Degrees Offered

Major
The Major in World Languages and Cultures, Emphasis in Japanese, prepares you to be an active participant in an ever-shrinking and increasingly interdependent world. WLC does this by developing your literacy in global matters, multiculturalism, and cultural diversity, as well as helping you achieve a formidable level of proficiency in Japanese.

Our major prepares you with functional communication skills in Japanese language and culture! You will reach an intermediate-high to advanced level of proficiency and usage according to the ACTFL scale in Japanese. You will also develop a deep knowldege of Japanese culture through literature, history and social issues courses taught in English or Japanese. As you progress toward graduation, you will design an area of emphasis that may be thematic, discipline-focused, or career-oriented to acquire deeper knowledge relative to your specific interests and goals. The Capstone course will provide the opportunity to explore in depth a topic meaningful to you, and give you time to present that work to a larger community of learners. You will also share your aquired skills in the Japanese community through our award winning Service Learning programs and you will leave our program with a showcase of your language and cultual knowledge reflecting your ability and expertise in Japanese, ready to enter the job market or continue to graduate school!

Learn more information about the major from our students at http://wlc.csumb.edu/japaneseprogram/

Read more information about the major from the CSUMB Catalog at http://catalog.csumb.edu/site/x654.xml

See a list of Japanese language and culture courses from the CSUMB Catalog at http://csumb.edu/academic/catalog/courses/courses.php?subj=JAPN

Minors
For students who have an interest in Japanese culture, but have not yet attained the language skills and abilities necessary for the more advanced, language outcome-based minor, this alternative minor has the potential for attracting students from CST and International Entrepreneurship; and those students working toward careers in business, education, science and technology.

Japanese Culture and History Minor | View brochure (PDF)
Japanese Language and Culture Minor | View brochure (PDF)

Learn more information about the major from our students at http://wlc.csumb.edu/japaneseprogram/

Curriculum
WLC's Japanese language program content is communicative and proficiency based, and built on ACTFL's National Standards for Foreign Language Education and the Foreign Language Framework for California Public Schools. From this solid foundation, our faculty is able to deliver a dynamic, current language learning program, that focuses on developing skills in our students. We strive to help you be able to meet the nationally established guidelines for proficiency as defined by ACTFL.

Quotes
WLC is pleased to offer the Japanese Culture and History Minor in response to many student requests. It will allow students from other fields of study who have a personal or career interest in Japan but have already completed their language study to access our rich Japanese studies program in preparation for Japan-related professional opportunities.
-- Yoshiko Saito-Abbott, Ph.D., Japanese Program Coordinator

With a possible future in computer design and technology and a great interest in language, I figure that shooting for a minor in Japanese is a good way to go. Learning the Japanese language not only promotes a greater understanding and respect for another culture, but it can also give a person more of an edge in today's career world, and with it I hope to do just that.
-- Mathew D. Ruszczycky, TMAC Design Major, Pismo Beach, California

I chose Japanese Language and Culture as my minor to complement my major in Visual and Public art. I have always been interested in Japan and it's culture. I hope to gain a greater understanding of Japanese life and develop more cultural sensitivity. I would like to be able to incorporate what I learn into my art.
-- Victoria Marie Salas, Visual and Public Art Major, Santa Maria, California

Resources
CSUMB-Japanese University Exchange Programs through International Programs Office and pay home tuition at CSUMB--Attend designated universities in Japan!

See what our students say about our exchange programs

Individual Learning Plan (ILP) Form download in Excel format