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Master of Arts in Japanese Language and Culture

Japanese student and teacher.

To become an effective teacher of Japanese, you need to know pedagogical theory—and be able to apply it.

Curriculum

Students in the Master of Arts in Japanese Language and Culture must successfully complete an initial 6-week graduate summer session on the Vermont campus before establishing their candidacy for the master’s degree. The master’s degree requires successful completion of 12 course units. Middlebury awards one unit of graduate credit (equivalent to three semester hours) for each graduate course.

Degree Requirements

Students enrolled in the School of Japanese master’s degree must successfully complete 12 course units including the following:

  • Language Acquisition Theory
  • Japanese Linguistics
  • Pedagogical Technology
  • Practicum

The normal course load is 3 course units per semester. Most students complete their graduate degree in one full calendar year plus one summer. All students enrolled in the master’s program have ten years to complete the degree. See important academic-year policies.

First Semester (Middlebury)

3 course units (9 credits)

6/wks Summer

Second Semester (Online)

3 course units (9 credits)

15/wks

Third Semester (Online)

3 course units (9 credits)

15/wks

Fourth (final) Semester (Middlebury)

3 course units (9 credits)

6/wks Summer

Eligibility

Application

The application deadlines are February 1 (priority deadline) and April 15 (final deadline). In addition to the graduate application requirements, applicants must complete the master’s program application requirements and graduate faculty.

Career Outcomes

Students who earn a master’s degree in Japanese pursue rewarding careers teaching Japanese at community colleges, for international business corporations, at private K-12 institutions and charter schools. For those who seek K-12 certification at public schools, additional courses may be required.

Funding

Thanks to the support of generous donors including Language Schools alumni, and Middlebury’s commitment to provide an opportunity for as many students as possible, we are pleased to offer need-based financial aid and merit-based fellowships and scholarships. 

Thanks to the generous donation from Mayumi and Masao Oka, we have established Tobira scholarship. Thanks also to the Japan Foundation for a grant to start the program in 2021. Please see more details on Master of Arts in Japanese Language and Culture fees and funding.

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