Curriculum

First, JCulP provides Japan Students with sufficient time to prepare for an English-based curriculum.

Japan Students will receive intensive English education at Waseda University after enrolling in the program, and then participate in a Summer Session (short-term study abroad program) so that they can improve their academic skills in English and be prepared to begin learning together with Overseas Students in the program in September.

Secondly, JCulP enables students to explore a broad range of academic fields in addition to their selected areas of study.

In addition to courses focused on various historical periods and aspects of Japanese culture, a variety of courses in the humanities will be offered in English, allowing students to expand their knowledge and conduct research in an interdisciplinary manner.

The third characteristic of JCulP is its “open” curriculum.

Non-JCulP students will also take the same Advanced Seminars that JCulP students will take starting in their second year in the program. JCulP students will also take other courses offered in English with Non-JCulP students in the School of Culture, Media and Society and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Of the 124 credits required for graduation, JCulP students may earn up to 36 credits from courses offered in languages other than English. JCulP’s open curriculum provides ample opportunities for JCulP students to learn together with students outside of the program.

Courses are largely classified into two groups: basic preparatory courses for first-year students (Academic Skills in English, Introductory Seminars, and the Summer Session), and specialized courses for students in their second-year and above (JCulP Seminars and Research Seminars). Students may also take courses on a variety of specialized fields offered in English among the list of courses shared by the School of Culture, Media and Society and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences. Overseas Students may take as many courses offered in Japanese as possible.

Of the 124 credits required for graduation, Japan Students may earn up to 36 credits through courses offered in languages other than English. They may also take more courses not offered in English within the credit limit for each quarter, but the credits from such courses will not be counted for their graduation. As for the specialized courses, seminars offered in the School of Humanities and Social Sciences are not open to JCulP students, and some limits are set for taking seminars designed for students pursuing other majors in the School of Culture, Media and Society.

JCulP has four Research Seminars. Each Research Seminar consists of a relatively small number of students (10 to 15 students each from the second-, third-, and fourth-year levels). The focus of the Research Seminars are on conducting research and giving presentations in accordance with the themes selected by the instructor. Students in Research Seminars sometimes conduct research in groups, and participate in extracurricular activities such as study camps and research trips.

All students are required to write a thesis in their final year as a concrete result of their research activities in the Research Seminar. The thesis may be considered a culmination of each student’s studies at Waseda University. Through the process of writing a thesis (in English for JCulP students), students will learn the rules of academic writing, and develop their logical and persuasive writing skills, which will be a useful resource for any professional field that students may pursue after graduation.

Japan Students in JCulP are not required to take courses on languages other than English, but opportunities and resources for learning other languages are available within and outside the School. Overseas Students in JCulP are required to take Japanese language.

At present, students cannot pursue double majors. However, we have started a system for declaring minors since 2017.

JCulP students are admitted on a program-specific basis. They may only pursue the Transcultural Studies major, and cannot move to a different program. However, they are able to take a considerable number of courses outside of the program as mentioned above.

Through the process of studying in English, as well as writing a thesis in English based on your studies and research, you will be able to acquire the skills need for communicating your knowledge (obtained through your training in research and analytical thinking) to a diverse range of people around the world. JCulP graduates will be able to make significant contribution to society as “global communicators,” who can help establish meaningful human connections in an era where cross-cultural, transnational, and trans-regional communication is increasingly frequent and closely linked.

There is no need to worry. A course offered for newly enrolled Japan Students, “Academic Skills in English,” will help you acquire the English skills necessary to complete courses offered in English. The course includes lessons not only on reading and writing, but also on discussion and presentation, and is designed for students at various levels of competency, including students who have no prior experience in participating in discussions in English.

The Summer Session is designed to help students further refine the English skills they began improving in the Academic Skills in English course mentioned in Question 10. Students will attend an abroad program offered by an overseas university for international students hoping to begin their studies at the college level. By learning in an environment where English is the only means of communication, students will build foundations necessary for the English-medium courses they will take at Waseda University starting in September.

Yes. However, in order to obtain a teacher’s license, students must take a number of courses related to education that do not count for the requirements for their graduation. You must therefore be prepared to handle the extra work that the process entails.

Every Overseas Students is required to earn at least 24 credits from Japanese language courses during the four years of their studies in the program. Overseas Students in the program are expected to develop their Japanese language skills concurrently with their English-based coursework on Japanese culture.

Every Overseas Students is required to take Japanese language courses. For English skills, various courses for improving academic skills, such as the Optional English course, are available within and outside the School. Instructors for such courses will be able to advise students on specific learning methods based on each student’s needs and abilities.

Credit transferability would depend on the contents of the courses. If you have earned credits at an overseas university, please contact us for details.