Asia is now a powerhouse of the global economy and promises to become even more important over the next century. People from around the globe will be needed to make connections in many fields relating to technology, language, and culture. Japan specifically continues to invest heavily in technological and cultural innovation, and career opportunities abound for qualified people with a working knowledge of its language.     

In addition to the major, the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures offers two minors, one in Japanese Language and the other in Japan Studies. Students of any major who intend to work overseas or in multicultural settings and firms within the United States will find these minors very useful. 

Cultural Exchange

Professor Kyung Hee Ha and her students in FLJ401 (Advanced Japanese) hosted a special cultural exchange class for 20 students visiting from Japan. The Japanese students were learning English, participating in the courses at NCSU and exploring the City of Raleigh and beyond in the month of August. We had a welcome introduction by NCSU students followed by fun discussions about cultural differences, campus life and career goals.

New as of Fall 2015: The Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures has added a new concentration to its major, specifically designed to allow students to major or double-major with a concentration in Japanese (or Chinese or Hindi/Urdu). Come and learn the language, culture and history of Japan and other regions of Asia, and prepare for a career and a lifetime of rewarding engagement.  

Basic requirements include four years of study in your chosen language, plus advanced courses in literature, history and related humanities studies, plus a senior capstone seminar. If you are already an NC State student, you can find more details by going to your Degree Audit in MyPack and choosing "What If?" under Humanities > Dept of Foreign Languages > Asian Language. 

Minor in Japanese Language

The objective of the Minor in Japanese Language is to enable students majoring in any field to acquire proficiency in the Japanese Language while at the same time understanding the culture and history of Japan.

The Minor in Japanese Language requires 15 hours of study at FLJ 201 or above. Study abroad credits are also accepted. Maximum of 6 hours can be brought in from prior programs.

For more details on this program and a complete list of class offerings, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Courses and Curricula Website.

To find out more on the Japanese Language Minor, please contact the Japan Section Coordinator Dr. John Mertz.

Minor in Japan Studies

The Japan Studies Minor provides students with an understanding of the language, culture and history of Japan and gives students a foundation on which to explore the future of this nation and its relations with others through out the world. Students of any major who intend to work overseas or in multicultural settings and firms within the United States will find this minor very useful.

Requirements for the Japan Studies Minor are: 

• 18 hours (6 courses) of course work.
• 6 hours (2 courses) hours of Japanese language instruction at or above the FLJ 201 level.
• Tested language competency of FLJ 202 or greater.
• A minimum grade of 'C' for all courses taken toward the completion of the minor
• A maximum of TWO (2) course may be used (double-counted) towards both departmental major requirements and minor requirements.
• No courses for the minor may be taken for S/U credit.

For more details on this program and a complete list of class offerings, please visit the Office of Undergraduate Courses and Curricula Website.

To find out more on the Japan Studies Minor, please contact the Japan Section Coordinator Dr. John Mertz.

Japan Club

The Japan Club’s Mission is:

• Promote knowledge of Japanese language, culture, and customs.
• Work with the North Carolina Japan Center to provide information about study abroad opportunities.
• Make students aware of resources and opportunities related to Japanese culture/language both on and off campus.
• Expose the university to Japanese culture.

For more information, please visit the Japan Club Website.

Nihongo Club

The Nihongo Club of NC State was founded by former FLJ 402 members as a means to continue learning the Japanese language beyond what is available through NC State-offered courses. Students at all levels of Japanese proficiency are invited to join us in our meetings and further their knowledge of Japanese while learning about Japanese customs and culture. We will adjust the content of our meetings so that people of any level of Japanese will be able to participate in our activities.

The Nihongo Club also reaches out to the local Japanese community by participating in the many of the cultural events taking place throughout the year.

For more information, please visit the Nihongo Club Website.

John Mertz
Section Coordinator, Japanese
Email: john_mertz@ncsu.edu
Office: 404 Withers Hall
Phone: 919-515-9297

Japanese Faculty Listing‌Asian Language Faculty Listing‌