Japan

This course introduces learners to various socio-cultural issues and debates impacting schools, universities, and education systems in Asia-Pacific societies. Using case studies, the course aims to provide:

- Debate and discussion of the cultural and philosophical ideas that have shaped education in East Asia.
- An exploration of debates about the purposes of formal schooling, and the role of shadow education (cram schools/private tutoring) in various Asia-Pacific contexts.
- Consideration of how education is used as a political tool to shape national identities through moral, civic, and history curricula.
- An exploration of the tensions between nationalism, internationalization of education and globalization in Asia-Pacific contexts.
- Comparison of cultural approaches to early childhood education in Eastern and Western cultures.
- Observation of the developments in higher education in the region, including participation rates, rising research outputs, regional collaboration, and the possibilities for study abroad to contribute to peace and stability among East Asian countries.
- Consideration of issues of diversity and inclusion with regard to ethnic, gender and sexual minorities in Asia-Pacific contexts.

The aim of this course is to help the students acquire an understanding of the materials and common practice of European music. It provides knowledge of music theory and the physics of sound, including notation, tonality, modalities, scales, rhythms, intervals, triads and various musical terms.  Music is like a language, so students are expected to practice it repeatedly to master its rules. By doing so, students will be able to make the basis for more advanced learning, such as chords practice, music analysis and arrangement. This course also examines European thought and science related to the principles of music theory.

Inviting leading poets, novelists, and other guests who have contributed to the literary magazine Mita Bungaku, participants will learn how to create literary works in a workshop format. Poet Hiroyuki Kasai, novelist Anna Ogino, and critic writer Maiko Kodaira will be featured guest speakers. This course welcomes future writers as well as those interested in literary creation. The class is considering applying for newcomer awards and submitting to literary magazines. The order of the workshops may differ from the schedule listed, depending on the interval between creative submissions and instructor discretion.

This course is for students with at least one year of prior study of Japanese. The goal of this course is for students to acquire well-balanced basic proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and to develop an understanding and command of basic grammar and its usage. Students practice listening comprehension and pronunciation using videotapes and CDs. They learn conversational expressions and phrases necessary in daily life, fundamentals of written expression, and how to read and write short passages on topics familiar to them using previously learned sentence patterns and vocabulary. By the end of term, students master 1500 basic words and 300 basic kanji. 

This course covers what companies do, how they compete against each other, and the relationship between companies and the societies where they exist. Coming from an international perspective, the course focuses mostly on questions of strategy and organization, rather than issues or activities related to leadership, psychology, operations management, finance, or accounting. 

The course aims to: (1) Build a fundamental understanding of business and management in English, and (2) Apply and expand that understanding through discussions about real-world examples. 

This course is aimed at students interested in starting their own business who want to learn different aspects of business management. It is also suited to those involved in corporate entrepreneurship or in improving competitive positioning and transforming corporations towards value-creation. The course instructs on the essential skills needed to start and manage a successful new business venture.
 

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Evaluate the necessary qualities and characteristics of a successful entrepreneurial profile.
- Recognize and determine the steps necessary to open and operate a small business enterprise.
- Identify the marketing, financial, leadership and other competencies needed by an entrepreneur.
- Use information, projections, logic and critical thinking to recognize an opportunity and solve small business problems in a multicultural, ethical and legal environment.
- Develop and present a business plan for a business in Japan or another country.

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, class discussions, and presentations.

This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive overview of the American legal system. It examines the U.S constitution and the relationships it creates between federal and state governments; the separation of powers, and how basic rights are guaranteed and protected under the federal constitution. it also reviews several areas of US law, including constitutional law, contracts, torts, and criminal law.

This course is a continuation of the course, Critical Social Issues I. This course is focused on the social issues facing contemporary Japan, covering topics such as war responsibility and memory; nuclear energy and waste; issues involving 3/11; media, the imperial family; yakuza, and education. As the course progresses, student interests are expected to generate additional topics for discussion.

Students will be required to do background reading for the class and come to class prepared to discuss a particular issue (or set of issues) each week in the first part of the course. In the second part of the course, students will suggest and present on topics on contemporary Japan for presentation. Each student must participate in these discussions and the assessment will be based on the discussions and written reflections on the issues after each class.

This course is designed for students who passed the Beginner High level of the Japanese language exam or equivalent. Students will increase vocabulary knowledge through reading Japanese texts, integrating new ideas with existing ones and communicating their own opinion in Japanese. Students will be expected to describe and summarize what they can comprehend from Japanese texts.

This course instructs on skills and styles needed to write on various themes. Upon completion of the course, students will be :

1. Able to write sentences while paying attention to style, expressions, and vocabulary;

2. Able to use conjunctions well, and,

3. Able to write persuasive sentences.