The Japanese Program offers a language certificate for students who wish to take courses beyond their language requirement to develop and demonstrate communicative Japanese language skills and intercultural competence. Employers in business, education, healthcare, government, engineering, and technology increasingly recognize the value of world language skills. Earning this certificate provides students with a clear credential on their transcript demonstrating their Japanese language abilities and intercultural knowledge.

Students seeking admission to the Undergraduate Certificate must meet the admissions standards established by the Undergraduate Council. No grade below C is acceptable for students wishing to receive the certificate.

Conversational Japanese Certificate (11 Credit Hours)

Required Courses

Complete 8 credit hours:

• JAPA 251* – Intermediate Japanese I (4 credit hours)
• JAPA 252 – Intermediate Japanese II (4 credit hours)

Elective Course

Choose one course totaling 3 credit hours:

• JAPA 213 – Introduction to Japanese Culture (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 300 – Kanji for Japanese (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 313 – Premodern Japanese Literature and Culture (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 314 – Food, Fiction, and Film in Modern Japan (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 315 – Asian Film (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 321 – Japanese Popular Media (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 351* – Advanced Japanese I (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 365 – Japanese for Business (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 413* – Modern Japanese Literature and Culture (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 450 – Practical Skills in Japanese (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 451 – Introduction to Classical Japanese (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 452 – Readings in Modern Japanese Texts (3 credit hours)
• JAPA 493 – Independent Study (1–15 credit hours)

Additional Requirements

*Meets a Volunteer Core requirement.

At least 3 credit hours applied toward the certificate must be unique and may not be used to satisfy a language requirement or the requirements of another major, minor, or certificate.

Up to 3 credit hours of approved transfer coursework may be applied toward the certificate.