March 23-24, 2000
ITEM 106-2006-R0300��
Authorization to Offer a Non-teaching Undergraduate Minor in Japan
Studies; Montana State UniversityBBozeman
THAT:�� The Board of Regents of
Higher Education authorizes Montana State UniversityBBozeman to award an
undergraduate non-teaching minor in Japan Studies to students who complete the
required curriculum which encompasses a core component of elementary Japanese
language, in combination with Japanese history, literature, other Japan-related
courses approved by the Director of Japan Studies, and a capstone seminar
experience which functions in symphony with the students' major.
EXPLANATION:��
In
requesting authorization to offer this minor, Montana State UniversityBBozeman recognizes that
increased student interest in Japan, new tenure-track faculty hires in the
field, and the necessity of keeping with the spirit of this land-grant
institution by meeting the challenges of the changing economic and cultural
outlook of the state, requires offering intensive academic study of Japanese
language, Japan-related courses, and importantly, providing the institutional
legitimacy and curricular cohesion in the form of a non-teaching minor to
fashion this academic regimen into a rational field of study that will
strengthen existing majors on campus and enrich the lives of graduates.
Montana State UniversityBBozeman has exchange
programs with Kumamoto Gakuen University, Kumamoto Prefectural University,
Kumamoto University, and Kansai Gaidai University.� These meaningful exchange programs allow students to experience
Japan and the Japanese first hand, and should be considered as resources in
support of this program.� These
resources also include visiting faculty from Kumamoto Gakuen University.�
The
Japan Studies non-teaching minor requires students to complete eight credits of
Elementary Japanese (or the equivalent), twelve credits of courses approved by
the Director of Japan Studies (to date these courses are offered by the
Department of History and Philosophy and Modern Languages), and a three credit
"capstone" experience where students integrate and consolidate the
Japan Studies minor with their major area of study.� Establishing a Japan Studies non-teaching minor at Montana State
UniversityBBozeman would prove a great
asset for the people of Montana.� There
is a growing interest in Japan among Montanans, and as the regional economy
becomes more tightly linked to the Pacific Rim, students are expressing a
desire to explore their potential role in this emerging Pacific-dominated
political and economic arena.