Foreign Languages
Expand your career options in any field by learning Japanese to meet the increasing demand for bilingual employees.
Foreign Languages, Japanese Concentration, B.S./B.A.
The Japanese concentration in the Bachelor of Sciences and Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Languages is offered through the College of Liberal Arts at MTSU.
The ability to speak and understand another language or languages opens countless doors and expands one's view of the world. Each of our concentrations offers multiple opportunities for immersive study abroad. As one of the world's top economies and exporters of cultural capital, Japan is an integral piece of our increasingly globalized world. Japan is widely recognized as one of the world's chief producers of automobiles, robotics, medical innovation, and a host of other products; it is also known for its unique cultural contributions, including animation, music, philosophy, literature, martial arts, and sport. Learning the Japanese language is the key to accessing Japan's rich cultural legacy.
MTSU's energetic faculty is dedicated to helping students learn Japanese, which in turn will allow them to fully participate in that legacy as well as to become engaged and responsible global citizens. MTSU is one of few universities in Tennessee that offers a degree in Japanese language, which is the gateway to engaging with one of the world's premier economies and dedicated trade partner of the United States.
As of October 2024, the economic relationship between Japan and Tennessee is exceptionally robust: Japan is the state's largest foreign direct investor. Japanese-owned establishments operating in Tennessee, such as Nissan, Bridgestone, Denso, and Mitsui, have a cumulative investment of over $20.5 billion and employ over 60,500 Tennesseans in fields such as automotive, electronics, and technology. As of July 2025, Japan globally maintains its status as the fourth-largest economy in the world, with deep trade connections to the United States. Students graduating with a degree in Japanese will find abundant and high-value opportunities for employment in Tennessee and beyond.
A major in Foreign Languages with a Japanese concentration consists of 40 semester hours (excluding 1010) and must include at least 20 hours of upper-division work.
🌸 Follow us on Instagram: @mtsu_japanese_program 🌸
News Briefs
MTSU leads Southeast in JET Program participation, showcasing global excellence, student success
MTSU proudly leads the Southeast with 40 participants over the last 10 years in the Japan Exchange and Teaching, or JET, program, a competitive opportunity that attracts over 5,000 global applicants and showcases the university's commitment to global engagement.[ Read More ]
MTSU alum serves in Youth Ambassador program at 2025 World Expo in Japan
Four weeks before earning a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in May, Monika Ilicic headed to Osaka, Japan, as a youth ambassador representing the United States at the 2025 World Expo.[ Read More ]
News Briefs
MTSU leads Southeast in JET Program participation, showcasing global excellence, student success
MTSU proudly leads the Southeast with 40 participants over the last 10 years in the Japan Exchange and Teaching, or JET, program, a competitive opportunity that attracts over 5,000 global applicants and showcases the university's commitment to global engagement.[ Read More ]
MTSU alum serves in Youth Ambassador program at 2025 World Expo in Japan
Four weeks before earning a bachelor’s degree from Middle Tennessee State University in May, Monika Ilicic headed to Osaka, Japan, as a youth ambassador representing the United States at the 2025 World Expo.[ Read More ]
Foreign Languages, Japanese Concentration, B.S./B.A.
A wide array of employment options await students with a major or minor in Japanese. Employers of MTSU students include Nissan, the Japanese and Exchange Teaching (JET) program, the Japanese consulate, and public schools, to name a few. Career opportunities for Japanese language majors are available in various sectors such as
- Engineering (automotive, electric)
- Government (State Department, FBI/CIA, United Nations)
- Higher education (higher education, JET program)
- Information technology (computer information systems, video games)
- International business
- Journalism
- Translation
MTSU’s Career Development Center
MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.
Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career.
Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called Handshake.
Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our What Can I Do with A Major In guides.
CONTACT US
