GA 303 - Selected Topics in Global Japanese Studies (3)
GA 400 - Selected Topics in Global Asia (3) *
POL 381 - Japanese Politics (4)

With prior permission from the departmental advisor, students may take any other Japan-related courses in Global Asia and/or history, or other Japan-related courses which do not appear in this list.

Work experience/practicum term is not required.

* When the topic is Japan related. Consult the program advisor.

Transfer, Exchange, and Challenge Units

A maximum of six units from either transfer, exchange or course challenges may be used toward this certificate. Such requests must be submitted to the departmental advisor. In lieu of the transferred credits, students will be required to complete coursework of an equivalent number of units as assessed by the departmental advisor.