This is the first version of the 2025–26 General Catalog. Please check back regularly for changes. The final edition and the historical PDF will be published during the fall semester.
The undergraduate minor in Asian languages and literature is offered with two emphases: Chinese or Japanese. The minor requires 15–17 s.h. of credit, depending on the emphasis. Students must maintain a grade-point average of at least 2.00 in all courses for the minor and in all UI courses for the minor. Coursework in the minor may not be taken pass/nonpass.
Students may earn the Asian languages and literature major and minor if the minor emphasis language (Chinese or Japanese) differs from the major language track.
The minor requirements for each emphasis are listed below.
Chinese Emphasis
The minor in Asian languages and literature with Chinese emphasis requires 15 s.h., including 12 s.h. earned in courses considered advanced for the minor taken at the University of Iowa. Some of the courses below have prerequisites; students must complete all of a course's prerequisites before they may register for that course.
Students with the Chinese emphasis must complete the following coursework.
| Requirements | Hours |
|---|---|
| Prerequisite Chinese Language Courses | |
| Chinese Language Courses | 6 |
| Gateway Courses | 3 |
| Literature and Culture Courses | 3 |
| Linguistics and Advanced Language Studies Courses | 3 |
Prerequisite Chinese Language Courses
Students must successfully complete the prerequisite courses that follow or the equivalent before they enroll in required courses. These courses do not count as credit earned toward the minor.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All of these: | ||
| CHIN:1111 | First-Year Chinese: First Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:1112 | First-Year Chinese: Second Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:2101 | Second-Year Chinese: First Semester | 5 |
| CHIN:2102 | Second-Year Chinese: Second Semester | 5 |
Chinese Language Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| This sequence: | ||
| CHIN:3101 & CHIN:3102 | Third-Year Chinese: First Semester and Third Year Chinese: Second Semester | 6 |
Gateway Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CHIN:1504 | China Beyond Walls | 3 |
| CHIN:1702 | Chinese Popular Culture | 3 |
| CHIN:1800 | Chinese Calligraphy and Culture | 3 |
Literature and Culture Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CHIN:3201/TRNS:3202 | Workshop in Chinese Literary Translation | 3 |
| CHIN:3341 | Chinese Literature: Poetry | 3 |
| CHIN:4203 | Modern Chinese Writers | 3 |
| CHIN:4206 | Chinese Cinema | 3 |
Linguistics and Advanced Language Studies Courses, Chinese
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| One of these: | ||
| CHIN:3302/LING:3302/SLA:3302 | Introduction to Chinese Linguistics | 3 |
| CHIN:4101 | Classical Chinese: First Semester | 3 |
| CHIN:4150 | Advanced Reading and Writing in Chinese | 3 |
Japanese Emphasis
The minor in Asian languages and literature with Japanese emphasis requires 17 s.h., including 12 s.h. earned in courses considered advanced for the minor taken at the University of Iowa. Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP) credit may not be counted toward the Japanese emphasis.
Students must successfully complete the prerequisite courses that follow or the equivalent before they enroll in required courses. These courses do not count as credit earned toward the minor.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JPNS:1001 | First-Year Japanese: First Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:1002 | First-Year Japanese: Second Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:2001 | Second-Year Japanese: First Semester | 5 |
| JPNS:2002 | Second-Year Japanese: Second Semester | 5 |
The minor with Japanese emphasis must include the following courses.
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JPNS:3001 | Third-Year Japanese I | 4 |
| JPNS:3002 | Third-Year Japanese II | 4 |
| One course in literature and translation | 3 | |
| One course in linguistics and advanced language studies | 3 | |
| One course in literature and translation, or in linguistics and advanced language studies, or in cultural studies | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 17 | |
Students select courses in literature and translation, linguistics and advanced language studies, and cultural studies from the following course lists.
