Japan is a country located in East Asia in the Pacific Ocean.The island of Japan is a little smaller than the state of California, but astonishingly holds a population of approximately 128 million. The Japanese language consists of a complex system of casual, distal, and honorific styles reflecting the hierarchical nature of Japanese society, and the writing system employs three distinct styles: hiragana, katakana, and kanji (Chinese characters). At times, learning the Japanese language may be challenging, but students will be fascinated by the unique heritage and traditions of the Japanese culture and language.
At Baylor University, the Japanese program welcomes students with various goals and interests. Our program aims to offer a strong language foundation that will open up opportunities for students to seek employment with Japanese companies upon graduation. We also provide the language instruction for those who are interested in exploring modern Japanese popular culture through literature, anime, and games. Therefore, our courses aim to provide students go beyond basic language instruction to include exposure to Japanese culture in a variety of forms and contexts.
Students interested in concentrating on Japanese language and culture may take up to 26 credit hours of Japanese language courses by selecting a major or minor in Asian Studies. Students will learn to read, speak, and write Japanese, including hiragana, katakana, and a few hundred kanji characters. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad for one or two semesters in exchange programs at one of two Japanese Universities during their undergraduate studies. Some of our graduates have acquired teaching positions in various language schools in Japan, and others have participated in the Japanese government-sponsored JET program.