Japaense Studies Major Requirements

Lower-Division Requirement (0-30 units)

• 6 Lower-Division Japanese language courses (30 units or less)

       Lower division JAPN courses can be waived depending on the student's Japanese course placement.

Upper-Division Requirement (48 units)

• 6 Upper-Division Japanese language courses (24 units)

UD study abroad Japanese language courses may be used by petition. 

•  5 Upper-Division Non-Language Japanese courses (20 units)
  

Select all your UD non-language courses from our Course Offerings. 
They must be taken from two or more disciplines.
UD study abroad non-language courses about Japan may be used by petition. 

• JAPN 190: Japanese Studies Research Seminar (4 units)

[Useful Links]

• See Japanese Studies Major Checklist (Fillable PDF)
• Use UC San Diego Academic Planning Worksheet
• See UC San Diego Four Year Plan 
• See How Upper Division Courses May Overlap (TritonLink)

[Note]

• All upper-division courses must be taken for a letter grade.
• Only 1 course with a D grade may count towards the major requirements.
• Japanese Studies will allow our majors and minors to take their SP20, SU20, FA20, WI21, SP21, and WI22 courses for P/NP per the campus recommendation. (P/NP courses will be counted towards the 25% maximum) Students must earn at least a C- grade to earn a P; a change from a D grade to NP will result in loss of units.
• To change your current major to Japanese Studies, go to 'Specialization Request and Review App' in TSS (TBA).

Japanese Studies Directed Honors Thesis Program (JAPN 196A/B)

Students who qualify for honors take a two-quarter sequence Japanese Studies 196A/B of directed study during which they define a research project, carry out the research, and complete an honors thesis.

The completed honors thesis will be evaluated by a committee consisting of the student's thesis adviser and one other faculty member appointed by the Japanese Studies Program director.

All Honors students with a GPA in the major of:

• 3.5-3.79 will graduate with DISTINCTION
• 3.8-3.89 will graduate with HIGH DISTINCTION
• 3.9-4.00 will graduate with HIGHEST DISTINCTION

Requirements:

• Junior standing or higher
• A GPA of 3.5 or better in the major
• Overall GPA of 3.2 or better
• Completion of at least four upper-division non-language courses approved by the Program in Japanese Studies.
• Recommendation of a faculty sponsor familiar with the student's work.

How to Enroll:

1. Select a faculty member for your research project. It is generally advised that you seek a professor whose classes you have taken.
   
   
2. Before meeting with the professor, prepare a general idea of what topic or issue you would like to research. Many times, students expand on previous course papers/assignments.
   
   
3. Contact the professor via email and provide them with proof of meeting the GPA and unit requirements for JAPN 196A/B: Japanese Studies Honors Thesis Program. (Eligible students must have completed 90 units with at least a 3.2 Overall GPA and 3.5 Major GPA.)
   
   
4. Once the professor approves your proposal and accept your enrollment request, complete this JAPN196A/B Application Form and obtain a signature from the professor. 
   
   
5. Submit your application to the Japanese Studies Program via email (japan@ucsd.edu) for final approval.

Note: 

Applications are due 3 weeks prior to your requested JAPN 196A/B research commitment. The Director of the Japanese Studies Program will make the approval decision within 2 weeks from the receipt of the form, and the program coordinator will set up your JAPN 196A/B with the Registrar's Office.

How to declare double majors:

1. See this Double Major page for detailed information
   
   
2. Complete the required documents
   1. Fill out the Double Major Petition Form 
   2. Attach the below documents:
      1. Academic Planning Worksheet (quarter-by-quarter plan)
      2. A statement of purpose (We encourage you to clarify that you plan to complete both majors by the end of your scheduled graudation quarter.)
3. Submit the documents
   1. Submit your double major petition form and academic planning worksheet to the department advisors and obtain their approval signatures.
      For Japanese Studies, please email your documents to japan@ucsd.edu with your name, PID, and "Double Major Petition" in the subject line.
   2. Once you get approval signatures on your double major petition form and academic planning worksheet from both of your major departments, submit them to your college academic advising office for their approval.
4. Check the status of your double major petition in your degree audit
   
   

Useful links:

• How to Declare a Double Major 
• How Upper Division Course May Overlap
• UC San Diego Double Major Petition Form
• UC San Diego Academic Planning Worksheet