Language and International Trade - Japanese [BA]

Location(s): In-person/hybrid

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Approximately 500 Japanese American countries operate in Michigan. These companies need workers with distinct professional language skills and in-depth knowledge of transcultural competences. EMU’s Bachelor of Arts in Language and International Trade - Japanese (LIT) is designed to integrate the study of modern Japanese language and culture with a business minor. One semester of study abroad in Japan is required.

Learn

EMU’s Japanese and International Trade (LIT) major program provides the skills and knowledge needed to function in a global professional environment. Students in the program learn to communicate and negotiate in a multicultural environment. Students select a business minor and take business courses concurrently. In addition, the program requires learning experiences abroad such as inernational internships with the Japan Center for Michigan University in Shiga, Japan, and optional local internships with Michigan companies.

Opportunities

Alumni with a degree in Japanese and International Trade (LIT) work in varied roles in sales, administration, and accounting in companies like the Japanese American Automotive industry, Japanese American Logistics industry and American companies that do business with international companies.

Department Information

World Languages 219 Alexander, 734.487.0130

Jeff Popko, PhD, Department Head

Advisor Information

Hitomi Oketani, PhD, 219 Alexander, 734.487.0130

General Education Requirements:

For specific requirements, see General Education or view the General Education Worksheet [PDF] .

Major Requirements: 39-42 hours

The major in language and international trade is designed to integrate the study of modern foreign languages and cultures with preparation in the field of international business.

Required Business Courses: 6 hours

MKTG 460 Global Marketing 3 hrs
Choose one course from the following:
ECON 370 Comparative Economic Systems 3 hrs
ECON 480W International Trade [GEWI] 3 hrs

Language Courses: 21 hours

Depending on initial placement, students may need to take up to 16 additional credit hours of 100- and 200-level classes in the language before they can begin courses required in the major.

JPNE 343W Japanese Composition [GEWI] 3 hrs
JPNE 344L5 Japanese Conversation [GELB] 3 hrs
JPNE 361L5 Japanese for International Trade [GELB] 3 hrs
JPNE 446L5 Business Japanese I [GELB] 3 hrs
JPNE 447L5 Business Japanese II [GELB] 3 hrs
Students are required to complete two additional “JPNE” course at the 300-level or above. At least one course must be at the 400-level or above. 6 hrs

Area Studies: 9 hours

Political Science Requirement: 3 hours

Choose one course from the following.
PLSC 211 Introduction to Comparative Government [GEGA] 3 hrs
PLSC 212 Introduction to International Politics [GEKS] 3 hrs
PLSC 341 International Law 3 hrs
PLSC 342 International Organizations 3 hrs
PLSC 354 Canadian Politics 3 hrs
PLSC 367 Latin American Politics 3 hrs
PLSC 412W Comparative Legal Systems [GEWI] 3 hrs
Geography, History, and/or World Language Requirement: 6 hours

Satisfy one of the following three options.
Option I - Geography & History
- One 300/400 level GEOG course of the geography of Japan 3 hrs
- One 300/400 level HIST course of the history of Japan 3 hrs
Option II - Geography & Foreign Language
- One 300/400 level GEOG course of the geography of Japan 3 hrs
- One additional 300/400 level JPNE course 3 hrs
Option III - History & Foreign Language
- One 300/400 level HIST course of the history of Japan 3 hrs
- One additional 300/400 level JPNE course 3 hrs

Field Experience: 3-6 hours

In consultation with your advisor, choose one course from the following:
FLAN 387L4 Cooperative Education in Foreign Language [GELB] 3 hrs
FLAN 487L4 Cooperative Education in Foreign Language [GELB] 3 hrs
FLAN 489L4 Internship in Language and International Trade [GELB] 3 hrs
JPNE 490L5 Intensive Japanese Abroad [GELB] 6 hrs

Minor Requirement:

This major requires a minor. A student must complete the requirements for a minor in an operational area of business of their choosing. These areas include economics , marketing , management , accounting , finance , computer information systems , and general business . See faculty advisor for other options.

Program Total:

Students must earn a minimum total of 120 credits at the 100-level or above.

Critical Graduation Information

Each undergraduate student will be responsible for fulfilling the requirements (or their equivalents) of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration at a college or university or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

In the event an undergraduate student does not complete the degree requirements within seven years of the date of their original registration at a college or university, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their major/minor in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

Minimum requirements for all bachelor’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University

Some majors and minors require more than the minimum in one or more of the areas below; students are urged to consult this catalog for the requirements of their particular programs.

Earn a minimum total of 120 credit hours at the 100-level and above.
- Courses numbered below 100 are not counted toward this degree requirement.
- At most, eight credit hours of physical education (PEGN) activity courses are counted toward this requirement.
Meet the requirements of the General Education program (see information below), including completing a Writing Intensive (GEWI) course in the student’s major.
Earn a minimum of 60 credits from a four-year college or university; courses taken at community colleges cannot be used to meet this requirement (Some formal program-to-program articulation agreements modify this requirement. See specific agreements for details).
Earn a minimum of 30 credits from courses taken at EMU.
Complete 10 of the last 30 hours for the degree from courses taken at EMU.
Have a minimum of 30 unique credit hours in their major and 20 unique credit hours in their minor for a total of at least 50 unique credit hours between them. Some majors that require 50 or more hours themselves do not require a minor. A double major automatically satisfies the need for a minor unless one of the two majors requires a specific minor. Students should check the requirements of the selected major in the undergraduate catalog to see if a minor is required.
Earn no more than 60 credit hours in one subject area (prefix). Credits over the 60 maximum will not be counted toward the minimum of 120 credits required for a bachelor’s degree.
Earn the minimum number of credits in 300-level and above courses in each major and minor as specified below - these credits must be earned in distinct courses; that is, no course can be used to fulfill this requirement in more than one major or minor.
- Earn a minimum of 6 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each minor
- Earn a minimum of 9 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that requires a minor.
- Earn a minimum of 15 credits in 300-level or higher courses at EMU in each major that does not require a minor
Transfer credit will be awarded for courses taken at colleges and universities that are accredited by one of the recognized regional accrediting bodies only if the courses are college-level (equated to 100-level or above at EMU) and the student earned a “C” (or 2.0 on a 4 point scale) or better. Transfer credit may be awarded on a case-by-case basis for college-level courses in which a “C” (2.0) or better was earned at institutions outside the U.S. or at non-accredited U.S. institutions; individual departments/schools conduct the internal review of such courses within EMU, and additional documentation may be required. Please note: EMU awards only credit for transferred courses; grades are not used to calculate an EMU GPA.
Earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 in courses taken at EMU to graduate. In addition, a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 must be reached in each major and minor. Only courses a student takes at EMU and those applied to their major or minor are used to calculate their major and minor cumulative GPAs. (Note: some programs may require a higher GPA - check with your program advisor.)

General Education Requirements - EMU’s General Education Program requires students to choose from a menu of approved courses in several different areas; do not assume that other courses in the same department or similar names will fulfill these requirements. A detailed description of General Education requirements is available in the General Education section of the catalog.

Students who transferred to EMU may have modified general education requirements based on Michigan Transfer Agreement (MTA) or articulation agreements; consult your academic advisor for additional information.