Bachelor of Arts - Japanese

The bachelor’s degree in Japanese at Portland State University (PSU) supports many interests, whether students want to perform Kabuki drama or just read their favorite manga.

Strikingly rendered and culturally complex, Japanese is one of the fastest-growing languages studied in the country. At PSU, the historically-steeped traditions of Japanese are taught alongside the contemporary international elements of the language, which boasts over 120 million native speakers and represents one of Asia’s key languages of trade and culture.

PSU's highly structured program for Japanese learning has been a decades-long leader in Japanese language education. PSU faculty, both native and non-native speakers, help prepare students to become wholly immersed in the language using the performed culture approach, which trains students how to express themselves in a way that native speakers feel appropriate in given situations.

PSU offers a distinctive array of cultural and linguistics classes, including courses on manga, Japanese literature from the earliest writings to contemporary novels and poetry, Japanese religion through literature and performance, and pop culture.

A bachelor’s degree in Japanese from Portland State will prepare students to enter into the world of Japanese culture and expand their career potential.