For undergraduates in the department, the B.A. degree in East Asian Languages and cultures is available, with one these concentrations:
The concentrations each require a minimum of 31 credit hours of junior/senior-level courses (courses listed as 300 or above). *Please note that first and second year language courses do not count toward the major, and third year Japanese consists of JPN 504 and JPN 306 in the first semester, JPN 508 and JPN 310 in the second semester
Prospective majors should begin their language study as soon as possible. Because students are expected to have a broad humanistic background in the East Asia area, they should confer with a department undergraduate advisor early to structure a program to satisfy this requirement.
The language sequence you should take is as follows:
After this sequence, you have satisfied the minimum Chinese language requirements for the EALC major called "East Asian Studies." An additional 6 credits of Chinese language study is required for the EALC major called "Chinese Language and Literature": Chin 562 (Modern Chinese Literature I) and Chin 542 (Classical Chinese I).
These courses are offered every year (with some exception in Chin 562 and 542). Chin 102-106, Beginning Chinese, are offered in the summer, and cover somewhat less than 104-108. Students who do B or above in 102-106 should be ready for Chin 204 but may have to do extra work on their own to catch up.
If you have learned Chinese elsewhere, you should take a placement test. See a member of the Chinese teaching faculty. There is no fee for this test and it may be taken at any time of the year. Please do not enroll in a lower level of language study than you really need. If you feel insecure about your placement level, there are ways to refresh forgotten skills. Please consult the textbooks for Elementary and Intermediate Chinese or access the audio material for these texts through www.ku.edu/~egarc.
Chinese courses other than those mentioned above are used to transfer credit from study abroad programs or in other special cases. Directed Readings courses are designed for students who have exhausted all relevant, regular course offerings in a particular subject area and have a project to propose for independent study. A Directed Readings course is one in which a faculty member supervises a student's independent study project.
The language sequence you should take is as follows:
Jpn 306 and Jpn 504 may be taken simultaneously or sequentially. Likewise, Jpn 310 and Jpn 508 may be taken together or separately. These 30 credits of Japanese language study, or their equivalent, is the minimum Japanese language requirement for the EALC major called "East Asian Studies."
An additional 3 credits of Japanese language study, Jpn 562 (Modern Japanese Texts I) is required for the EALC major called "Japanese Language and Literature." Jpn 564 (Modern Japanese Texts II, 3 credits) can be counted toward the Japanese Language and Literature major.
All the Japanese language courses mentioned above are offered every year. Jpn 104 and Jpn108 are also regularly offered in the summer semesters on the Lawrence campus.
If you have studied a considerable amount Japanese in high school (two or three years) or on your own, you should take a placement test. Contact Dr. Sanae Eda at seda @ku.edu to arrange to take the online Japanese placement test. There is no fee for this test and it may be taken at any time of the year. Please do not enroll in a lower level of language study than you really need. If you feel insecure about your placement level, there are ways to refresh forgotten skills. Any KU student can consult the textbooks for Elementary and Intermediate Japanese (Nakama, volumes One and Two and the accompanying Workbook/Laboratory Manuals) by checking them out from the reserve desk in Watson library. (There is a two-hour time limit.) Likewise, any KU student can access the audio material that forms the basis for the exercises in the Laboratory Manuals through www.ku.edu/~egarc.
If you have studied Japanese in high school, you may be eligible to earn retroactive credit. Japanese courses listed below other than those mentioned above are used to transfer credits from study abroad programs or in other special cases. Directed Readings courses are designed for students who have exhausted all relevant, regular course offerings in a particular subject area and have a project to propose for independent study. A Directed Readings course is one in which a faculty member supervises a student's independent study project.
Students who take Jpn 100 (Moderated Beginning Japanese, 3 credits) as part of the Summer Study Program in Hiratsuka, are eligible to enroll in Jpn 101 (3 credits) in the subsequent fall semester. Jpn 101 students will attend classroom sessions together with students in Jpn 104.
To qualify for retroactive credit, a student's initial university-level enrollment must be at the University of Kansas. The student must earn a grade of C or better in that KU course.
Students should consult the department regarding placement before classes start. An on-line placement test or interview may be recommended. Placement will vary according to the degree of rigor of your high school program.
If a student enrolls in a course below their assumed level of competency (unless that have specifically received permission from their undergraduate major advisor for such enrollment), they will lose their eligibility for retroactive credit.
There are two ways to minor in EALC:
Students minoring in EALC must see an advisor each semester for other specific requirements for these concentrations.