MA Japanese Studies and Intensive Language

Mode of Attendance: Full-time or part-time

This two-year full-time (or four-year part-time) programme is designed to provide intensive language training at different proficiency levels - depending on entry-level - within a Masters programme in Japanese Studies.

It allows students:

• to cultivate or further develop basic expertise in particular aspects of Japanese Studies.
• to choose modules that meet their own needs, with respect to their interest in Japan and future career plans.
• to develop their abilities to synthesize information, to think critically, to manage a complex research project and to present their results in verbal and written form.
• to achieve a high level of language proficiency.
• to master the transferable language and analytical skills in order to prepare for a variety of potential future professional or research careers.

May be combined with:

The following Intensive Language pathways are available with the MA Japanese Studies:

• Japanese
• Korean

Structure

Students must take 315 credits in total, comprised of 255 taught credits (45 of which are taught abroad as part of a Summer School) and a 60-credit dissertation as outlined below.

In their first year, students on the two-year Intensive Language programmes take 60 credits of intensive language instruction and 60 credits in the discipline. During the summer, they participate in a Summer School abroad. In the second year, they take another 30 language credits as well as 60 credits in the discipline; they also complete their dissertation in the discipline.

Please note that on all Area Studies degrees, including Japanese Studies:

• a maximum of 60 credits can be taken in any one subject area
• a minimum of three subject areas must be covered.

Year 1 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

• Connections and Intersections: Core Aspects of East Asian Studies

Plus

• Modules from the list below to the value of 45 credits.

Language Component

• Students take 60 credits in the selected language.

Summer Abroad

Students participate in a Summer School abroad for the selected language.

Year 2 (two years full time)

Discipline Component

• Modules from the list below to the value of 60 credits.

Language Component

• Students take 30 credits in the selected language.

Dissertation

• Dissertation in Japanese Studies

List of modules (subject to availability)

• Anthropology and Sociology
  • Culture and Society of Japan
• History of Art
  • Shogunal Iconography in the Edo Period
  • Popular Practice in the Edo Period Arts
• Economics
  Adequate background in Economics is a prerequisite for this module. Please contact the convenor for details.
  Available as a major only
  • Economic Development of Japan
• History
  • Modernity and Identity in Modern Japanese History 1868-1912
  • Nation and Empire in Modern Japanese History 1868-1945
• Language
  Available as a minor only
  • Chinese 1 A (PG)
  • Chinese 1 B (PG)
  • Chinese 2 (PG)
  • Chinese 3 (PG)
• Linguistics
  • Identity and social relations in Japanese (PG)
  • Issues in Japanese language learning
• Literature The modules below can be taken individually as a minor, however, should a student wish to take one of them as a major, both half modules have to be taken.
  • Modern Japanese Literature (PG)
  • Japanese Traditional Drama (PG)
  • Modernity and Identity in Modern Japanese History 1868-1912
  • Nation and Empire in Modern Japanese History 1868-1945
  • Reading Pre-modern Japanese Texts 1 (PG)
  • Reading Pre-modern Japanese Texts 2 (PG)
  • Self, City and Sexuality in Modern Japanese Literature 1868-1945 (PG)
  • Writing from the Margins: Minority Voices in Modern Japanese Literature, 1945 to the Present (PG)
  • Censoring Japan: A Socio-Cultural History of Japanese Television
  • Gender and Society in Contemporary Japan (PG)
  • Nation and Identity in Contemporary Japan (PG)
• Management
  The modules below can be taken individually as a minor, however, should a student wish to take one of them as a major, both half modules have to be taken.
  • Management in Japan I
  • Management in Japan II
• Media
  • Japanese Transnational Cinema: From Kurosawa to Asia Extreme and Studio Ghibli
  • Japanese Post-War Film Genres and the Avant-Garde
  • Censoring Japan: A Socio-Cultural History of Japanese Television
• Music
  Available as a minor only
  • Pop and Politics in East Asia (Masters)
  • Musical Traditions of East Asia (Masters)
• Politics
  • International politics of East Asia
  • Northeast Asian politics: Japan, Korea and Taiwan
  • Japan Unravelled
• Religions and Philosophies Available as a minor only
  • Religious Practice in Japan: Texts, Rituals and Believers
  • East Asian Buddhist Thought

Important notice

The information on the programme page reflects the intended programme structure against the given academic session.