Faculty of Arts Japanese Studies

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Faculty of Arts

Table of Contents

1. Time commitment to study
2. Language study streams
3. Diploma in Modern Languages (Japanese)
    3.1. Beginners stream
    3.2. Post-VCE stream
4. Advanced stream
5. Japanese language timetable
6. Attendance requirements
7. Requirements for a language major
8. Structuring a language major
    8.1. Beginners stream
    8.2. Post-VCE stream
    8.3. Advanced stream
    8.4. Japanese language subjects
    8.5. Japanese studies subjects
9. Honours entry
10. Honours requirements
    10.1. Pure honours
    10.2. Combined honours
    10.3. Honours subjects
11. Studying overseas
12. Career opportunities
13. For more information
Subject Lists
    Language subjects
    Japanese Studies subjects
        First-year subject
        Second/third-year subjects
        Third/fourth-year subjects
        Fourth-year subjects

Japan is a significant regional economic power and Australia's leading trading partner. Its deep and diverse culture has fostered some of the world's most modern technologies. Students who develop a sound understanding of Japanese language and culture will develop transferable and highly valued skills that will enhance their career options. These include professional careers in fields of government, industry and commerce, teaching and research. Graduates are able to expand their knowledge through an articulated structure of higher degree study options at the University of Melbourne. The University has long established partnerships in student exchange and research with over a dozen of Japan's elite universities.

Japanese language classes cater for a range of competencies, from beginners level for students with little or no knowledge of the language to more advanced levels for students with some prior knowledge of Japanese. Students will receive a comprehensive grounding in Japanese language with opportunities to focus on social and cultural areas of interest that include Japanese art and architecture, history, law, politics and popular culture. Japanese studies is one of six programs that constitute the Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS). The institute was established in 1998 as a major teaching and research initiative of the University of Melbourne. MIALS serves to strengthen the University's role as a major international centre for the development of studies in Asian languages and societies.

1. Time commitment to study

As well as scheduled contact hours for lectures, tutorial and seminars a considerable additional time commitment is needed to complete the academic requirements of each subject.

A subject-specific time commitment to study will be provided by your lecturer or tutor at the beginning of semester to help you schedule your workload and successfully manage your time during the semester. In addition, general estimates of the total time commitment required to study a 12.5-point single semester subject in the Faculty of Arts can be found on Time commitment to study.

2. Language study streams

The institute offers three streams of Japanese.

• Beginners

  • The beginners stream is for students who have little or no knowledge of Japanese. It is available at first and second-year level and is an intensive stream to accelerate students towards professional competence.

• Post-VCE

  • The post-VCE stream is usually only available to students who have obtained a pass in VCE Japanese, or its equivalent.

• Advanced

  • The advanced stream is usually only available to students who have obtained a pass in VCE Japanese or equivalent, and who have undertaken some additional study in Japanese at a more advanced level.

The institute determines the language stream in which a student is to enrol. Placement is based on VCE results, other language study record and a placement test. Students who have had some prior experience with the language take a placement test held in the week preceding the first week of semester to determine the appropriate enrolment level.

Stream enrolment remains provisional until confirmed or, alternatively, altered according to the student's needs as determined by the institute during the first two weeks of teaching. As far as possible, the institute will notify students of any changes to their stream enrolment in the first two weeks of semester. Where a change is made in the third or fourth week of semester it will be reported to the Associate Dean (Academic Programs).

3. Diploma in Modern Languages (Japanese)

The Diploma in Modern Languages (DML) enables students to gain a diploma in language study while completing an undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne.

The DML involves a two to three-year sequence of language study, totalling a minimum of 100 points. It adds one year to the duration of an ordinary degree course.

The DML (Japanese) is offered in the beginners, post-VCE and advanced streams.

Japanese subjects are taken alongside degree subjects in an integrated sequence of study. This must be approved by the home faculty course adviser. The student may be required to sit a placement test. See Diploma in Modern Languages.

3.1. Beginners stream

Note: Placement test results may indicate that a student's entry to the language program may be mid-year.

3.2. Post-VCE stream

Note: Placement test results may indicate that a student's entry to the language program may be mid-year.

4. Advanced stream

Note: Placement test results may indicate that a student's entry to the language program may be mid-year.

5. Japanese language timetable

Timetable arrangements for Japanese language subjects are made at designated meetings in the week preceding the first week of semester. Any student unable to attend this meeting should send someone on their behalf. Students studying part-time should be aware that classes are only held during the day.

