Japanese Studies Major - Bachelor of Arts
Combine learning about contemporary Japanese society and culture with courses from another area of interest to prepare yourself for a wide range of careers.
Japan is an exciting combination of high tech and peaceful contemplation. When you learn Japanese at AUT you’ll gain insight into the diversity of Japanese culture and build strong, transferable skills like intercultural competence. Social clubs where you can practise your skills will make your learning experience exciting and fun.
With this major you can pair learning contemporary Japanese with courses in a range of subjects, from social sciences and translation to business and international studies. It’s a great way to build your own unique skillset for your future career.
Talk to us about your study options
Thinking about studying at AUT? Book a time with us to discuss your study options.
This is part of the Bachelor of Arts.
Start date: 2022
- Download our Language and Culture programme guide [PDF, 3.1 MB]
Start date: 2023
- Download our Culture & Society programme guide [PDF, 5.2 MB]
You develop a sound understanding of Japanese throughout your degree, as well as effective communication, critical thinking and other transferable skills you'll need for your future career.
Apart from the courses below you also need to complete courses from your second major, your chosen minor(s) or electives.
Core courses
All Bachelor of Arts students need to complete core courses that help you develop transferable skills and support your work in all other courses in the degree.
Academic Communication
Choose one of:
- CLSY508 Pathways to Academic Success
- COMM570 Academic Communication: Conventions and Expectations
- COMM590 Learning in a Digital World
Culture and Society
Complete one course from each of the following clusters. Each cluster aligns with one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Choose one of:
- CHIN501 Introduction to Chinese I
- CHIN502 Introduction to Chinese II
- CHIN504 Write Chinese I
- CHIN511 Speak Chinese I
- CLSY502 Intercultural Competence
- ENGL500 Contemporary Language Studies
- ENGL501 Critical Media Studies
- ENGL502 Reading New Zealand
- ENGL503 A Pacific Reader
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- JAPA512 Write Japanese I
- KORE500 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture I
- KORE501 Introduction to Korean Language and Culture II
- MAOR500 Introduction to Conversational Māori
- MAOR501 Beginners Māori Language I
- MAOR502 Beginners Māori Language II
- NZSL502 Deaf Community and Culture I
- NZSL510 New Zealand Sign Language I
- NZSL520 New Zealand Sign Language II
- SPAN501 Spanish 1A
- SPAN502 Spanish 1B
- TIKA501 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience A
- TIKA502 Noho Mārae Wānanga Maori Learning Experience B
Choose one of:
- CLSY500 Culture and Society
- CRIM580 Criminology and Criminal Justice
- HIST500 Introduction to New Zealand History
- HIST501 The Holocaust: Its Causes, Character, and Legacy
- HIST503 Ka Whawhai Tonu Mātou: Struggle and Resistance in Aotearoa and South Africa
- PSYC580 Introduction to Psychology A
- SOSC582 Social Thinking
- SOSC583 Social Institutions
Knowledge and Inquiry
Choose one of:
Japanese Studies courses
Courses you could take over your three years of study include:
- CLSY502 Intercultural Competence
- JAPA511 Speak Japanese I
- JAPA512 Write Japanese I
- CLSY601 Intercultural Competence in a Global World
- JAPA605 Japanese Society and Culture
- JAPA610 Japanese Language in Practice I
- JAPA611 Speak Japanese II
- JAPA612 Write Japanese II
- JAPA613 Integrated Japanese
- CLSY701 East Asian Values and Beliefs
- JAPA710 Japanese Language in Practice II
- JAPA711 Japanese Written Interaction
- JAPA712 Japanese Oral Interaction
Workplace experience
Workplace experience (the Work Integrated Learning course) is the final part of your degree and takes a full semester. This is a supervised work placement related to your major(s), for an organisation of your choice.
Recent placements included:
- Tokyo Food Ltd
- NZ Japan Society of Auckland
- Auckland Girls’ Grammar
- Gekkan NZ
- AUT International House
Explore Japanese culture, values and society, as well as the essentials of Japanese language.
This major can be studied as part of a double major, and graduates can choose from a wide range of careers in New Zealand’s increasingly multicultural workplaces.
Find out more about industry trends, job descriptions and what employers may be looking for.
Other majors in the Bachelor of Arts
- Chinese Studies
- Conflict Resolution
- Creative Writing
- Criminology and Criminal Justice
- Culinary Arts
- Economics
- Education
- English and New Media Studies
- Event Management
- History
- International Studies
- Interpreting
- Māori Development
- Māori Media
- New Zealand Sign Language & Deaf Studies
- New Zealand Sign Language - English Interpreting
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
- Combine learning Japanese with other interests like business, tourism, social sciences, translation or interpreting
- Practise your skills in our weekly Japanese club Ocha no Jikan
- Workplace experience in your final year
- Intrigued by different cultures, particularly Japanese
- A conceptual thinker
- Analytical
- A communicator and team player
The information on this page was correct at time of publication. For a comprehensive overview of AUT qualifications, please refer to the Academic Calendar.