Japanese
Department of Linguistics
College of Arts and Sciences
609 Baldy Hall
North Campus
Buffalo, NY 14260-1030
Phone: 716.645.2177
Fax: 716.645.3825
Web: http://linguistics.buffalo.edu/japanese/jpnhome
Karin Michelson
Chair
Mitsuaki Shimojo
Program Director
shimojo@buffalo.edu
About the Department
The University at Buffalo's Linguistics department offers a comprehensive program covering the major areas of linguistics: phonetics, phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and discourse/pragmatics. Our courses focus on the interface between language and cognition, language and society, empirically grounded linguistic theory, and both cross-linguistic studies and in-depth studies of individual languages other than English. The department resources include a Computational Linguistics Research laboratory, a Phonetics Laboratory, and a Linguistics Library.
In aulition to Japanese and the two other East Asian languages, the Linguistics department also houses the programs in German, Polish, and Russian, as well as the World Language Program. Through the latter, students may study a broad range of less frequently taught languages such as American Sign Language, Arabic, Danish, Modern Greek, Hindi, Irish, Thai, and Ukrainian.
Degrees Offered
Undergraduate: Minor
Special Major
For students who want to further their studies in East Asian languages, a special major in Chinese, Japanese, or Korean can be arranged in consultation with the Language Program director and Special Major Services (275 Park Hall). For more information, see the Special Major Program.
About Our Degrees
The Japanese curriculum provides a solid foundation for an understanding and appreciation of the rich culture of Japan. The curriculum of the Japanese program includes:
- Courses designed to develop competence in written and spoken Japanese through the advanced level, utilizing an innovative team-teaching approach for the first three years as well as advanced-level independent study options for the fourth-year Japanese
- Courses on Japanese culture, linguistics (taught in English), and on the teaching of Japanese as a foreign language (taught in Japanese)
The Department of Linguistics also offers minors in Chinese and Korean. The curricula for these languages provide a solid foundation for an understanding and appreciation of the rich and diverse culture of these areas.
Acceptance Information
Minimum GPA of 2.0 in prerequisite and required courses.
Application should be made when the student has completed the prerequisite courses, or during the semester in which they will be completed.
Degree Requirements
See the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Courses
For course descriptions, please see the Undergraduate Catalog.
About Our Faculty
Dr. Mitsuaki Shimojo’s research centers on the function of syntax in discourse, with a focus on Japanese syntax.
Special Academic Opportunities
Study Abroad
Programs for study abroad are available for those who pursue studies in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Study abroad is encouraged particularly for majors and minors in these languages. For more information, see Study Abroad Programs.
Extracurricular Activities
See the UB Student Association.
Complementary Programs and Courses
Many students opt to combine a minor in Chinese, Japanese, and Korean with a major in Asian studies, the social sciences, engineering, the humanities, business administration, geography, and the interdisciplinary social sciences program in international studies.
Advising Information
Students with advanced Japanese proficiency should consult with the program advisor to arrange an appropriate program.
Career Information
The language and culture courses offered are useful to students who aspire to an East Asia–related academic or professional career in education, government, communications, business and other fields in the United States and abroad.
Links to Further Information About This Program
- Undergraduate Catalog
- Undergraduate Admissions
- Graduate Admissions
- Department of Linguistics
- College of Arts and Sciences