The Japanese Language and Culture minor is ideal if you have completed your Language Proficiency Requirement in Japanese while majoring in another field, but also want to work in Japan or with the Japanese in your career.
This minor allows you to continue developing your Japanese ability while enriching your language knowledge through in-depth study of the Japanese culture. You acquire an understanding of this 2000-year-old civilization's dynamic history. You are introduced to philosophical and psychological perspectives (ideas, beliefs, attitudes, values), the behavioral practices, the customs, and creative patterns (literature, art, music, etc.) of the Japanese culture. You also develop an understanding of the Japanese-American experience from both Japanese and American historical perspectives.
As the world's number two economy, Japan is active in almost every area of human endeavor, so, as career preparation and enhancement, a Japanese Language and Culture minor integrates well with all other CSUMB majors, especially those encompassing science and technology, the arts, education, and business. Some of our students have been attracted to trilingual media and environmental science opportunities (Japanese-Spanish-English) and other interesting Pacific Rim career fields.
You must successfully complete 16 units that include both language and culture courses; with at least one upper division language course.
Courses completed during Study Abroad can be counted toward this minor with approval from an advisor in the Japanese program.
Complete one or more of the following courses:
Complete one or more of the following courses. You can take no more than two 200-level courses to fulfill this requirement
Students will demonstrate an Intermediate-Mid proficiency level in the four major skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing) according to American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) guidelines.
Students will be able to provide a comparative description and basic analysis of the people, history and culture of Japan; engage in learning about the evolution of cultural customs and practices from the traditional into the modern; attain an appropriate knowledge base and other skills necessary for cross-cultural communications acquired by exploring non-western ways of thinking and perspectives as revealed in such topics as social issues, popular culture, Japanese Mind, Anime, literature and related topics.