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International Exchange and Study Abroad

International Exchange Courses: Content Courses

 

Japanese course

International Exchange Courses: Content Courses

Hokusei Gakuen University requires all international exchange students to take Japanese language courses while studying at Hokusei; however, the university also offers elective content courses, most of which are taught in English, that are designed to allow students to learn about Japanese culture, society, economy, and history, or to explore international topics. These courses are also open to regular students at Hokusei, which allows international students to meet and interact with Japanese students in these courses.

Below are lists of the elective content courses offered each semester to international exchange students. For each course, the English title is written above the Japanese title. To the right of each course title is the language in which that course is taught and the number of credits students receive for that course.

Following the course lists is an explanation of general course requirements, credits, and grades.

Course List

Key:
〔INT〕= Indicates International Exchange courses that are open to both international exchange students and regular Hokusei students.
※ = Indicates courses open only to international students.
(A) / (B) = Indicates whether the course is taught in the spring (A) or fall (B) semester. The content of these courses is the same each semester.

2021 Spring Semester (April to July) Language Credits
Introduction to Japanese Literature〔INT〕(A)
日本の文学〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Japanese Subcultures〔INT〕(A)
日本のサブカルチャー〔国際〕(A)
Japanese with English Interpretation 2
Introduction to Japanese Society〔INT〕(A)
日本の社会〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Language and Gender in Japanese Society〔INT〕(A)
日本社会における言語とジェンダー〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Introduction to Japanese Finance and Economy〔INT〕(A)
日本の金融と経済〔国際〕(A)
Japanese with English Interpretation 2
Management〔INT〕(A)
マネジメント論 〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Introduction to Japanese Culture〔INT〕(A)
日本の文化〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Economic Relations between Japan & Europe after World WarⅡ〔INT〕(A)
日欧(経済)関係〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Comparative Culture〔INT〕(A)
比較文化〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Japanese-Korean Comparative Culture〔INT〕(A)
日韓比較文化論〔国際〕(A)
Korean and Japanese 2
Communication〔INT〕(A)
コミュニケーション論〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Language and Body in Japanese Conversation
国際交流特別講義B〔国際〕(A)
English 2
Special Lecture C(a)〔INT〕Japan Now: A Canadian Perspective
国際交流特別講義 C(a)[国際]
English 2

2021 Fall Semester (September to December) Language Credits
Introduction to Japanese Literature〔INT〕(B)
日本の文学〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Japanese Subcultures〔INT〕(B)
日本のサブカルチャー〔国際〕(B)
Japanese with English Interpretation 2
History of Japan〔INT〕(B)
日本の歴史〔国際〕(B)
Japanese with English Interpretation 2
Introduction to Japanese Society〔INT〕(B)
日本の社会〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Language and Gender in Japanese Society〔INT〕(B)
日本社会における言語とジェンダー〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Introduction to Japanese Finance and Economy〔INT〕(B)
日本の金融と経済〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Management〔INT〕(B)
マネジメント論 〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Introduction to Japanese Culture〔INT〕(B)
日本の文化〔国際〕(B)
English 2
International Economics〔INT〕(B)
国際経済〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Economic Relations between Japan & Europe after World WarⅡ〔INT〕(B)
日欧(経済)関係〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Comparative Culture〔INT〕(B)
比較文化〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Japanese-Korean Comparative Culture〔INT〕(B)
日韓比較文化論〔国際〕(B)
Japanese with English Interpretation/td>

2
Journalism & Mass Media in Japan〔INT〕(B)
メディア論〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Communication〔INT〕(B)
コミュニケーション論〔国際〕(B)
English 2
Environmental Economics〔INT〕(B)
環境経済〔国際〕(B)
Japanese with English Interpretation 2
Language and Body in Japanese Conversation
国際交流特別講義 B[国際]
English 2
Special Lecture C(a)〔INT〕Japan Now: A Canadian Perspective
国際交流特別講義 C(b)[国際]
English 2
Special Lecture E〔INT〕Indonesian Culture and Society
国際交流特別講義 E[国際]
English 2
Special Lecture F〔INT〕Introduction to Intercultural Communication
国際交流特別講義 F[国際]
English 2
Special Lecture G(A), (B)〔INT〕Intercultural Language learning
国際交流特別講義 G(A), (B)[国際]
English 2
Internship〔INT〕(B) ※
インターンシップ〔国際〕(B)※
Japanese with English Interpretation 3

 

Course Requirements, Credits, and Grades

Course Hours and Scheduling

Each content course consists of fifteen 90-minute classes. During the 13-week semester, each course meets for 13 regularly scheduled classes and two special classes (guest lecture, field trip, e-learning lesson, etc.).
Due to scheduling necessities, some courses are offered in the same time slot. Students can register for only one class offered in each time slot.

Enrollment

Hokusei requires all international exchange students to enroll in courses that meet for a minimum of eight 90-minute classes per week. There is no maximum number of courses that students can enroll in. Students should consult with their home institutions regarding course requirements that they must fulfill for their home institution.

Registration

International exchange students register for courses at the beginning of each semester. Registration closes within two weeks after classes begin; students cannot add courses after the registration deadline.
Mid-way through the semester, there is a Course Withdrawal Period (two days) during which students can withdraw from up to TWO content courses. If a student withdraws from a course during the Course Withdrawal Period, the course name and the student’s grade for that course will not appear on that student’s transcript; also, the grade for that course will not be incorporated into the student’s GPA.

Attendance

Course instructors take attendance during every class, and class participation is usually one factor in determining a student’s grade. Hokusei’s standard attendance rule is that students who are absent from more than one-third of all classes during a semester will fail that course. Instructors who use a stricter attendance rule will explain their rule in the syllabus of their course.

Credits and Grades

According to the Japanese system, the Intensive Japanese course is worth 12 credits; Non-intensive Japanese and Advanced Japanese are worth 3 credits; and each content course is worth 2 credits. Each partner school can determine how this credit system corresponds to their system and calculate credits accordingly.
Students will receive a letter grade on their transcript for each course they enroll in. If a student receives an “F” for a course, that course name and grade will not appear on the transcript; however, the “F” grade will be incorporated with all the other letter grades in the calculation of the student’s GPA. See the chart below that explains how many grade points are awarded for each letter grade.

Hokusei will send a transcript to each student’s home institution after the end of each semester.

Letter Grades and Grade Points

Letter Grade Grade Points
Highest passing grade A+ 4.0
A 3.5
B+ 3.0
B 2.5
C 2.0
Lowest passing grade D 1.0
Failing grade F 0.0
Withdrawal W

 

Enrolling in Courses in Other Departments

Courses Taught in Japanese

International exchange students who have passed level N-2 of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (日本語能力試験) are eligible to take courses taught in Japanese at Hokusei Gakuen University (College of Humanities, College of Economics, and College of Social Welfare). There some restrictions, such as courses that have a size limit or which require prerequisite courses, and the permission of the course instructor is required. Also, the semester for regular courses lasts 15 weeks, which is two weeks longer than the semester for the International Exchange courses. Students interested in taking such courses should consult the International Office staff for details.

Courses Taught in English

International exchange students who have academic-level English ability are eligible to take courses taught in English in the College of Humanities at Hokusei University. (There are no classes taught in English in the College of Economics or College of Social Welfare.) There some restrictions, such as courses that have a size limit or which require prerequisite courses, and the permission of the course instructor is required. Also, the semester for regular courses lasts 15 weeks, which is two weeks longer than the semester for the International Exchange courses. Students interested in taking such courses should consult the International Office staff for details.

 

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