Japanese

Why Study Japanese at the UO?

Japanese is the 9th most spoken language in the world with 128 million speakers. Japan also has the world’s third largest economy. Beyond the practical reasons for studying Japanese, you also grow your horizons by learning about more than 1000 years of literature and a fascinating culture.

At the University of Oregon, you’ll learn Japanese in friendly, activity-based, intensive classes designed to achieve high-level proficiency. You will learn the basics of Japanese culture, society, literature and linguistics from historical and contemporary perspectives.

Undergraduate Programs

Our program enables students to achieve proficiency in reading, writing, and speaking Japanese while acquiring a fundamental knowledge of the literature of the country.

Graduate Programs

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literature offers both MA and PhD programs in Japanese.

Japanese garden with pond

Travel and Study Around the World

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literature prepares students for the future of global citizenship and the workforce. Many of our students spend time traveling and living in another culture. We offer study abroad opportunities in Japan. The department offers several scholarships to help students pursue their studies.

What You Can Do with a Degree in Japanese?

Japanese majors have a wide variety of professional opportunities. Some of our graduates have gone on to teach English in Japan, become professional translators, worked in trade between US and Japanese companies, and found jobs in government and nonprofit agencies. Some graduates have also gone on to law school and other professional and graduate studies.

Old Japanese painting

Learn from Experts in Japanese

Our department is composed of faculty who are active in their interdisciplinary research as well as institutes and programs at the UO. They are passionate scholars who inform, inspire, and mentor students in building real-world skills.

Scholarships and Funding

The Department of East Asian Languages and Literature awards multiple scholarships to current undergraduate and graduate students. Learn more about available scholarships and eligibility requirements.

Undergraduate Scholarships 
Graduate Funding

Academic Support

Our academic advisors can help students talk through their major or minor requirements, plan their course of study, explore study abroad opportunities, and more.

Undergraduate Advising 
Support for Graduate Students

East Asian Languages and Literatures News and Events

EAST ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES - Godzilla rampaging through cities or grappling with other monsters is a hallmark of the Japanese monster film series. But there’s more to the reptilian creature than just mayhem. A new book edited by College of Arts and Sciences professor Rachel DiNitto explores Japanese cinema—including the Godzilla films—and environmentalism.
EAST ASIAN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES, ASIAN STUDIES - Fulbright Scholar and CAS Professor Alisa Freedman is chronicling the rise of women’s scholarship during a five-month trip to Vietnam, where she's helping women professors find their footing in the academic publishing world.
EAST ASIAN LANGUAGES & LITERATURES - Using language skills and cultural knowledge to tell stories that will make a difference are among the goals of a new program at the University of Oregon, which recently received funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

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Department of History Coffee Hour
Apr22
Department of History Coffee Hour Apr 22 McKenzie Hall
Public Screening and Director Talk: "Samurai in the Oregon Sky"
Apr22
Public Screening and Director Talk: "Samurai in the Oregon Sky" Apr 22 McKenzie Hall
Health Grad & Career Expo 2025
Apr23
Health Grad & Career Expo 2025 Apr 23 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
The Aesthetics of Interculturality in Contemporary German and African Literature
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The Aesthetics of Interculturality in Contemporary German and African Literature Apr 23 Knight Library
Dept. of History Presents: “Trump’s First 100 Days: Now and Then”
Apr23
Dept. of History Presents: “Trump’s First 100 Days: Now and Then” Apr 23 McKenzie Hall
Symposium: The Limits and Possibilities of Cross-border Latinidades & Indigeneities
Apr24
Symposium: The Limits and Possibilities of Cross-border Latinidades & Indigeneities Apr 24 Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA)
China Town Hall (UO): The First 100 Days - President Trump's China Policy
Apr24
China Town Hall (UO): The First 100 Days - President Trump's China Policy Apr 24 McKenzie Hall
Bob Bussel Labor History Lecture—Essential Workers: Public Employment and the Dignity of Labor
Apr24
Bob Bussel Labor History Lecture—Essential Workers: Public Employment and the Dignity of Labor Apr 24 William W. Knight Law Center
Take Back The Night
Apr24
Take Back The Night Apr 24 Erb Memorial Union (EMU)
Cinema Studies Presents: Screening of DÌDI (弟弟) and Q&A with Director Sean Wang
Apr24
Cinema Studies Presents: Screening of DÌDI (弟弟) and Q&A with Director Sean Wang Apr 24 Lawrence Hall

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