Bachelor of Arts - Japanese Studies

The Japanese Studies (JPS) program at DePaul engages students in Japanese language and culture to cultivate cultural, historical, linguistic, and ethical values while developing the skills to lead in business, arts, diplomacy, education, and digital media.

Japan is America’s most important Asian ally, the 3rd strongest economy in the world, the second-largest investor in the United States in business, and a global soft-power leader in digital media and popular consumer goods. At DePaul, students explore Japanese language and culture through an interdisciplinary approach. The faculty offer classes in literature, history, religion, art history, ethics, political science, business, anime, and film studies. Students learn transferable, marketable skills in the areas of advanced language study and translation, and hone their critical thinking and writing skills by studying Japanese culture and society with experts in the fields of Japanese ethical and environmental studies, gender studies, and visual and material culture.

JPS encourages opportunities outside the classroom to strengthen linguistic and cultural competency through quarter-long or full-year exchange programs to Osaka (Kansai Gaidai) and Kyoto (Ritsumeikan). Special DePaul faculty-led short-term programs are offered every year, such as Peace Studies in Hiroshima-Nagasaki, Diaspora and Politics in Okinawa, and Digital Media in Tokyo-Kyoto. 

On campus, JPS hosts numerous cultural and academic events, such as film screenings, Japanese language tables, and cultural showcases. Off campus, students benefit from the many Japan-related activities at local Japanese organizations (e.g., the Japanese Consulate General in Chicago, Japanese American Service Committee, Japanese Culture Center, Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Chicago), and at local museums and theaters (e.g., the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Gene Siskel Film Center).

The Japanese Studies curriculum allows students to take courses from many academic departments, including:

Japanese Studies students are encouraged to participate in one of DePaul's Study Abroad programs in Kyoto or Osaka, in order to grow linguistically and expand their understanding of the Japanese culture.​​