Looking for a good undergrad Japanese program.

College Search & Selection
1

<p>Hi. I'm a high school junior. I've been studying Japanese for 5-6 years in classes outside of school (not offered at mine) and with a tutor, and am currently doing freelance translation for an entertainment publication. I'm planning on studying abroad for a semester of my senior year, then graduating back in the states. I've also studied the language in Tokyo for a month 2 years ago. </p>

<p>I'm looking for a school that has a good Japanese program for undergraduates, preferably one with a literature component. I've visited two schools, SUNY Albany and UMass Amherst. I spoke with professors at both schools. SUNY Albany said I could start at least the 300 level (300 is last required, 400 optional), and Umass Amherst said I could at least skip all the prerequisite courses (24 credits) at this point in time.</p>

<p>So far the only school that seems like they have a rich program is UMass Amherst, and getting into that school wouldn't be a problem. The other one is Columbia, and although my credentials may seem impressive, so do thousands of other applicants. I'm a "racial minority" (hispanic/latino lol), but I'm not sure this would help enough..</p>

<p>So, besides Umass Amherst, any ideas of good programs? Doesn't matter where it is really, just looking for a school with a deep program. Thanks.</p>

2

<p>Earlham College has a VERY rich Japanese program.</p>

<p>Japanese Studies:
[Japanese</a> Studies At Earlham College](<a href=“http://www.earlham.edu/~jpnstudies/index2.html]Japanese”>http://www.earlham.edu/~jpnstudies/index2.html)</p>

<p>Japanese Language and Linguistics:
[Japanese</a> Language](<a href=“http://www.earlham.edu/~japn/]Japanese”>http://www.earlham.edu/~japn/)</p>

3

<p>Look at Claremont-McKenna, in southern California</p>

4

<p>Cornell University offers both Japanese language study and an Asian Studies major.</p>

<p>[The</a> Japanese Language at Cornell - Department of Asian Studies](<a href=“http://www.lrc.cornell.edu/asian/courses/japanese?d=basic]The”>http://www.lrc.cornell.edu/asian/courses/japanese?d=basic)</p>

<p>[Undergraduate</a> Programs - Department of Asian Studies](<a href=“http://www.lrc.cornell.edu/asian/undergrad/]Undergraduate”>http://www.lrc.cornell.edu/asian/undergrad/)</p>

5

<p>The University of Washington also has a good program:
[Degree</a> Programs in Japanese - Asian Languages & Literature at the University of Washington](<a href=“http://depts.washington.edu/asianll/lang_degs/prog_japanese.html]Degree”>http://depts.washington.edu/asianll/lang_degs/prog_japanese.html)</p>

6

<p>Also look at Michigan and Ct College.</p>

7

<p>The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor has an excellent Japanese Language and Studies program.</p>

<p>[Asian</a> Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/asian/language/japanese/]Asian”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/asian/language/japanese/)</p>

<p>[Asian</a> Languages and Cultures, University of Michigan](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/asian/undergrad/courses/]Asian”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/asian/undergrad/courses/)</p>

<p>And Michigan has several excellent study abroad programs in Japan:</p>

<p>[The</a> Office of International Programs](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_hikone-shiga.html]The”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_hikone-shiga.html)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_***uoka.html[/url]”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_***uoka.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>[The</a> Office of International Programs](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_kyoto.html]The”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_kyoto.html)</p>

<p>[The</a> Office of International Programs](<a href=“http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_tokyo.html]The”>http://www.lsa.umich.edu/oip/Programs/Flyers/japan_tokyo.html)</p>

8

<p>Here’s what the Gourman report has on Japanese:</p>

<p>Columbia University
Cornell University
Harvard University
University of California-Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>

<p>Berkeley has always had a very well-respected Japanese program. The long-anticipated East Asian Library just opened, in fact.</p>

<p>[03.14.2008</a> - C.V. Starr East Asian Library to open March 17](<a href=“http://www.berkeley.edu/news/media/releases/2008/03/14_cvstarr.shtml]03.14.2008”>03.14.2008 - C.V. Starr East Asian Library to open March 17)</p>

<p>Some features:</p>

<p>

</p>

9

<p>Other universities with excellent JApanese Programs:</p>

<p>Columbia University
Cornell University
Stanford University
University of California-Berkeley
University of Chicago
University of Pennsylvania
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin-Madison</p>

10

<p>Thanks for the suggestions guys, unfortunately most of the schools with the best programs are also the most elite, and hardest to get into. There’s no way I could get into Stanford or UC Berk..Harvard or Cornell.. And Columbia is quite a stretch, even with me harassing all the professors and admissions people there.. Shame.</p>

11

<p>If you think you have a chance at Columbia, you have a chance at Cornell.</p>

12

<p>You still have a bunch of very good programs, like Chicago, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin.</p>