The requirements for prior Japanese knowledge vary by program. Contact your program coordinator, your advisor at OIE, and/or your advisor in Japanese for details. However, most programs require two years of Japanese or the equivalent before going abroad (equivalent to finishing JAPN 2003). It is also required for many programs that students have their common curriculum language requirement completed before studying abroad.
It is HIGHLY recommended that you plan on completing JAPN 2003 at a minimum before going abroad. Even for the few programs that may not require this level, entering with this background guarantees that you will be able to take full advantage of your immersive experience.