Asian Languages - Japanese ,Minor

Studying Japanese opens the door to a variety of new career paths, experiences and opportunities for personal growth, career development and global exploration. Regardless of where your interests lie, the Japanese language can help take you where you want to be.

Description ▲

You can pursue a minor in Asian languages with a focus on Japanese and study the language, literature and culture of Japan while developing advanced abilities in speaking, listening, reading and writing.

A wide variety of electives allows you to pursue your interests in topics such as translation, business, popular culture, technology and classical language. In addition, ASU offers summer and yearlong programs to study abroad in Japan.

At a glance ▲

College/school: The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Location: Tempe

Curriculum ▲

View curriculum archives

2026-2027 Catalog Year

Open in separate page Expand all course lists

Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours

Requirement	Minimum Grade	Credit Hours
The minor in Asian language (Japanese) requires 18 credit hours, of which 12 credit hours must be upper-division. A minimum of six upper-division credit hours must be completed through The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. When selecting courses, the college offering the course can be identified by viewing the course details in Class Search. Only courses completed with a grade of "C" (2.00 on a scale of 4.00) or better may be applied toward the minor requirements. Course substitutions may be allowed for heritage and advanced speakers of the language.
JPN 301 Third-Year Japanese I 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
JPN 302 Third-Year Japanese II 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
JPN 333 Japanese Civilization from the Ice Age to Last Thursday 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
JPN 309 Japanese Oral Communication I JPN 310 Japanese Oral Communication II JPN 311 Japanese Composition I JPN 354 Zen and Japanese Culture JPN 355 Religious Practice of People in Modern Japan (GCSI) JPN 367 Religion, Philosophy and Culture in Japan (GCSI) JPN 394 Special Topics JPN 401 Reading Modern Japanese Texts (GCSI) JPN 414 Introduction to Classical Japanese JPN 415 Advanced Classical Japanese JPN 430 Buddhist Meditation in East Asia JPN 445 Readings in Modern Japanese Letters and Culture JPN 485 Japanese Literature and the Art of Translation JPN 492 Honors Directed Study JPN 494 Special Topics JPN 499 Individualized Instruction SLC 421 Japanese Literature in Translation Note: A maximum of three credit hours of SLC 421 may be applied to the Japanese minor. 3 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	3
200-Level JPN Elective JPN 309 Japanese Oral Communication I JPN 310 Japanese Oral Communication II JPN 311 Japanese Composition I JPN 354 Zen and Japanese Culture JPN 355 Religious Practice of People in Modern Japan (GCSI) JPN 367 Religion, Philosophy and Culture in Japan (GCSI) JPN 394 Special Topics JPN 401 Reading Modern Japanese Texts (GCSI) JPN 414 Introduction to Classical Japanese JPN 415 Advanced Classical Japanese JPN 430 Buddhist Meditation in East Asia JPN 445 Readings in Modern Japanese Letters and Culture JPN 485 Japanese Literature and the Art of Translation JPN 492 Honors Directed Study JPN 494 Special Topics JPN 499 Individualized Instruction SLC 421 Japanese Literature in Translation Note: A maximum of three credit hours of SLC 421 may be applied to the Japanese minor. JPN 201 (5 credit hours) and JPN 202 (5 credit hours), or JPN 210 (8 credit hours), are prerequisites to JPN 300-level language courses. A maximum of six credits hours of the JPN 200-level electives or prerequisite courses may be applied to the Japanese minor. Any additional JPN 200-level credit hours will be applied to the 120 credit hours needed for graduation. 6 Credit Hours Minimum Grade:C	C	6

Notes

Prerequisite courses may be needed in order to complete the requirements of this minor.

Enrollment requirements ▲

GPA Requirement: 2.00

Incompatible Majors: BA in Asian languages (Japanese)

Other Enrollment Requirements: None

Current ASU undergraduate students may pursue a minor and have it recognized on their ASU transcript at graduation. Minor requirements appear on the degree audit once the minor is added. Certain major and minor combinations may be deemed inappropriate by the college or department of either the major program or the minor. Courses taken for the minor may not count toward both the major and minor.

Career opportunities▲

Minor programs enable students to develop additional competencies that complement the marketable knowledge and skills they acquire in their majors.

A minor in Japanese studies helps students gain communication skills and cultural competence as they pursue careers fields such as:

diplomacy
education
entertainment
foreign service
international business
marketing
political analysis
science and technology
teaching
tourism and hospitality

Advanced degrees or certifications may be required for academic or clinical positions.

Contact information▲

School of International Letters and Cultures | DH 131
silcadvising@asu.edu
480-965-6281

Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.

Accelerated master's

These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).

Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.

Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.

ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.

ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.

Asian Languages - Japanese ,Minor