BA in Asian and Middle Eastern Studies - Japanese

The AMES major requires a minimum of 10 courses, at least 8 of which must be at the 200 level or above. These courses should be distributed as follows: 3-6 language courses. 2 courses must be at the 300 level or above. Courses at the 100 level may not count towards the major. Students whose competence in a language exceeds the most advanced language course offered by the department may substitute these courses with literature/culture courses in their area of concentration. Please contact language coordinators to schedule a placement test. 3-5 literature/culture courses at the 100 level or above in the area of concentration. At least 2 courses must have an AMES number. 1-2 literature/culture courses at the 100 level or above outside the area of concentration. These courses must have an AMES number. Students must receive a C- or above in all courses taken for the major. The Japanese language program offers four years of instruction. The curriculum aims to develop communicative competency (speaking, listening, reading, and writing) and cultural fluency in an integrated manner through tailored subject materials and interactive instruction. At the beginning of each fall semester, and as needed, the program conducts placement tests for incoming or transferring students to be placed in his/her appropriate level. One semester of Classical Japanese is being offered by a visiting professor every other year and depending on demand. The literature and culture curriculum offers courses on Japanese popular culture that survey the aesthetic, technological, cultural, and historical aspects of cultural productions such as anime, manga, and films that made these genres a global phenomenon. Courses on real and imagined disasters and ethnic minorities expose students to the diverse visual and literary representations of the darker sides of Japanese modernity and marginalized voices from the empire to post-war nation-building. There are also a variety of study abroad opportunities for students of Japanese: one exchange program and several Duke-approved programs. Other program activities available to enhance student learning include language tables, the Japanese Language Hall, the Japanese Culture Club, and many more.