The philosophy of this program is grounded in the assumption that all students have the capacity and should have the right to learn a second language, including a scripted language – specifically in this instance, Japan. Second language learning is imperative in terms of globalisation, with high levels of proficiency in Asian languages being a pre-requisite for Australia to take an effective role in the Asia-Pacific region and in the wider world. In 2016, Japan remains, behind China and ahead of both South Korea and the United States, Australia’s second largest two-way trade partner. In other words, an understanding of Japan and the Japanese language remains crucially important to Australia’s successful trade relations. Knowledge of both the language and the society of Japan will have a positive impact on future student employment in the case of those students who seek to engage in commercial exchange with East Asia. The program aims to provide a full range of second language learning experiences for students, ranging from activities based on face-to-face teaching and conventional print materials through electronically supported language learning to in-country programs. Importantly, recognition is given to the necessity of providing students with opportunities for interaction with the language and speakers of the language outside the classroom and to equip students with the strategies necessary to use the language acquired in the UTAS learning environment in the natural socio-linguistic environment. The program has a number of entry levels although the substantive major provides a language/sociocultural learning experience that structures students through beginner, intermediate and early advanced levels of language/sociocultural knowledge acquisition. Through the promotion of in-Japan learning opportunities, the program also provides interested students with the opportunity for both short-term and long-term linguistic and sociocultural immersion experience that graduates high quality, work-place orientated graduates. In this way, the program draws on both issues of culture and creativity while overcoming the isolation that can be a factor of island learning to place students in the natural laboratory of the real-life Japanese social and language environment. Furthermore, rather than presenting exit as an end-point learning, the program seeks to encourage a consciousness of the value of life-long learning among students and of the benefits of collaborative learning. In doing so, the program creates a community of practice in which participants can share a passion for learning while building a skill set of values for the future work-orientated world. On the other hand, the nature of language learning results in the high level of individual agency required of learners who will achieve success in the future world. This agency is particularly developed during the outward bound in-Japan study programs that are a feature of the major during which time students are required to act with integrity and independence in order to achieve success and thrive. Learning Outcomes Graduates of the Bachelor of Arts (AQF Level 7) will be able to: Demonstrate a broad general knowledge from a range of humanities and social science disciplines and an in-depth knowledge in one or more of these disciplines Demonstrate analytic and technical skills to recognise and reflect on social, cultural, political, ethical, environmental issues in the local, cross-cultural and global contexts Review, analyse, and consolidate knowledge and skills in one or more of the humanities and social science disciplines to define and solve problems with intellectual independence