Bachelor of Arts in Japanese

Our students become well-informed about Japanese literary history, culture, language and civilization and whose critical-thinking skills help them succeed in fields like international business, culture and education.

Students of Japanese not only gain knowledge of the modern Japanese language, but also develop awareness of Japanese literary history and the cultural contexts in which works were written. Our students develop critical approaches to the study of Japanese language and civilization, allowing them to succeed in international business, culture and education.

  • Explore Japanese culture and history
  • Be able to read modern Japanese to perform critical literary analysis
  • Speak and comprehend Japanese sufficient for all situations in daily life

Practice your Japanese language skills at universities in Tokyo, Kyoto or Akita through our Education Abroad programs

Join fellow Buffs in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET), administered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, to teach English in the Japanese school system

Gain internship and service learning opportunities through the department and the Program for Teaching East Asia (TEA) at the Center for Asian Studies

Be successful.

Knowledge of Japanese language and culture will open doors to a variety of careers in our increasingly global society.

 
$69,000

Median salary of CU Boulder students of Japanese 1–5 years after graduation

 

Work in commerce, foreign service, translation services, law, public administration, journalism, government or academia as a research analyst, global marketing specialist, foreign service officer, translator or interpreter, account manager, or educator

 

Job growth for language translators and interpreters will be 18% in 2016–26, much faster than average, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Academic Plan & Requirements

The BA in Japanese requires successful completion of 30 credit hours, of which at least 18 credit hours must be upper division. Students also must complete the general requirements of the College of Arts and Sciences.

Additional degree option for students studying Japanese includes: 

  • Bachelor’s-accelerated master’s: A bachelor's-accelerated master's (BAM) degree program in Japanese is also offered. This rigorous five-year program recognizes the need for master’s-level training upon entering the job market in a variety of sectors that call for highly advanced proficiency in the Japanese language and knowledge of the culture of Japan. 

Community & Involvement

Japanese majors have many opportunities to network with peers and faculty, further their studies, and get the most out of their undergraduate experience.

News & Stories

College of Arts & Sciences magazine cover