The B.A. in Foreign Languages and Literatures (FLL) provides students with a comprehensive knowledge of a specific language (or languages) and advanced familiarity with the cultural practices and traditions associated with the language(s) of specialization. The major in FLL enhances critical thinking and communication skills and provides students with a cross-cultural understanding of our contemporary world. The program allows students the flexibility to explore a single or dual language specialization as well as the opportunity to study culture through interdisciplinary fields of critical concentration, such as Comparative Cultural Studies, Film and Visual Culture, Intensive Area Studies, Literary Studies, and Medieval and Early Modern Studies. A major in FLL offers an excellent basis for a variety of careers, including graduate study in an area of foreign language and culture and/or in the humanities and social sciences, as well as careers in education, international development, diplomacy and government, national security, communications, law, journalism, arts and culture, publishing, and global business. Participation in UF study-abroad programs or a UF approved program is highly encouraged.

The Japanese specialization of the Foreign Languages and Literatures major provides a foundation for graduate-level work in East Asian studies or allied fields (anthropology, art history, history, linguistics, political science, and religion). The specialization is excellent general preparation for entry to professional schools (business, journalism, law, and medicine) or careers in foreign service, commerce, diplomacy, translation, business, import and export of information and culture, museums, libraries, and tourism.

Coursework for the Major

The Japanese specialization in Foreign Languages and Literatures consists of preparatory language study at the lower division (1000 and 2000 level), and 33 hours of advanced language, theory, and culture study in the upper division (3000 level and above).

All coursework for the major must be completed with minimum grades of C.

Required Foundation Coursework | 23 Credits

Required Core Coursework | 33 Credits

All languages offered through this department may fulfill college language requirements. Students pursuing the Japanese specialization in Foreign Languages and Literatures are not allowed to minor in Asian studies (either option 1 or 2).

Transfer Students Interested in Majoring in Japanese

If a student's current institution does not offer Japanese and the student has no previous knowledge of Japanese, it's recommended that they take the following Summer Intensive Beginning Japanese program:

Summer A: JPN 1130. A minimum grade C is required to advance to the next level course.

Summer B: JPN 1131.

Overseas Study

Two year-long study abroad programs are available in Japan. The Asian Studies Program at Kansai Gaidai University in Osaka, Japan is specifically designed for international students for an academic year program of study abroad. The program offers courses in Japanese language (all levels) and area studies focusing on Japan and its international role. Another academic year study abroad program at Aoyama Gakuin, Tokyo, offers students the challenge of taking courses in the target language, thus it is limited to those who have completed three years of language study at UF, or the equivalent. These two programs also offer the option of one semester of study abroad.

There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Shimane University in Matsue, Japan. This program focuses on Japanese language, culture, history and environment, and is limited to students who have completed three years of language study at UF, or the equivalent. There is a one or two semester study abroad program at Nagoya University in Nagoya. This program is open to students with no previous study of Japanese language, and is ideal for students from a variety of majors including the STEM majors as it offers a broad-based English-language curriculum in international studies, biological and physical sciences, and engineering, in addition to courses in Japan studies.

A maximum of 15 credits non-UF overseas study credit may apply to the major. Students must have all overseas study credit that will transfer to the major approved by their major advisor. JPT 3500 must be taken at UF. No substitution is allowed for JPT 3500.

Placement

Students with previous training in Japanese, as well as those with heritage background in these languages, should consult the undergraduate coordinator or the language coordinator of the Japanese specialization before enrolling in any JPN or JPW course. Placement tests are given at the start of each semester; refer to the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures for location and times.

Critical Tracking records each student’s progress in courses that are required for progress toward each major. Please note the critical-tracking requirements below on a per-semester basis.

For degree requirements outside of the major, refer to CLAS Degree Requirements: Structure of a CLAS Degree.

Equivalent critical-tracking courses as determined by the State of Florida Common Course Prerequisites may be used for transfer students.

Semester 1

• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 2

• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 3

• Complete JPN 1130 or higher level language course with a minimum grade of C
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 4

• Complete JPN 1131 or higher level with a minimum grade of C and 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Semester 5

• Complete JPN 2230 or higher level language course with a minimum grade of C and 2.5 critical-tracking GPA
• 2.0 UF GPA required

SEMESTER 6

• Complete JPN 2231 or higher level language course with a minimum grade of C
• 2.0 UF GPA required

SEMESTER 7

• Complete JPN 3410 or higher course with a minimum grade of C
• Complete JPT 3500 with a minimum grade of C
• 2.0 UF GPA required

SEMESTER 8

• Complete JPN 3411 or higher course with a minimum grade of C
• 2.0 UF GPA required

Actual courses may be different depending on language preparation and availability of courses. In particular, beginning language is best started semester 1 and no later than semester 3, but study abroad or accredited intensive summer courses can be used to catch up.

Students are expected to complete the writing requirement while in the process of taking the courses below. Students are also expected to complete the general education international (GE-N) and diversity (GE-D) requirements concurrently with another general education requirement (typically, GE-C, H, or S). Several courses in this major count for GE-H and N or GE-S and N requirements. 3000 level or above critical concentration courses outside of Japanese may count toward the 3000 level or above electives outside of the major.

To remain on track, students must complete the appropriate critical-tracking courses, which appear in bold. These courses must be completed by the terms as listed above in the Critical Tracking criteria.

This semester plan represents an example progression through the major. Actual courses and course order may be different depending on the student's academic record and scheduling availability of courses. Prerequisites still apply.

Critical Concentration Courses | 9 Credits from One Concentration

Although courses may appear in more than one group they may be counted toward only one group

The Foreign Languages and Literatures (FLL) major enables students to achieve communicative competence in their language(s) of specialization. Students will become knowledgeable in the culture and literature and/or linguistics associated with their language area(s) such that they will be able to critically analyze and evaluate authentic sources in the target language(s) and formulate independent, critical perspectives in the target language(s). Further, students will learn the intercultural skills and practical know-how necessary to negotiate traveling, studying, and living in the target culture(s).

Before Graduating Students Must

• Satisfy the Florida statutes for the College-Level Academic Skills Requirement.
• Complete requirements for the baccalaureate degree, as determined by faculty.
• Achieve one or more of the following, as determined by their specialization within the FLL program: an acceptable score on a language proficiency test and/or a satisfactory faculty evaluation of a term paper, final project, or oral presentation completed for a selected advanced course.

Students in the Major Will Learn to

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs)

Content

1. Describe and define cultural concepts, literary production, and/or linguistic structure in language(s) of specialization.

Critical Thinking

2. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate texts according to their cultural, literary and/or linguistic content.

Communication

3. Express critical competence in relation to the culture(s) of specialization through performance of comprehensive analysis in written and oral form.
4. Display oral and written proficiency in language(s) of specialization.

Curriculum Map

I = Introduced; R = Reinforced; A = Assessed

Assessment Types

• Proficiency exams
• Term papers or final projects
• Oral presentations