Literature and Translation Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JPNS:3201/TRNS:3201 | Workshop in Japanese Literary Translation (only 3 s.h. of JPNS:3201 may be applied to minor requirements) | 3 |
| JPNS:3202 | Traditional Japanese Literature in Translation | 3 |
| JPNS:3203 | Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation | 3 |
| JPNS:3204 | Topics in Japanese Literature in Translation | 1-3 |
| JPNS:3205 | Major Authors in Modern Japanese Literature | 3 |
| JPNS:3206 | Warriors' Dreams | 3 |
| JPNS:3207 | Japan Illuminated: Japanese Literature and Visual Culture | 3 |
| JPNS:3208 | Japanese Film | 3 |
| JPNS:3210 | Japanese Theater | 3 |
| JPNS:3601 | Contemporary Japanese Culture | 3 |
| JPNS:4201 | Genji Lab | 3 |
Linguistics and Advanced Language Studies Courses, Japanese
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JPNS:3107 | Classical Japanese: First Semester | 3 |
| JPNS:3128 | Introduction to Japanese Linguistics | 3 |
| JPNS:3401 | Language in Japanese Society | 3 |
| JPNS:3402 | Japan: Culture and Communication | 3 |
| JPNS:3500 | Japanese for Professional Purposes | 3 |
Cultural Studies Courses
| Course # | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Asian and Slavic Languages and Literatures | ||
| ASIA:1005 | Scripts and Trips: A Journey Through East Asia (when topic is focus on Japan) | 3 |
| JPNS:1506 | Ghostly Japan | 3 |
| Art History | ||
| JPNS:2250/ARTH:2250 | Introduction to the Art of Japan | 3 |
Sample Plan of Study
Sample plans represent one way to complete a program of study. Actual course selection and sequence will vary and should be discussed with an academic advisor. For additional sample plans, see MyUI.
Asian Languages and Literature, Minor
Chinese Emphasis
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| The minor in Asian languages with Chinese emphasis requires 15 s.h., including 12 s.h. earned in courses considered advanced for the minor taken at the University of Iowa. | ||
| Some of the courses have prerequisites; students must complete all of a course's prerequisites before they may register for that course. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHIN:1111 | First-Year Chinese: First Semester a, b | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHIN:1112 | First-Year Chinese: Second Semester a, b | 5 |
| CHIN:1702 |
Chinese Popular Culture or Chinese Calligraphy and Culture or China Beyond Walls |
3 |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHIN:2101 | Second-Year Chinese: First Semester a, b | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHIN:2102 | Second-Year Chinese: Second Semester a, b | 5 |
| Minor: linguistics and advanced studies course c | 3 | |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHIN:3101 | Third-Year Chinese: First Semester | 3 |
| Minor: literature and culture course c | 3 | |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHIN:3102 | Third Year Chinese: Second Semester | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 35 | |
- a
- Language level placement will be determined by placement exam score and/or oral interview. Students who place into the 5th semester level of the language will begin coursework at that level and will not be required to take semesters 1-4 of the language.
- b
- This course is a prerequisite for the required minor courses.
- c
- See General Catalog for list of approved courses.
Japanese Emphasis
| Academic Career | ||
|---|---|---|
| Any Semester | Hours | |
| The minor in Asian languages with Japanese emphasis requires 17 s.h., including 12 s.h. earned in courses considered advanced for the minor taken at the University of Iowa. | ||
| Furthering Language Incentive Program (FLIP) credit may not be counted toward the Japanese emphasis. | ||
| Some of the courses have prerequisites; students must complete all of a course's prerequisites before they may register for that course. | ||
| Hours | 0 | |
| First Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| JPNS:1001 | First-Year Japanese: First Semester a, b | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| JPNS:1002 | First-Year Japanese: Second Semester a, b | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| JPNS:2001 | Second-Year Japanese: First Semester a, b | 5 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Spring | ||
| JPNS:2002 | Second-Year Japanese: Second Semester a, b | 5 |
| Minor: literature and translation, linguistics and advanced language studies, or cultural studies course c | 3 | |
| Hours | 8 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| JPNS:3001 | Third-Year Japanese I | 4 |
| Minor: literature and translation course c | 3 | |
| Hours | 7 | |
| Spring | ||
| JPNS:3002 | Third-Year Japanese II | 4 |
| Hours | 4 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall | ||
| Minor: linguistics and advanced language studies course c | 3 | |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 37 | |
- a
- Language level placement will be determined by placement exam score and/or oral interview. Students who place into the 5th semester level of the language will begin coursework at that level and will not be required to take semesters 1-4 of the language.
- b
- This course is a prerequisite for the required minor courses.
- c
- See General Catalog for list of approved courses.