Japanese Culture – (M.Sc.)

The degree aims to offer students who already have experience of formal Japanese language learning at advanced level the facility to develop skills in using Japanese source materials and secondary literature for research purposes; and to provide an extensive understanding of scholarship in Japanese Culture written in English for students who have academic interests in disciplinarily-based topics in the field but limited or no knowledge of Japanese language, or students who have native or near-native Japanese and wish to focus on expanding their knowledge of non-Japanese scholarship in Japanese Culture and Japanese Studies.

Learning Outcomes Students who follow the programme will:

* develop critical awareness of at least two specific areas of Japanese Studies, both in terms of the indigenous literary and/or critical traditions and in comparison with Western critical thinking
* acquire specialist knowledge of Japanese culture and awareness of the interaction of Japanese and other cultures in the contemporary context
* use the bibliographic, internet and other relevant resources to advanced level
* develop the ability to read and evaluate critically core texts in the specific areas studied

Those with previous experience in Japanese language learning will have the opportunity to develop the necessary linguistic skills to conduct research in defined areas within Japanese Studies by retrieving, selecting, translating and assimilating information from Japanese sources.