Japanese
The study of Japanese at Waikato involves the acquisition of Japanese language and the study of the history and culture of Japan.
Japan's 2000 year old civilisation boasts such achievements as the world's first novel and other rich contributions to the fine arts. Japan ("Nihon" – the Land of the Rising Sun) was the first Asian country to modernise, rivalling the West just forty years after making the decision to do so. It made remarkable recovery after World War II and has developed into one of the world's dominant economic forces. While this growth has been driven largely by the Japanese capacity for technological development, Japan is increasingly influential in international politics and the arts.
Japan is a major trading partner of New Zealand and there is a large Japanese business community here. New Zealand is a popular Japanese tourist destination and many of our more advanced students have been able to get holiday jobs tour-guiding. Studying Japan's fascinating culture and language continues to provide a valuable basis for a career and a stimulating insight into an important Asian country.
Key information
| Study Location: | Hamilton |
|---|---|
| Faculty: |
Study Japanese in these qualifications
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies (China only)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Laws
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Māori and Pacific Development
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Study Japanese as a specialisation of
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences with Honours
- Bachelor of Media and Creative Technologies (China only)
- Bachelor of Music
- Bachelor of Social Sciences
- Certificate
- Diploma
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Graduate Certificate
- Graduate Diploma
- Master of Arts
- Master of Arts (Applied)
- Master of Laws
- Master of Management Studies
- Master of Māori and Pacific Development
- Master of Philosophy
- Master of Science
- Master of Science (Research)
- Master of Science (Technology)
- Master of Social Sciences
- Postgraduate Certificate
- Postgraduate Diploma
Career opportunities
- Diplomat
- Hospitality Operator
- International Lawyer
- Tour Guide
- Translator or Interpreter
- Travel Agent
Papers
Available Japanese papers
Prescriptions for the GradCert(Jap) and GradDip(Jap)
A Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma are available to graduates who have not included Japanese at an advanced level in their first degree.
For further details, contact the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Office.
Prescriptions for the PGCert(Jap), PGDip(Jap), BA(Hons) and MA.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in graduate Japanese papers, a student should normally have at least a B average in either the best three of their 300 level Japanese papers or all their undergraduate Japanese papers.
To complete a BA(Hons) in Japanese, students must gain 120 points at 500 level, including at least 30 points in research (normally JAPAN591) and at least 30 points from papers listed for Japanese.
To be eligible to be considered for enrolment in the MA in Japanese, a student should have completed either:
a) a BA with a major in International Languages and Cultures: Japanese pathway (or equivalent) and have gained at least a B average across the 300 level papers, or
b) a BA(Hons) in Japanese (or equivalent) and have gained at least second class honours (second division).
Completion requirements for the MA in Japanese vary depending on admission criteria:
Students admitted under a) above must complete 180 points from approved 500 level papers, including JAPAN502 and either a 120 point thesis, or a 90 point thesis or a 60 point dissertation.
Students admitted under b) above must complete a 120 point thesis, a 90 point thesis and a further 30 points from approved 500 level papers, or a 60 point dissertation and a further 60 points from approved 500 level papers.
Prescriptions for the MPhil
The Master of Philosophy is a one year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
Prescriptions for the PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy is a three year research-based degree in which students undertake a programme of approved and supervised research that leads to a thesis which critically investigates an approved topic of substance and significance, demonstrates expertise in the methods of research and scholarship, displays intellectual independence and makes a substantial original contribution to the subject area concerned, and is of publishable quality.
