Skip to main content

Japanese

The Department of Asian & Middle Eastern Studies offers different Japanese classes in fall vs. spring. The classes available in fall 2024 are

  • JAPN 101, Elementary Japanese I
  • JAPN 203, Intermediate Japanese I
  • JAPN 305, Advanced Japanese I
  • JAPN 401, Gateway to Mastering Japanese
  • JAPN 412, Making Music in Japan

In spring 2025, the Japanese course offerings will be

  • JAPN 102, Elementary Japanese II
  • JAPN 204, Intermediate Japanese II
  • JAPN 306, Advanced Japanese II
  • JAPN 411, Food and Culture in Japan
  • JAPN 418, Service Learning in Japanese Language

For a complete listing of Japanese courses and course descriptions, consult http://catalog.unc.edu/courses/japn/.

If you’re a beginner (no previous knowledge of Japanese), register for any section of JAPN 101. Note that this class will not be offered in spring semester.

If you have prior knowledge of Japanese and want to take Japanese, you must take a placement test. This is true for everyone, regardless of how you learned Japanese (in high school, at home, etc.) and regardless of any test credit or transfer credit you may have. Please go to https://asianstudies.unc.edu/placement/ to sign up for the Japanese placement test.

On the same page is a self-assessment guide that you can use to estimate your probable placement. You are welcome to go ahead and enroll in the class that you think is right for you when you get to register for fall courses. If your placement doesn’t turn out to be what you predicted, the department will try to help you switch into the correct class. It’s also possible you’ll have to wait until spring to continue studying Japanese if you place into a class only offered in spring.

If you have trouble getting into the Japanese class you want, you’re encouraged to join the waitlist. You may also refer to the information and help in this registration FAQ: https://asianstudies.unc.edu/registration-faq/.