SOAS, University of London (The School of Oriental and African Studies)

Combinations

May be combined with

• Economics (BA/JSE) with jacs code TL21
• History (BA/JSH) with jacs code TV2C
• History of Art/Archaeology (BA/JSHAA) with jacs code TV23
• Korean (BA/JSK) with jacs code TT24
• Linguistics (BA/JSL) with jacs code TQ21
• Music (BA/JSMu) with jacs code TW2H
• Politics (BA/JSP) with jacs code TL22
• Social Anthropology (BA/JSSA) with jacs code TL26
• Study of Religions (BA/JSSR) with jacs code TV2P

*Taught at Birkbeck College, London

(Students are advised to see the other departments’ websites for options required in joint degrees)

Structure

Year 1

Core Unit

Core courses must be passed in order to progress to the following year of study.

• Aspects of Japanese Culture 1 - 155901199 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Aspects of Japanese Culture 2 - 155901200 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from list A

2 Other Units

2 units are taken from the other subject/department

Year 2

Core Unit

Core courses must be passed in order to progress to the following year of study.

• Issues in Post-war Japanese Society 1 - 155901329 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Issues in Post-war Japanese Society 2 - 155901330 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2

1 Optional Unit

Choose one unit from List A OR one unit from List B

2 Other Units

2 units are taken from the other subject/department

Year 3

2 Optional Units

Choose two units from List B. OR, choose one unit from List B and the following course.

• Independent Project in Japanese Studies - 155901364 (1 Unit) - Full Year

2 Other Units

2 units are taken from the other subject/department

List A Options

Available to Year 1 and 2 students depending on their language ability.

• Basic Japanese 1 - 155900874 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Basic Japanese 2 - 155900875 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Intermediate Japanese 1 - 155901345 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Intermediate Japanese 2 - 155901346 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Advanced Japanese: ContemporaryTopics - 155901255 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• J2: Japanese Readings - 155901235 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Introduction to Pre-Modern Japanese language - 155901294 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• JIV(B)i Readings in Japanese History - 155900881 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• JIV(B)ii Readings in Japanese Intellectual History - 155900882 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Higher Advanced Japanese - 155901285 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Readings in Pre-Modern Japanese Literature - 155901284 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Readings in Modern Japanese Literature - 155901273 (1 Unit) - Full Year

List B Options

Before selecting a course, student's must first check that the course is at the correct level. They must also ensure that they meet any pre-requisites.

Available to Year 2 students only

• Issues in Post-war Japanese Society 1 - 155901329 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Issues in Post-war Japanese Society 2 - 155901330 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• Extended Essay (Japanese Language and Culture) 1 - 155900853 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Available to Year 2 and 3 students

Please note that prerequisites or course convener approval may be required for some of these courses. Please see Teaching & Learning tab.

• Japanese Art - 154900110 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• H283 Modern Japan - 154800233 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Japanese Religion: A Historical Overview - 158000044 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Themes in Japanese Religions - 158000043 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013
• Survey of Pre-Modern Japanese Literature in Translation - 155901213 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Survey of Modern Japanese Literature in Translation - 155901214 (0.5 Unit) - Full Year
• Representing Religion in Japanese Films - 158000184 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

Available to year 3 students only

Please note that prerequisites or course convener approval may be required for some of these courses. Please see Teaching & Learning tab

• Ethnography of a Selected Region - Japan - 151802045 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Economic development of Japan since 1868 - 153400013 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Extended Essay (Japanese Language and Culture) 2 - 155900854 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1

The following courses require advanced language proficiency

'Memory and Militarism on Japanese TV' can only be taken in year 3.

• Memory and Militarism on Japanese TV - 155901378 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• Readings in Modern Japanese Literature - 155901273 (1 Unit) - Full Year
• JIV(B)i Readings in Japanese History - 155900881 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• JIV(B)ii Readings in Japanese Intellectual History - 155900882 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Readings in Pre-Modern Japanese Literature - 155901284 (1 Unit) - Full Year

The following courses are available as options only to ‘BA Japanese studies & Linguistics’ students

The courses 'Introduction to the Study of Language Learning I & II' can only be taken in year 2.

• Issues in the Study of Language Learning 1 - 155901197 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• Issues in the Study of Language Learning 2 - 155901198 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2
• The Structure of Japanese 1 - 155900747 (0.5 Unit) - Term 1
• The Structure of Japanese 2 - 155900748 (0.5 Unit) - Term 2 - Not Running 2012/2013

Programme Specification

• BA Japanese and ... Programme Specifications 2012/13 (pdf; 37kb)

Teaching & Learning

Teaching & Learning

NB: The following courses can be taken as options in the 3rd year subject to prerequisites.

• Ethnography of Japan: the prerequisite for this course is “Introduction to Social Anthropology” (Anthropology & Sociology Dept), which students can take as an option in year 2. See the Anthropology & Sociology Departments’s website for options required in the joint degree.

• Economic Development of Modern Japan since 1868: prerequisites are either; Intermediate Economic Analysis or Economics of Developing Countries I (to be taken in year 2). See the Economics’ department website for options required in joint degrees.

• Music of East Asia: the prerequisites are; GCSE Music or Grade 5, or clear evidence of performance skills

Destinations

As a student specialising in the languages and cultures of Japan, you will gain competency in language skills and intercultural awareness and understanding. Familiarity with the region will have been developed through a combination of the study of language, literature and culture (which can include literature, film, music, art and religion) of various parts of Japan. 

Graduates leave SOAS not only with linguistic and cultural expertise, but also with a portfolio of widely transferable skills which employers seek in many professional and management careers in both business and the public sector. These include written and oral communication skills, attention to detail, analytical and problem-solving skills, and the ability to research, amass and order information from a variety of sources.

Choosing to study a joint degree programme will increase the breadth of your knowledge, and will develop additional skills with which to further your studies of Japan, or to make comparative study with other areas. Japanese Studies may be combined with a huge range of other disciplines. For more information on the extra skills you will gain from your second subject, please see the relevant departmental page. 

For more information about Graduate Destinations from this department, please visit the Careers Service website.

How to apply

How to apply

• How to Apply
• UCAS website
• Funding options
• English language requirements
• Tuition Fees
• Admissions Contacts

Scholarships

For further information visit the Scholarships section