International Christian University

This class seeks to understand public opinion: how Japanese and Americans think -- about themselves, their politics and the world -- and how those attitudes, collectively expressed, influence electoral and policy outcomes. It is organized into three parts. The first poses four questions about the concept and meaning of “public opinion", examined from Euro-American and Confucian-Japanese perspectives, and looks at theories that seek to explain how the public processes information; arrives at judgments and expresses themselves. The second part examines how public opinion is measured, emphasizing how individuals respond (and do not) to surveys as well as discussing how to critically evaluate poll-related information in the media. The final part examines public opinion on domestic and international affairs, allowing the class to compare Japanese and American self- and other-images: patriotism, nationalism and immigration; postures toward security policy and China; social values and trust; and attitudes toward democracy.

This course addresses fundamental skills for enjoying climbing safely while focusing on challenging oneself; observing and learning from others, and enjoying oneself with friends. The course teaches what climbing is along with bouldering and rope climbing.
 

This course begins with a look at the meaning of "peace" in theory and practice. Then, discussing real examples of breaches of peace, the course examines the causes and conditions that allow such breaches, as well as how they might be avoided. Finally, the course looks at cases of peace settlements and how justice and reconciliation can be achieved for lasting peace. Each week the course will consist of a variety of formats, including student presentations, lectures from the instructor, and group discussions.

Perception is a fundamental function of the interaction with the environment. For example, perceiving an object or a person is a prerequisite for proper behavior in everyday activities or communication. This course mainly focuses on vision because it is a particularly important modality among others but it aims to learn the mechanism of the visual system and its function. In most psychological studies, researchers draw an inference of an underlying (covert) mental mechanism and its function from the observable (overt) psychological phenomena. This course examines how a certain visual phenomenon can be interpreted as a clue to understanding a mental process that is hard to measure directly. Some cases of visual deficits will be introduced to promote the better understanding of the visual system by comparing with “normal” function. 

Although it is desirable that other topics should be covered such as attention or memory, almost all lectures in this course are about sensation and perception, especially vision.

This course trains students to become effective communicators, as a speaker, listener or interpreter. The theory of rhetorical communication is applied to the presentation of self and ideas for a specific purpose. Critical thinking processes are emphasized in preparing, making and critiquing various forms of public communication. Since the course aims to improve skills for various types of oral presentations and discussions, each class meeting consists of student presentations and discussions. 

This course features an active learning of laws through international moot court and simulation. It also provides opportunities to do legal research, legal writing and oral advocacy. For instance, students write memorials and practice oral pleadings on a timely legal dispute case. 

This course features studying a mathematics book in a seminar style, providing students with basic training to learn from mathematical literature independently and make presentations of knowledge.
 

This course explores the evolution of the American image from its colonial foundation to the contemporary setting of globalized media, infotainment and branding. The course examines the American image from three perspectives. The first is the country's "self-image," or how elites and the public perceive themselves, their government, the world and the role of the United States in it. The second is its "projected image," or how America crafts foreign policy and how, along with media and corporations, it engages in public diplomacy. The last is America's "perceived image," how publics around the world see and feel about the United States and the reasons for pro- and anti-American sentiments. By the end of the course, students will not only have a better sense of how the US sees itself, and how it is seen in the world, but will be equipped for further study in psychological approaches to international relations.

This seminar course familiarizes students with advanced topics related to the interplay between societies and education from a comparative and international perspective. After basic coursework in comparative education, this course encourages students to explore advanced topics which are central to theoretical debates in comparative education and may be relevant for their thesis research. Topics may be specific to the Asian region or have global relevance for societies and education systems around the world.