100 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| INTLC101 | International Languages and Cultures | 20B (Hamilton) & 20G (Online) |
| A cultural perspectives paper with a thematic focus on languages and cultures of China, France, Japan, Spain and Latin America. | ||
| JAPAN131 | Japanese 1: Part A | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper assumes no previous knowledge of Japanese. It takes an integrated approach to the four skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking. | ||
| JAPAN132 | Japanese 1: Part B | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper continues from JAPAN131. | ||
200 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| INTLC221 | Understanding East Asia | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper offers a critical examination of historical traditions and contemporary life in East Asia, with a focus on China and Japan, and their roles within a global context. This paper is taught in English and is open to all students, including those who have no prior knowledge of Chinese and Japanese. | ||
| JAPAN231 | Japanese 2: Part A | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper continues from JAPAN132. In combination with JAPAN232 it completes the main corpus of grammar and introduces further skills fundamental to communicative competence. | ||
| JAPAN232 | Japanese 2: Part B | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper continues from JAPAN231. In combination with JAPAN231 it completes the main corpus of grammar and introduces further skills fundamental to communicative competence. | ||
300 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| INTLC380 | Study Abroad 1 | 20X (Block) |
| This paper will enable students to undertake appropriate individual study abroad programmes as part of their undergraduate degree. Each study programme should have a significant component of time spent offshore, with a series of assessments being agreed in advance with the paper convenor. | ||
| INTLC390 | Directed Study | 20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton) & 20D (Hamilton) |
| At the discretion of the relevant Programme Convenor, students undertake independent but guided research on a topic of the student's choice | ||
| JAPAN321 | Translation Methodology and Practice | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper examines the methodology and practice of Japanese to English and English to Japanese translation, utilising a variety of readings and media such as recipes, user manuals and movie subtitling. | ||
| JAPAN331 | Japanese 3: Part A | 20A (Hamilton) |
| This paper for pre-intermediate learners continues from JAPAN232. In combination with JAPAN332 students learn additional grammar and vocabulary and are expected to make a great progress on the intermediate-level study of Japanese language learning. | ||
| JAPAN332 | Japanese 3: Part B | 20B (Hamilton) |
| This paper continues from JAPAN331. In combination with JAPAN331 students learn additional grammar and vocabulary and are expected to make a great progress on the intermediate-level study of Japanese language learning. | ||
| JAPAN380 | Study Abroad | 20X (Block) |
| This paper enables students to undertake appropriate individual study abroad programmes as part of their undergraduate degree. The programme should have a significant component of time spent offshore, with a series of assessments being agreed in advance with the paper convenor. | ||
| JAPAN390 | Directed Study | 20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton) & 20D (Hamilton) |
| This paper is designed for students to engage and learn research skills through a chosen research topic within the field of Japanese Studies. This paper gives students the opportunity to undertake research independently under the guidance of the Convenor or a relevant lecturer. | ||
500 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| JAPAN501 | General Japanese for Graduate Studies | 20B (Hamilton) |
| Advanced Japanese involving all four skills of language acquisition (listening, speaking, reading and writing). | ||
| JAPAN502 | Japanese for Academic Research | 20A (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
| JAPAN520 | Special Topic | 20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton) & 20D (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
| JAPAN590 | Directed Study | 20A (Hamilton), 20B (Hamilton) & 20D (Hamilton) |
| Students have the opportunity to pursue a topic of their own interest under the guidance of academic staff. | ||
| JAPAN591 | Dissertation | 20X (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| JAPAN592 | Dissertation | 20X (Hamilton) |
| A report on the findings of a theoretical or empirical investigation. | ||
| JAPAN593 | Japanese Thesis | 20X (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
| JAPAN594 | Japanese Thesis | 20X (Hamilton) |
| An externally examined piece of written work that reports on the findings of supervised research. | ||
800 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| JAPA800 | Japanese MPhil Thesis | 20X (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
900 Level
| Code | Paper Title | Occurrence / Location |
|---|---|---|
| JAPA900 | Japanese PhD Thesis | 20X (Hamilton) |
| No description available. | ||
Scholarships and prizes
New to Waikato? The International Excellence Scholarship is worth up to $10,000.
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
Subject links
Subject requirements
Expand to read Subject requirements
Japanese is available as a pathway within the International Languages and Cultures major or supporting subject for the BA, as a specialisation (set out below), and as a supporting subject within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled.
Japanese pathway within International Languages and Cultures major
International Languages and Cultures is available as a major for the BA. International Languages and Cultures may also be taken as a second major or as a supporting subject within other undergraduate degrees, subject to academic approval of the Faculty or School of Studies in which the student is enrolled. For full details see International Languages and Cultures major.
Japanese language specialisation
Within the BA, BBA, BCS, BECom, BMS, BSocSc and BTour a Japanese Language specialisation is available, and within the BSc and BSc(Tech) a specialisation in Science International in Japanese is available. The aim of the specialisation is to provide students with an element of linguistic and cultural competence that better equips them for the professional and personal challenges of a globalised environment; as well as support the initiative to encourage the study of languages.
A specialisation in Japanese for the BA and BSocSc requires 60 points above 100 level in Japanese, made up of JAPA231, JAPA232 and JAPA331.
The point of entry into the Japanese programme depends on previous experience. Students with little or no previous experience will start with JAPA131. Students with 14 credits in NCEA Level 3 Japanese, or good results in NCEA Level 2 Japanese should start from JAPA231. Students who are uncertain about where to start should contact the Convenor of Japanese.
Please note: For all graduate subject requirements check the information provided in the papers section above.
Contacts
Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences:
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4932
General and Undergraduate Email Enquiries: japa-fass@waikato.ac.nz
Graduate and Postgraduate Email Enquiries: japa-grad@waikato.ac.nz