I am interested in taking a Japanese language class. How do I know which class is right for me?
If you have no background in Japanese, you should sign up for Japanese 1. All other students must take a placement test before enrolling in a Japanese language course.
Be advised that Japanese language courses are offered sequentially. For example, JPN 1 (first-year), JPN 4 (second-year), and JPN 111 (third-year) are offered only in the Fall quarter, while JPN 2, 5, and 112 are offered only in the Winter quarter and JPN 3, 6, and 113 are offered only in the Spring quarter. Consequently, it is best to have your proficiency assessed at the beginning of the Fall quarter. Another option is to take the beginning sequence in Japanese as an intensive summer session course when offered. See the UCD Summer Sessions for more information. Fourth-year reading courses (JPN 131-138) are not sequential and may be taken by qualified students during any quarter.
How do I go about taking a placement exam for Japanese?
The Japanese placement exam is administered throughout the year UC Davis Language Center (DLC) in the 53 Olson Hall. It is a multiple choice test with three primary parts which include grammar, reading and listening comprehension. The exam will take about one hour to complete based on your Japanese competence. You will get your results and placement level immediately upon completion of the test. You can register for a Japanese language class prior to taking the placement exam; but during the first week of class it may be determined that you are in an inappropriate class level based on your oral and written language proficiency. Contact the UC Davis Language Center for more information or to arrange a time to take the placement exam.
You may contact Prof. Nobuko Koyama (nkoyama@ucdavis.edu), the Japanese Language Coordinator, if you have any questions about the process.
I have been placed into JPN 113 after a placement test and do not need to take JPN 111 and 112. Does this mean that I have completed 3 of the 10 required upper division courses for the Japanese major?
No. You need to take two more upper-division Japanese courses in place of JPN 111 and 112. These two courses can be chosen from the list of "upper-division elective courses" and the list of "recommended lower-division courses" as shown on the checklist of Japanese Major Requirements.
I have taken JPN 112. Would enrolling in JPN 10 or JPN 101-102-103 be considered "back-tracking"?
No. JPN 10 and other literature-in-translation courses do not have a language prerequisite. Language classes you have taken have no bearing on your eligibility for these courses. You MUST, in fact, take JPN 101-102-103 (in any order, though they are usually offered sequentially) to complete the major in Japanese.
Can I take a literature class out of sequence? For instance can I take JPN 103 in the Spring quarter and take JPN 101 the following Fall quarter?
Yes. Upper-division literature classes can be taken out of sequence. As another example, you may take JPN 106 first and then take JPN 101-102-103. If you have taken the upper-division literature-in-translation series, you should not take JPN 10 since the lower-division course is a more basic version of the combined upper-division courses.
I am interested in majoring in Japanese. What courses do I need to take?
Your first step is to fulfill the lower division language requirements by completing first-year (JPN 1-2-3) and second-year (JPN 4-5-6) Japanese. If the results of your placement exam enable you to skip any or all of these courses, those courses will count toward your lower division requirement, but you will NOT receive unit credit for the courses you tested out of. There is no minimum number of lower division units you must take for the major.
Linguistics 1 and History 9B are highly recommended, but not required for the major or the minor in Japanese.
For students that declare Japanese Majors BEFORE Fall 2014: You must take 40 upper-division units to complete the major in Japanese. There are 24 non-elective units of upper-division courses: JPN 111-112-113 (third-year Japanese) and JPN 101-102-103 (survey of literature in translation). These six courses are mandatory. If you test out of JPN 111-112-113, you must take three other upper-division courses from the approved elective list (see below). The remaining 16 units for the major consist of upper-division elective courses. 8 units must be from a list of Japanese language and literature courses, and 8 units must be from a list of courses related to Japan or China offered in other departments such as Chinese, History, Anthropology, Comparative Literature, Religious Studies, and Art History. These courses are listed on the checklist of Japanese Major Requirements and in the UCD General Catalog.
For students that declare Japanese Major DURING or AFTER Fall 2014: You must take 40 upper division units to complete the major in Japanese. There are 28 non-elective units of upper division courses: JPN 111-112-113 (third year Japanese), JPN 101-102-103 (survey of literature in translation), and JPN 151 (Japanese Linguistics). These seven courses are mandatory unless you test out of JPN 111-112-113, you must take three other upper-division courses from teh elective list below. The remaining 12 units for the major consist of upper-division elective courses. Choose from 8 units must be from a list of approved courses related to Japan or China offered in other departments such as Chinese, History, Anthropology, Comparative Literature, Religious Studies, and Art History. These courses are listed on the checklist of Japanese Major Requirements and in the UCD General Catalog.
Can I take courses required for the major P/NP (pass/non-pass)?
Can I take courses other than those listed in the catalog as substitutions for the Japanese major or minor?
It is your responsibility to take all the required courses and the qualifying electives of your choice when they are offered. You cannot take substitution courses without prior approval by the Japanese advisor.