6. Attendance requirements

Success in Japanese language courses is heavily dependent on regular participation in class combined with continuous study; accordingly all Japanese language subjects have a 70 per cent minimum attendance requirement in order to sit the final exam.

7. Requirements for a language major

A major in Japanese language usually consists of 125 points comprising:

• first-year subjects in Japanese (25-50 points); and

• second-year subjects in Japanese (37.5-50 points); and

• four third-year subjects in Japanese (25-50 points).

A major must include:

• 110-242 Japanese 2B or 110-217 Advanced Japanese B; and

• one Japanese studies subject (12.5 points).

8. Structuring a language major

A major usually takes one of the following forms:

8.1. Beginners stream

Note: Placement test results may indicate that a student's entry to the language program may be mid-year.

8.2. Post-VCE stream

Note: Placement test results may indicate that a student's entry to the language program may be mid-year.

8.3. Advanced stream

Note: Placement test results may indicate that a student's entry to the language program may be mid-year.

8.4. Japanese language subjects

8.5. Japanese studies subjects

9. Honours entry

The prerequisites for entry to fourth-year honours in Japanese are:

• completion of all the requirements for the BA; and

• completion of a major in Japanese; and

• an average grade of H2A or higher over the second/third-year subjects within the major.

Intending honours students must submit a well-defined proposal for an honours research project in November of the preceding year, and make arrangements for appropriate supervision with advice from the honours coordinator.

For information on how to apply see Applying for Honours.

10. Honours requirements

Honours coordinator: Dr Carolyn Stevens

10.1. Pure honours

Students undertaking pure honours in Japanese must complete:

• 110-535 Japanese Thesis (37.5 points); and

• 110-590 Critical Asian Perspectives (12.5 points); and

• two advanced Japanese language subjects from List A below (25 points); and

• two Japanese studies honours subjects from the List B below (25 points)

  or

• one advanced Japanese language subject from List A and one Japanese studies honours subject from List B (25 points).

With the permission of the honours coordinator, students may substitute one optional subject with a relevant honours level subject in another area of study.

10.2. Combined honours

Students undertaking combined honours in Japanese and another area of study must complete:

• 110-535 Japanese Thesis (37.5 points); and

• two Japanese studies honours subjects in Japanese (25 points); and

• three honours subjects in the combining area of study (37.5 points)

or

• honours thesis in the combining area of study (37.5 points); and

• two honours subjects in the combining area of study (25 points); and

• two advanced Japanese language subjects from List A (25 points); and

• one advanced Japanese language subject from List A or one Japanese studies honours subject from List B (12.5 points).

10.3. Honours subjects

11. Studying overseas

Students studying Japanese in the institute may undertake language study abroad for credit towards their arts course, normally after a minimum of one year of university study. An application for credit must be lodged with the exchange studies coordinator prior to proceeding overseas. Interested students should consult the Faculty of Arts regarding credit and the International Centre for application forms and information on exchange programs. It is recommended that you start planning in April of the preceding year. See Studying overseas for credit.

12. Career opportunities

The relationship between Australia and Asian countries has grown in importance, particularly in the post-war era. Among the Asian countries, Japan plays an important role in the global economy. Graduates who have majored in Japanese, either in a Bachelor of Arts degree or a combined degree, have good employment opportunities in Australia and in Japan in banking, engineering, law, government departments, the arts and entertainment, finance and trade, and in secondary and tertiary teaching.

13. For more information

Melbourne Institute of Asian Languages and Societies (MIALS)
Sidney Myer Asia Centre
The University of Melbourne
Victoria 3010
Tel: +61 3 8344 5990
Fax: +61 3 9349 4870
Email: mials-enquiries@unimelb.edu.au
Web: http://www.mails.unimelb.edu.au

Language subjects

110-141 Japanese 1A
110-142 Japanese 1B
110-241 Japanese 2A
110-242 Japanese 2B
110-216 Advanced Japanese A
110-217 Advanced Japanese B
110-437 Japanese Writing System
110-450 Japanese Through Translation
110-451 Study of Japanese Language
110-452 Advanced Japanese Grammar
110-455 Japanese Language and Culture
110-467 Reading Contemporary Japanese Texts
110-468 Colloquial Japanese

Japanese Studies subjects

First-year subject

Second/third-year subjects

Third/fourth-year subjects

Fourth-year subjects

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