Academic Year Program
Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
Hirakata is located midway between Osaka, Japan's second largest industrial metropolis, and Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. Hirakata is located in the cultural heart of Japan and students will have ready access to prestigious museums, temples, shrines, hot springs, shops, and cinemas. Japan has an excellent system of transportation and a nationwide youth hostel network.
Kansai Gaidai University
Kansai Gaidai University was established in 1945 as a private institution in post-World War II Japan. The University has four faculties as well as a language and cultural studies program and an Asian Studies Program. The Asian Studies Program has been designed for international students to gain firsthand knowledge of and exposure to Japan and East Asia. The program provides students from abroad with an ideal opportunity to study and obtain a practical knowledge of the culture, language, business structures, political institutions, arts, literature and history of Japan. In addition, some courses in the Asian Studies Program are supplemented by field trips to cultural sites.
Study abroad students have access to library, language, gymnasium and computer facilities. Students at Kansai Gaidai University may participate in both athletic and cultural clubs. The University offers tennis, basketball, and body-building, along with traditional Japanese sports. Cultural activities include calligraphy, Japanese harp (koto), flower arrangement, and tea ceremony clubs. Students also have the option of participating in the Japanese Speaking Partner Program to help improve language skills.
The Center for International Education at Kansai Gaidai has more that ten staff members with study abroad experiences to assist PC students with practical aspects of living and studying in Japan.
Academic Program
Kansai Gaidai University offers PC students the opportunity to pursue an academic year of study in Japan. Previous study of Japanese, although helpful, is not required. In addition to the Japanese language program, students enroll in University courses in the areas of business, literature, social sciences, art and humanities. Courses are offered in the lecture format. Students will attend classes, submit papers, and take examinations along with the Japanese and other international students.
PC students enroll for the equivalent of 15 US credits per semester. Students must register for four or five courses. Academic advisors at the University will assist students with course selection and registration.
The academic year is divided into two semesters:
Eligibility
For this program, student must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Assessment of the student's ability to produce the appropriate scholarly work in the courses and a capacity for independent, self-directed study are important aspects of the application process for this program.
website: http://www.kansaigaidai.ac.jp/